Question 1: Ok the DCC retainers that came with the Loco the slots in them seem to be too small to fit on my digitrax decoder, Is there anyway to fix this? Also where can i buy addtional retainers? because i need a couple becuase i lost two for another engine.
Question 2: Athearn rtr 9-44cw DEcoeder? What type is needed for the quick plug version of the athearn rtr dash 9. I want to buy a digitrax brand decoder. And since im getting the new loco in a couple of days i want the decoder so i can put it in when i get it.
Question on Question 1: Are you talking about the 8-pin socket that the decoder plugs into?
If so, you do NOT have to use the socket and can solder the individual wires of the decoder to their corresponding wires of the locomotive - i.e. red to red, black to black, etc.
However, if you do hard wire the decoder to your locomotive, you need to be careful that the traces and solder (on the back side of the decoder board) do NOT touch any exposed metal of the locomotive frame. Otherwise, your decoder will go “poof”…
If, by retainers, you mean those small plastic covers that slip over the decoder’s connection points to hold the wire in place, throw them away and solder the wires to the decoder.
I know of no place that sells those retainers because most people throw them away and use solder when a decoder is installed.
Any decoder with a JST header on it should fit into the dash 9’s quick plug socket.
Ok thanks for the Decoder info, im not much of a solderer so i can always go to LHS to get it done Well. This is why i prefer the quick plugs no real inteligance needed :p.