I have two Bachmann GP-40’s, same model, same exact loco except one is UP and the other is B&O. I am curious about setting up DCC, and these are the only to locos I have out of around 7 that a want to purchase DCC chips and perhaps sound units, but I had a few questions about them first. The rest of my units I am going to sell or just use without a decoder. Here are the questions:
What is the PCB board found on the top of the chassis covering the engine and gears?
What expense am a looking at for a mid grade decoder with sound?
Will MRC’s decoders work with the Bachmann setup?
Will I have room in the loco to do this conversion?
Has anyone attempted this with a similar Bachmann loco before?
**Thanks for all the replys and comments, beegle55.
What is the PCB board found on the top of the chassis covering the engine and gears? All newer loco’s have them there just for the lights and power too the engine somtimes you take them out too add a decoder other times the plug rate into them. Depending on Engine.
What expense am a looking at for a mid grade decoder with sound? Around 50-100+ depending on brand
Will MRC’s decoders work with the Bachmann setup? They should but i heard MRC decoders are that great. And are kinda a bad purchase
Will I have room in the loco to do this conversion? IF its DCC ready yes, even not you should even Athearn BB has room
Has anyone attempted this with a similar Bachmann loco before?
Can help you on all questions for i dont own any bachman.
conrail, thanks for the reply. I figured the PCB board was for a more constant connection between the lights and engine, and the loco’s aren’t DCC ready because I am DCC illiterate, but I know electronics and there is no pin connection ports or anything resembling what I have seen as DCC hookups.
If so you take the retainer clips there black pull them off and take wires of pop out the board and place in the DCC chip wich i think should go in the same way, im not saying thats the one you’ll need,
heres a different loco, Tell me if your setup looks like it
No, my loco is only has the PCB board, not a DCC chip. The DCC chip link you gave me conrail looks good for a good price, and it looks like it will fit, but I dont know about the sound yet. Thanks for the replys!
No Prob TCS is very good brand, Also Digitrax. Not sue about sound decoders never where interested in them. Maybe when i win the lottery ill go and convert my loco’s too them.
Im waiting to hit the lottery just to buy the basics for my layout! I am thinking of looking at Digitrax, because they look pretty good and I’ve heard they perform good as well, and I think they have sound decoders.