Hi guys, i was just gonna ask what encoder should i use with the Kato Ac4400cw and athearn gen sd70m… Id appreciate your help… thanx in advance…
I’m pretty sure that digitrax or NCE makes decoders for your engines. Although I’m not sure if they are a drop-in installation or you have to replace the lights.
Could someone elaborate on this?
Dave
Look at Tony’s Train Exchange’s Web site or give them a call. You should be able to find NCE decoders to fit both of those locomotives at Tony’s – I believe the NCE type DA-SR fits both.
The sd70m would take a dh163a0. It is a circuit board replacment decoder. You will need to put resistors in with the lights as well as be pretty good with a soldering iron as the pads for function outputs are tiny. I’ve installed one of these boards in an atlas and it went pretty well. I’m getting ready to install one in my own SD70M in NS paint. This is of course assuming that your model doesn’t have the nine pin harness. If it does then a dh163 will do and all you would have to do is plug it in. As for the Kato there are boards made for them too. I recommend dealing with Loy’s Toys www.loystoys.com get thier number from the website and give them a call they’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have. Good luck.
Jesse
Decoder, not encoder please. Most encoders probably cost more than your railroad.
thanks guys… i really appreciate your help… and sorry abut the confusion on encdoers and decoders…