I have modeled in N scale for over 20 years. This past year I started a new layout (my 4th) and bit the bullet to wire it for DCC. I love the performance, and the wiring was so much simpler. BUT…the decoder installation is driving me crazy. I’ve had several “plug and play” (a definite misnomer) decoders not fit into the engines they were designed for, or break during installation, or simply not work at all for reasons I can’t figure out. It’s turning into a really frustrating experience overall, and I haven’t even attempted to wire any of my older fleet with decoders that aren’t “plug and play” (frame modifications and micro-soldering are more than I can think about right now).
Does this get significantly easier after you do it for a while? It’s getting pretty expensive to bat less than 50% on successful decoder installation, and it is very frustrating to have the large majority of my DC locomotives inoperable on a layout that runs well.
Are there clinics you can attend or any great literature on this, or am I the only one having a major problem with decoder installation? MR doesn’t seem to have ever addressed this. Suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Don’t worry, your not the only one having decoder problems. In my MMI K-28 It’s almost impossible to get the decoder in. My suggestion to you is to ttry to find a smaller decoder
Sorry your having problems with the decoders. I have installed about 10 two of which are not plug and play.
Of those, I have had one defective (sent back to digitrax for free replacement) and one I fried (my fault).
One thing that helps a lot is to search the web for others that have posted detailed instructions (with pics) on how to do the installations. That really helps!
Many of the manufactures like digitrax have posted instructions themselves but are not as detailed.
Most of my Kato’s with pnp have taken about 10 minutes tops each. The non-pnp can take significantly longer due to the sodering.
Oh, welcome to the forum! Hope things work out better for you.
Peter
I can understand your frustration as I too model in N-scale and have converted to DCC.
I have invested in a mini milling machine so that I can machine / modify the frames my self to get the decoders in the little locos.
I think that I have only average soldering skills and do have failing eyesight so I ware glasses with my contacts to be able to see the connections that need soldering.
The one most important thing that I have learned in doing about 30 or so hard wire installations is patients and not to be in a hurry and if I get stumped I get away from the installation for a while.
I do search the web before attempting any installation to see if there are any examples that I can follow or improve on.
If there is nothing to find then I do my own thing.
As for the drop in installations, I have only done 2 and both went very well.
The main thing is you can not be in a hurry when doing an installation!
I agree that N-scale can be a bit challenging even for plug-n-play, but the results are worth the effort. When I first began intalling I neglected to put in the captons tape between the motor feeds and the frame. The motor has to be complettely isolated from the frame and only have the motor contacts connected to the decoder. This was most of my problem.
The shop you purchased from may do installs also.
There are many good links on the internet that will give some great advice.
do a search on this forum for decoder installs and you should find a few of the links.