I have several Proto 2000 “S” series switchers that I have avoided converting to DCC because I had heard and read about a possible problem with the way the locomotives motor may or may not be grounding out on the frame…
Today I happen to be surfing the web and found that TCS makes a decoder for this engine called the MC-2 and they have a web page with instructions and pictures on how to install their decoder, but they make no mention of the same issue that Tony at Tony’s Trains talk about.
I guess my question is this… Has anyone used this decoder in their “S” series switcher? If so, did you have the issues that Tony talks about? I don’t want to order and install several of these decoders only to blow them up.
Yup, I have pictures on my web site showing the fix and decoder install. I managed to cram in a Digitrax DH163L0 so i didn’t have to repalce the light bulbs - if I was doing it again (which I will since I picked up the second number S-1) I will just use a smaller decoder and change the bulbs for golden white LEDs with a 1K resistor on each one.
No matter what decoder you end up using, the Proto 2000 S1 does need to have the motor isolated from the frame. It’s not that bad of a conversion. Here’s a handy pictoral put together by rrinker (Randy - our resident forum DCC guru) that I used, that was helpful for me.
I didn’t use the TCS but they do make nice decoders. I ended up using the Lenz LE0521W N-scale decoder. Unlike what Randy had to do to make room for his larger Digitrax decoder (see link above), the LE0521W is small enough to fit under the shell - without having to carve out any of the frame. I also changed out the incandescent lightbulb (that came with the S1) for a 3mm LED.
Click picture to enlarge
Michael, whichever decoder you end up getting, make sure that it has Back-EMF. You want your switcher(s) to crawl at low speeds when switching cars in the yard. Also, get the golden-white LED vs. the bright white. The color given off by the golden-white LEDs is more prototypical for that era.
It took some time and careful dis-assembly, but I also replaced the cab-end headlight and the silly little plastic “light-pipe” with a LED mounted on the cab roof so it really is a headlight, and not just a little twinkly thing on the cab end. For real night-time running, this is very nice to have. Now, has anyone put sound into one of these?
Another side-note on these switchers - the truck base is very low, and it will run aground on a Kadee uncoupler ramp if you install it slightly above the rail tops, as the Kadee instructions specify. Instead, grind the ties down a bit and mount the top of the magnet flush with the rails, and you won’t have a clearance problem. There will still be plenty of magnetic field strength to operate the couplers.
I put sound in my P2K S1 by using Soundtraxx N gauge Alco sound decoder. Used the mini oval speaker and housing from Tony’s Train Exchange. I mounted the speaker facing up on the frame between the trucks.
The plastic air tanks and retangular boxes (battery boxes???) slip right off. I put spacers between the frame and the speaker housing so the speaker housing is even with the bottom of the boxes.
Filing a little off the bottom of the truck retainers where they contact the frame so the trucks can rock from side to side really helps operation.
I just bought a pair of NCE SW9SR’s to fit my LL switchers. Would they not fit right in? There are light bulb issues. The decoder supports an LED or 14V bulb for the front and the existing 1.5v bulb for the rear, all with on board resistors where needed.
I have a few Life-Like S-3s, which are the same as the S-1 except for the truck sideframes. The problem with the Life-Like Alco switchers is the grounding lug on the bottom of the motor. You have to cut off the part of the lug that touches the frame, and then put tape over the well in the frame where the motor sits.
I used the Digitrax DN121 IP for my Life-Like Alco switchers. This decoder is no longer in production, but it fits quite nicely with no modifications to the shell or the frame. It just plugs right into the 8 pin socket. I have two more Life-Like Alco switchers waiting to be decoded, and I will go with the new Digitrax DN143 IP decoders.
Click picture to enlarge