I am considering purchasing an Athearn diesel. I am still debating about going from DC to DCC. I am extremely new in the hobby.
If an Athearn engine is advertised by stating in the product description, “DCC ready wiring harness installed.” What does that mean as to one’s ability to slip in a decoder if one chooses to make the transition to DCC? Can you just plug in the decoder without soldering? I need some help.
DCC ready means that you have to unplug the dummy plug and replace it with a decoder. There are two different types of plugs on this particular circuit board. There is the nine pin towards the front of the loco and there is the eight pin towards the back. The eight pin needs to be soldered in order to work. If you choose to use the 8 pin decoder, you must remove the dummy plug. If you don’t, the decoder will be fried.
Hope this helps.
Thank you so much. I will probably be purchasing the Digitrax Zephyr and installing a digitrax decoder. Therefore according to what I understand from what you said, I will need to get an eight pin decoder and remove the eight pin from the backof the engine. Remove the dummy plug and place the decoder in and solder the leads of the decoder to where the dummy plug was. Am I right or am I totally wrong? Please remember I am a big-time newbie with these decoders. Please help.
The 9 pin is easier to install. The dummy plug is only on the socket for the 9 pin. There is no plug on the 8 pin. I should have been more specific. Digitrax has a list of what you should use. They suggest the 9 pin. Again, no matter which one you use, you will need to remove the dummy plug. You have to remove the dummy plug any way to make the 9 pin work. I hope I have clarified it.
A Zephyr is a good choice, but I’d recommend TCS (Train Control Systems) decoders. Their instructions are much easier and are all-inclusive. Digitrax gives you instruction on setting a few CV’s (Control Values) then says to go to their website or buy their “Big Book of DCC” to learn how to do the rest. TCS also has a pretty extensive listing of decoder installation “how to’s” along with pics:
http://www.tcsdcc.com/HO_Search/search.html?search=athearn
Or better yet just go look in the Zephyr manual and it will tell you how to change CV’s(Configuration Variables[%-)]). The Zephyr is a great choice as well as purchasing a Digitrax decoder. That’s what I started with when I first got into DCC. If you need any help with programming just go into the DCC section here and post your question. There are lots of DCC “experts” here that will help so you don’t need to go out and buy any DCC books
The Zephyr includes the current Digitrax Decoder Manual in the box.
I second the recommendation of the TCS decoders. Easier to work with, and the Athearns will start on speed step 1, when the Back-EMF is turned on.