I have been searching for the DCC version of the Broadway Limited N&W aux. tender but have only been able to find the DC version. (How many DCC type did they produce?)
I bought a DC one at a reasonable price but it has not arrived yet. I just wondered if it is only the headlight wiring that makes it “DC ONLY” and that should be a quick fix to rewire for DCC. I could even use a function-only decoder.
Anyone out there using the DC tender on their DCC layout? What modifications should be made?
The tender has a backup light on it and a directional lighting circuit inside – that’s the only thing that makes it DC vs. DCC. With DCC the light will be on continually instead of being directional because of the DCC square wave AC command signal on the track.
You could add a function-only decoder to the tender to make the backup light controllable.
Recieved the tender yesterday. As you stated it has the basic capaciter/diode direction control. The LED Broadway used is sure bright, and a good color rendition! I think I’ll keep the backup light on and just assume the engineer forgot to turn it off.
BLI did a great job on this auxiliary tender and it’s a nice addition to my Y-3
No decoder necessary. The auxiliary water tender tags along behind the locomotive’s regular tender. I believe the auxiliary was used primarily on helpers to keep them on the road longer between fill-ups.
As I wrote seven years ago, I bought the DC version to run on my DCC layout and I don’t mind the headlight being on.
You could use a function-only decoder, say a TCS FL2 or FL4, and control the headlight with it.