I have two Athrens SD75M locos and am wanting to install Digitrax decoders in them. What are the correct decoders to fit them, or where can I find a place that I can look them up myself? I will probley order them from Tony’s Trains. Thanks, Mike
Do you want ditchlights? Then you will need the DH163. If not, then the DH123 will do just fine.
David B
Here’s the decoder matrix at Digitrax’s website. They list these units:
http://www.digitrax.com/decsel.php#HO
If they are newer and have the DCC socket then the DH123D or DH163D will work, as Dave points out the additional functions. Also The DH163 have Back EMF where the DH123s do not. I’d suggest you pop the shell and see if there is a DCC socket there. If not, it might be helpful to post a picture of the unit with the shell removed.
David, did you mean “DN” by any chanch? All the N scale decoders at tony’s Trains start with "DN. Also there are some other letters and/or numbers at the end of the decoder number, there are several decodersd that are listed as DN163 with different numbers/letters at mthe end. The one I bought at the train show in OKC is a “DN163K1B.” The man at the Digitrax booth said it was the right one but it has contacts going down in about the center of the decoder (like a KATO) but do not connect to anything. What about these? Thanks for the help, I want to order the right ones the first time.
Engineer jeff. I looked at the page you posted and my decoders don’t look anything like what I seen in the pics. Mine are a circuit board with the lights already wired in, seems to simply slide in place. I am very green at this DCC stuff. Maybe this is what are called “Plug & Play”? Mike
Here is one suggestion. Bruce of Litchfield Station is very helpful.
http://litchfieldstation.com/DCC-University/install/HOD/AthearnGenesis-SD75M-A6X.htm
Found through a Google search.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ned=us&q=Athearn+SD75M&btnmeta%3Dsearch%3Dsearch=Search+the+Web
Make sure when you search to use correct spelling.
Rich
Mike, I assumed we were talking about HO, not N scale. All Digitrax HO decoders started with “DH” and all N scale decoders start with “DN”. Are we talking N scale here ? The decoder you listed, DN163K1B is the only decoder that Digitrax lists for N scale Athearns, for the SD70M. Does this look like what is in your unit ? The link Rich posted looks pretty thorough for a HO scale replacement using a TCS decoder but that would be similar to a DH163A0 Digitrax decoder.
All RTR Athearns have a 9 pin interface. DH123s and DH163 also use a 9 pin interface.
Some Athearn boards also have an additional 8 pin interface. Some have the holes on the board for the 8 pin interface, but no 8 pin socket.
If you want the extra ditchlight functions, then I suggest the 9 pin interface. The reason is the extra pin…it is for the extra function. With the 8 pin interface, you dont get this extra function.
DN1xxPS have an 8 pin interface, and more than likely wont work because of the lack of the 8 pin socket on most Athearn boards.
Your next step is to take off the shell and tell us what you see. Also, let us know if you got working ditchlights.
David B
I am sorry… I shouldn’t have mentioned I am in N scale. Sorry. Mike
Oh…that changes everything.
DN163K1B
David B
Thanks for the help. I will get these on order. Mike