Hey all,
I have recently been installing DCC in all of my engines to run on my new Digitrax DCC system. The newer engines are an absolute breeze to install the Digitrax decoders but the older engines are a bit of a challenge. Now that the motor clips are next to impossible to find and Digitrax has discontinued that wiring harness how do I install DCC on these engines. Is there a new wiring harness that replaced those and what is the differences in installation.
Thanks
Will T
I isolate the motor. Solder wires to the motor clips, and hard wire the decoder in. Orange and grey wires to the motor, black and red to the right and left power pickups, and white, blue and yellow to the front and rear lights.
Great response.
Originally this is the only way decoders came. No plug-in harness; just wires. I liked the harnesses Diditrax came out with and started using their decoders exclusively until I discovered they were not NMRA compliant or warranted.
It’s not necessary to use Digitrax decoders with your system, another brand will work as well and might have the plug-in interface you are looking for. I use Lenz decoders now myself.
Jon
Blue Box installs are about as simple as it gets once past the simple 8 pin or 9 pin plug ins. No harness needed, just a decoder with wires, and some tape.
Multiple methods shown here: http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/HO_Search/search.html
under Athearn. The ones marked “hard wire, not plug and play” are the Blue Box locos.
–Randy
I have some Proto 2000 boards with 8 pin plugs I use. Just isolate the frame from the motor, establish a wire to hook up to the bottom of the BB motor and hook up the 8 pin plug via the DDC instructions.
I bought one of those Digitrax BB install kits about 5 years ago and never used it. I liked soldering to both of the truck tower pick ups, the frame and each motor clip. For the motor clips I solder right around the bend just behind the fly wheel.
Richard