My first post!
Can I solder N scale decoders to light boards on DC engines (mostly Atlas)? Or, should I remove the light board and solder directly to the frame, motor mounts and lights. I am not happy with any of the replacement DCC boards. Thanks in advance for your input.
To install non board replacement decoders in most N scale locos requires you to mill the frame to make space. There just isn’t room in there along with the factory board. Or even without it - most ‘discrete’ decoders are short and thick, the board replacements are long and thin. There are many makes of board replacement decoders - often different manufacturers have decoders for the same loco, which ones aren’t you happy with?
–Randy
In N scale I have used NCE and MRC. In HO scale I love TCS because they replace the decoders I fry when I mess up an install. I hate the stupid tabs from the motor mounts that pry up against the back of the board and it is impossible to see if they connect. Any suggestions on DCC decoders for N scale.? I have about 5 more engines I would like to make DCC. All my new Engines I guess I will buy the DCC installed.
Thank you for your help! [;)]
TCS has a bunch of N scale decoders to fit a bunch of situiations. The CN one is for a lot of those older Atlas locos - it’s in two pieces with wires you cna shorten betwene the two parts to work in those locos that have a small board in front and back. Quite clever.
I use all TCS, except sound decoders, but I’m in HO. You’re always going to have those tabs to deal with, along with usually having to put a thin layer of tape in to prevent shorts. Hardwiring N scale is a much more daunting proposition.
For sound you’re pretty much out of luck unless you put the sound in a dummy. The only N scale sound drop in decoders are MRC and they are less than stellar. An N scale dummy often has enough room (once the weight is cut down) for a Loksound Micro or one of the little CT Electronik sound decoders, plus one of CT’s sugar cube speakers.
–Randy
Thanks I will investigate the TCS line of N scale decoders. Not sure why I did not look at them as a possible solution earlier. Thank you again for your help and expertise.[tup]
-Brian
I use TCS decoders for N scale and I am very pleased with them. Their web site has photos of how to install most of their decoders in various locomotives. I start with the photo instal section and look for my locomotive frame, then choose the decoder to fit. So far I haven’t run into any problems.
Sure you can install a wired decoder to the circuit board in an N scale engine. (Or any other scale engine). If there is enough room for the decoder, all that will have to be done is to cut the traces on the board to isolate the motor brushes and lights from the frame.
I just now completed installing a couple of DZ125 decoders in a pair of GEVO’s. Took about an hour.
Martin Myers