I have two early relase P2K ALCO FA/FB sets (23455) that I want to convert to DCC. Are these units DCC-ready? If so, can I simply plug a decoder into the NMRA plug and still retain the Mars Lights?
You mean the first offering with the gimmiky rotating fans? IIRC they dont have a plug…in fact I believe you have to remove the fan unit to make room for a decoder…
If it doesnt have a plug, you will just have to hard wire one in…no big deal.
Or, you can open one up and take a pic.
David B
Ric, I remember that some of the early run of these had very high stall currents well in excess of 1 amp. I was trying to find the thread about it but failed. Anyway not being 100% on the details you might want to check the motor current draw just to make sure you are not going to blow a decoder you install. I think these were some of the very first P2K locos issued, if not the very first.
I sure miss the P2K web site that had listings and photos of all the previously issued locos, was a great reference.
the first issues were not DCC ready, and the headlight is wired in series with the motor and a bank of diodes.
for conversion, remove the diodes, they are in a box right behind the cab, one of the pickup wires is attached to the chassis, and the other to the trucks, from there, it’s basicly a Athearn under the shell. replace the bulbs with 12v, LED with resistor,(my choice) or add 820 ohm resistor to original 1.5v bulbs. the mars function is handled by the decoder.
the decoder I used was a DN163, for it’s size and amp load rating.
I will posts pics of the install shortly
pics of install-click on pic for larger image
hope this helps
I forgot about those first ones with the moving fans. Now I know what the groove in the flywheel in the drive of my MDC RS-3 is for. Yes - not all MDC RS-3 kits had Athearn drives, the later ones used the P2K FA drive since unliek the Athearn it actually has correct truck sidereframes.
–Randy
Obviously, I don’t have the earliest release - probably the second release. In fact my units are model numbers 23455 (Undec). Your pictures of teh fans told me I had better go back to the drawing board, so here goes. I tried to attach a a picture of the PC board on my units, but cannot get it to paste to the post In the picture a pointer indicates what appears to be an NMRA plug on the forward end of the PC board. So my question is, can I remove the plug and plug in a decoder with a compatable plug and still retain the MARS lights? Or is this not an NMRA DCC-ready plug?
I greatly appreciate all of your support on this matter. I’m new to DCC.
Ric