I would like some info on how to install DCC into a Proto 2000 SW8/900/600. This unit has the old diode circuit board and have not found any info with searching the net. Is there a specific decoder to use? Do I have to remove the old board? etc.
Thank You in advance for any advice.
Stephen LSN RR
I believe I converted two of these. NCE (and Tony’s trains) have a decoder designed specifically for these engines. You take out the existing board and pop in the replacement. You can wire up the existing cab light, but the headlight must be changed to either a 14V bulb or an LED. It was actually pretty easy, and they run great.
Jim
Stephen,
To add a little to Jim’s reply: Those NCE and Tony’s decoders come with Kapton tape and a nylon screw to insulate the motor and lower brush. BE SURE you use them as outlined in the directions or you WILL have problems. But like he says, it’s an easy conversion and they run well.
Steve
Look at the NCE SW9-SR. This decoder is in the same form factor as the diode board. There is a resistor on-board to allow keeping the rear light so you don’t have to tearout the cab interior,and there are pads to solder a golden-white LED on the front for the front light.
–Randy
[#ditto]
This is what I used in my proto 2000 SW-9. Should be the same for the 8. It was very simple. I also added a strobe that worked out very well. Here is a pic.
Never heard of the kapton tape or nylon screw being used in my SW9. Are you sure this is correct?
The NCE S4 decoder for Atlas Alco switchers has the kapton tape and plastic screw for insulating the motor from the frame.
I have a few Life-Like GM switchers with NCE SW9 SR decoders, and the installation process was easy.
Yeah, there’s a few different animals being talked about here. Doesn’t help that both EMD and Alco used the letter S to designate their switchers. But S(number) is an Alco and SW(number) is an EMD.
Now in the affordable model category, Life Like Proto 2000 makes both EMD and Alco switchers. They each have different approaches to DCC installation. The P2K EMD switchers use the NCE SW9-SR board for the easiest installation.
The P2K Alco switchers have an 8-pin plug BUT they need a new orange wire connected to the lower motor terminal, since in stock form it is screwed to the frame. The motor itself does not touch the frame, just this short orange jumper wire. And the bulbs are 1.5 volts and so either need a decoder that already limits the voltage, or resistors added, or the bulbs swiched for LEDs and resistors.
Atlas has made Alco switchers. On those, at least the original ones, perhaps newer runs have changed design a bit, the motor is NOT isolated from the frame and thus the specialized decoder for them that comes with the tape and screw to isolate it.
–Randy
Duh!
Nope, it’s not correct. I was reading SW and thinking S. You are absolutely right, the Proto SW’s do not use the insulating tape and screw, the Atlas S’s do. Sorry for the confusion.
Steve