Hi im fairly new to DCC and was just wandering how do i install decoders in athearn RTR locos i mean i know theres a quick plug but is there anything else that you have to do like change lights etc… Also can you possibly buy a decoder with the sound and actual decoder all put together for those? Thanks
CRR,
Not all Athearn RTR locos have DCC plugs. The older generation of RTR Athearn’s did not (F7’s, GP40’s, etc.). You can figure that anything that was old Athearn that came out as RTR did not have plugs originally. These have to be hardwired.
However, anything that used to be Rail Power Products or MDC/Roundhouse…these all have DCC plugs. The Roundhouse RS-3’s, the RPP GP40X’s, RPP CF-7’s, GP60M’s, etc., all have DCC plugs.
In my experience, I have not had to change any bulbs or add resistors to any of my Athearn DCC-plug equipped RTR locos. I have one RS-3, and I’ve seen plenty of CF-7’s and others, and none of us have had to change the lighting wiring. All I’ve had to do is take off the shell, remove the dummy plug, plug in a Digitrax DH123D decoder, and put the shell back on. Simple.
As for sound, it’s not that easy. You can get sound decoders that have motor decoders built into them (that’s normal). Soundtraxx, LokSound, Digitrax, etc., all offer sound/motor decoders, some of which should match most if not all of the Athearn RTR line. The problem is in the speaker installation. You may be able to get a sound decoder in a loco, but like any sound system, the speakers are the key. The bigger the better, and you must have a speaker enclosure and a way for the sound to “escape” the shell of the loco. Sound installation is not easy, and not something for the beginner unless your loco is already made for sound (see Kato F40PH, for example). No Athearn RTR locos are made for sound.
I recommend that you don’t attempt to install sound in any Athearn RTR until you gain more experience with DCC and decoder installations. You’ll only drive yourself nuts trying it.
If you really want sound in Athearn RTR, I further recommend that you deal with Tony’s Train eXchange (www.tonyst
Thanks Very informative i went to there web site and checked out there decoder sounds pretty basic to install but do you use the decoder harness because i noticed some bair wires on one end of the decoder what are those for?
Ask Tony at the Train Exchange, he and his staff are very helpfull and friendly. I don’t know what you were looking at, but there wouldn’t be any bare wires in an installation as that would cause a short when you closed up the loco, there can be extra hook up wires as not all locos use all the functions of a decoder but they would be insulated.
CRR,
If I got it right, you’re looking at a DH123D decoder, right? Like this:
Note that the wire harness is a plug (a 1 x 9 pin connector) that plugs and unplugs as need be from the DH123 decoder (shown in the pic as unplugged). When you buy a DH123D decoder for use in the Athearn RTR RS-3 (for example) you don’t use the wire harness that comes with the decoder, just the blue shrink-wrapped decoder itself. These usually come from the factory unplugged (just loose in the baggy), so you shouldn’t have to worry about it. Save the harness for some other installation, or use the wire for some other project (it’s good flexible wire).
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
Oh okay i dont need to use the harness that comes with the decoder just the blue decoder so im guessing that just plugs into the socket or circuit board or quick plug as athearn calls it that came with the loco? thanks for all the help im just new to dcc and was wanting to start out right buy all locos with either decoders in them or the dcc ready locos getting ready to get a dcc system as well but not really sure which one to get thinking maybe a digitrax or mrc prodigy system any suggestions would be helpful thanks alot everyone for the help.
Not to long ago I found a “how to” video on you tube that shows somebody installing (hardwiring) a digitraxx decoder into an athearn engine (non RTR). Here is the link to my post if you’re interested (http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1164832/ShowPost.aspx). From what some have said, there’s some rowdy music playing during the clip. I wasn’t aware of it since I have no speakers hooked up to my computer at this time, so I only saw the clip. Anyway, I hope that video helps you out since it did give me good insight on decoder installations.