Hello guys, I’m looking to see if anyone knows when or if there is a certain year athearn genesis made their trains all dcc ready by means of quick plug equipped. I know some of the older yellow box genesis SD70M for instance requires a board replacement to get a decoder to plug in? Does anyone know if all the blue box genesis are dcc quick plug equipped. There are several locos I’d like to have and get dcc into. I’m hoping someone has had some experience and knowledge of this.
Sorry, I am not sure. It may vary even on models depending on production runs. On the RTR line, the first runs of it that said DCC READY had no plug-and-play comparability at all, the motors were only isolated from the frames (mostly), unlike the old BB units, where the bottom motor contacts got their power from the frame. (Like the P42 I got, DCC READY on box, but inside? Let’s just say I have yet to finish the install on that one… Have to finish the lighting upgrade.) Newer RTR line that say DCC READY are actually plug equipped, where you remove the DC dummy plug, and install your decoder of choice. (The newer runs of said P42 are indeed that way, I checked.) I only have one Genissis unit, and it was purchased DCC/Sound equipped. (It is, however, in the blue box, I just am not sure if that means anything other than what year they made it…) However, board replacements are not that bad, I have done a few Atlas units that way, and no issues with them at all. (And I am in no way to be considered an expert at wiring of small electronics. [:-^]) Way easier than a hard wire replacement. (Like the old BB units. And I have done a couple of them as well.)
I believe that all of the new Genisis with dark blue boxes have DCC plugs. When the started adding DCC with sound to their line, I think they added the plugs. I know the the SD70ACes have quick plugs. The new SD40-2 (RTR), and SW1500 (RTR) have DCC plugs. I believe that on the RTR series, the locomotives that have the DCC plugs say “DCC quick plug” or something close to that.
For all RTR and Genisis Athearn locomotives, I would look up them up on Athearn’s website (athearn.com), and check the description. If it is equipped with a DCC quick plug, it will be listed in the model features.
Hardwire, or, how I learned to stop worrying about “DCC Ready” (apologies to Stanley Kubrick)
Bottom line - just get the loco you want, it is NOT difficult to install DCC, even in an old Blue Box loco. Board replacement? That’s almost not even more difficult than a plug in. I worry more about the quality of the loco and if it fits my era/scheme than I do about how “dcc ready” it is.
–Randy
Hello guys…
Many thanks for your replies… well as far as blue box athearn I’m not too intrested in I have a few and don’t run them. And i don’t want to experiment with them since they were my late father’s locos. I’ve done dcc quick plug equipped locomotives by Athearn very easily. I’m looking to buy a athearn genesis SD70M but the only ones I can find for what I want to spend will require a board replacement which I think I can handle. Now can someone tell me the difference between athearn RTR dcc ready and dcc quick plug equipped. I know the quick plug equipped is ready for the decoder to be plugged in. What does dcc ready mean? They look to be the same outside of the box.
Hello All,
“DCC Ready” and “Quick Plug Equipped” are the same. They both have an 8-pin plug built in to the PC board. All you have to do is remove the dummy plug and plug the decoder in, making sure pin 1 is in the correct position.
Hope this helps.