Im trying to install an MRC decoder to an Athearn c9-40 and ive tried the quick plug stuff and it sucks does anyone have a diagram or schimatic of how to wire these things correct. ive been unsucessfull in all attempts and now im just gonna hard wire the freaking thing to make it work.
Thanks
Nick[:(!]
Does it have standard colored wires. Black, Red, Grey, Orange, blue, yellow, white?
If so the black and red go to track (red on the right, black on the left).
The grey and orange go to motor.
Blue is common for light bulbs, yellow is rear lamp, white is front lamp.
Nick;
Sell (or bribe someone to take) the MRC decoder.
Get a Digitrax, NCE, TCS, Lenz or similiar decoder with the 9 pin plug.
If I were a betting man, and sometimes I am, I would bet that he’s referring to the 8 pin NMRA plug that is supposed to make these engines “DCC Ready”. If that’s the case, then he (the OP) is correct, the ones on the MRC decoders SUCK. BIG TIME! At least if they are the same as they originally were many years ago. Hard wire is the only way to go with them… TZ gives the correct color codes for all decoders. But then again, MRC decoders, in my limited experience with them [V] don’t always function well with other systems. That’s why I sold all of mine.
The only MRC decoders I have are sound decoders. I have never had any problem with them. I’m not familiar with your loco, but the decoder should work. If the loco is plug & play, take your time inserting the plug. The 8-pin plug on MRC decoders in delicate and the pins get bent easily. Make sure all 8-pins are straight and evenly spaced.
In truth, I would recommend a Digitrax or TCS decoder if you don’t need sound. Better motor control and easier installation.
Good luck, whatever route you take.
nharrison21,
What kind of DCC operating system do you have?
I have the MRC P/A system.
All my Decoders are MRC with sound. I have yet to have any problems with any of my decoders.
I think the MRC decoders may not work well (if at all) with other systems.
Texas Zepher told you the color codes.
A few of my engines I have had to hard wire because the were not DCC ready.
I hope you get it to work,
ennout
i out one of the MRC steam sound decoders in a bachmann spectrum 4-6-0 (didn’t have room to put the tender back on but that’s a different story) and it worked fine . i did get the plug reversed the first time , have you tried reversing it ? i know it seems simple …
oh ok sorry heres a litle clarifacation i own a MRC P/A and i was tring to install a MRC decoder with sound and the 8 pin socket but either i cant get the decoder to mount or there is a connectivity problem i even went out and bought the plug pack from NCE to try and help the problem ill try and hard wire the way Texas Zepher said other wise im lost like a train with no loads.
Thanks
Nick
I have a couple of MRC sound decoders, and they work great.
However, I also bought 6 MRC decoders with the 8 pin plug on them - the first thing I did was cut the doggone plug off of there. However, those decoders didn’t work worth a darn with my Digitrax system.