What methods do you folks use for mounting the decoders into BB locos? I have installed a digitrax decoder into my GP9. I decided to mount the loco in the top of shell on double sided foam tape. It seems to work ok, but was curious about where, and how others mount the decoders and wires so they don’t rub on the mechanism?
I have two ideas. One is to put the decoder in the shell like you did, the other was to maybe glue a small piece of plastic to the top of the motor and stck the decoder on that, with just the light bulb wires running into the shell. In either case, a small plug and socket would be used so the wires can be kept short so as not to tangle in the mechanism, yet allow the shell to be completly seperated for servicing.
–Randy
simon1966,
I recently installed decoders in an Athearn Trainmaster and in an AC4400. Onthe Trainmaster, I built a shelf off each end of the motor to support the electronics and wires above the drive train. The shelf was actually a shim for the screws that held the new motor, and I decided to make it longer and get double benefit from it. I liked the results so much that in the second engine, I intentionally built a styrene shelf inside the shell on each end of the motor so that only the top of the motor sticks up into the top of the shell. There is a huge amount of room up there and no way the wires or decoder will get into the mechanism. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner! I took small strips of styrene and glued them in the shell parallel to the rails and then added a styrene shelf. I used the solvent plastic cement and bru***o get just enough solvent in the right places to hold the styrene in place.
Mark C.
I usually mount the decoders so that they hang out over the rear truck. To do this I glue a small piece of perf board to the top motor clip. I then use a small 3 pin plug to hook up the lights. To better illustrate this I thought I’d post a photo showing the decoder installed in an SD40-2 chassis (this is the chassis from my kitbashed GATX SD38-2).
Great work Dan!
Good use of that clip. A friend of mine uses a very similar method, though he cuts off one side of the clip that hangs over one truck, and just uses the center section of the clip.
Thanks for the photo. I’ve downloaded it and saved it to use as reference.
Peace!
Thanks for the suggestions folks. Last night I used the shelf method glued to the top of the motor. I found a small connector from an old PC wiring loom and all worked great. I was able to get rid of alot of the excess wire, which was one of my problems.
Simon,
Just curious. What brand/type of decoder did you use? Are you using any extra functions like directional lighting and gyra-lights?
I have installed tons of decoders in athearn engines of all type. What I have found thru most of them is that an wire or decoder touching the outside shell is bound to cuase a serious sound problem at best. The picture posted prior is the best method I have found so far. Its a matter of keeping the wires bundled up so tightly and the decoder kinda free floating in the rear or front of engine with the wires providing support for the darn thing, I also try to use an N scale decoder when I can, or even a z scale. Good topic
Antonio, I just used a basic Digitrax DH121, I installed LED’s front and back for the headlights and have it setup to illuminate according to the direction. Nothing else fancy.