Newbie DCC question here
I have an old Atlas SD9 I purchased in 94-95, & want to convert it to DCC, now Digitrax makes a drop-in decoder (DN163AO) for the SD9, does it work for ALL SD9’s?
This will be my first DCC conversion, & when I pop the body off the loco, it just doesnt seem it could be that easy, I see no wires, does all contact route through the light board sockets?
Or do I have an older SD9?
Many thanks, any help great!
Lee
Lee,
I’m afraid you have non-DCC ready versions. In 2003 Atlas re-released these as DCC ready versions that would accept the DN163A0. I have 3 of the older units, myself. I’m torn between 1) trying the conversion, 2) sending them off to Tony’s to have them do the conversion or 3) replacing them with the newer units and installing DN163A0s in each.
I’ll probably break down and do a surgical installation myself eventually because they run very well. That will require modification to the frame and a wired decoder, like a DZ123 or DZ143. Unfortunately, Southern Digital no longer sells replacement frames for these that are molded to accept decoders while actually adding a little weight.
SIGH
I suspected as such, thanks again Adelie!