The topic title says it all. I have a Spectrum 2-8-0 , Shay, a Class J, and a Decapod. I’ve had each engine for more than 5 years, and I recently found out they are all DCC ready!!! It says on the box for the Decapod, but I didn’t notice it! I read all about them when they just came out, but I didn’t see ‘DCC ready’ anywhere. I guess this proves all the Spectrum engines (steam for all I know) have the DCC ready system. The Class J I knew had it because it was written 3 times in BIG BOLD leters: DCC ON BOARD. On the manual, the upper right corner of the box, and on the side. For now, I have no plans to install decoders in any of them.
DCC on board would suggest to me that it already has a motive decoder in it!!! Can you check it out on the layout of someone who has a DCC controller?
Just remember DCC ready means it is wired for a decoder, but usually doesn’t have one installed. DCC On-Board means that. Good news for me, less work I have to do putting in decoders.
Brad
any engine is DCC ready, clip some wires and put a plug in or wire the decoder in…
the DCC ready marketing deal might not have happened 5 years ago, but they may have already planned the engines to be so.
It’s not always that simple. Many older engines, and even some new ones like the P2K S1, do NOT have the motor isolated from the engine frame. That’s a must, unless you like fried decoders.