i have collected ho trains most are Kato…some different ones…all are DCC and i have a Bachman DCC system that does 10 locos…my question is…Are the kato’s all ready hve the DCC in them or do you have to by a chip or something #2 is will my Bachman work with Kato or no…and if so can someone explain how to use DCC or what the right stuff is i need to make it work…sorry im new to Dcc world and help is much needed here Thanx for all help,Russell
I’m confused. You first state all are DCC then ask if they have DCC in them. So which is it? If they are all DCC then they already have the chip in them - commonly called a decoder. If they are not DCC then the decoder will need to be added.
DCC is DCC regardless of brand. That is why they make standards. The Bachmann DCC controller can operate any brand of decoder.
Didn’t the Bachmann DCC controller come with a user manual? For the most part one would connect the power supply to the DCC controller, connect the two wires from the DCC controller to the track, put the DCC equipped locomotive on the track, call up channel #3, and run the train.
To tell you that we would need a whole lot more information than what has been provided. To start with, what are the exact Kato units which are already owned.
well like i said im new to this…but every unit says DCC on the box…but i here things like a “decoder” i dont know what that is…if its built in…something sold seprate or what …and the Bachman controler did come with directions…i did what the instructions said…like i here the loco make some funny noises when i program it but it wont run and if i put it to regular DC it works fine…im not good with instructions…better when someone explains it to me
While it is not an absolute, if the box says “DCC ready” it usually means that it has a plug for the easy addition of a decoder, if the box says “DCC on board” or “DCC equipped” or similar, it usually has the decoder factory installed. Most decoders are factory set to address 3. The address is easily changed, though the Bachmann system can only use addresses 1 through 9.
Decoder equipped engines can be operated on either DCC or DC, thought the DC capability can be turned off by changing a CV setting. A DC engine will only work on DC power, but many DCC systems can use “zero stretching” to make their signal asymetric enough to run one DC engine. Over all, that is not good for the DC engine so I wouldn’t do it long term.
heck myCN 6256 SD40-2 wont even run on 0 and but the others will??? this thing has me baffeled. If i pop the shell off there is a circut boar with little metal jumpers…is that DCC ready or equipped???
Now if you could tell us what scale you are in and the brand of your locos, I know some but not all are Kato, this will direct us towards the type of equipment you are running and towards some solutions.
If you are into HO, none of the Kato produced thus far are DCC equiped, one must purchase and install a decoder into each unit.
No N Scale Kato engines have been produced with decoders installed.
They have plenty that are “DCC ready”.
HO scale…i only have one thats not kato i think its atlas…i know its DCC “ready” too but what i dont understan is why that the SD40-2 and the GP40 CSX dont even run on regular DC
ok it says it has a NMRA 8 pin plug for DCC (decoder ready)…what does that mean …and what do i need to get to make it work???i know some of you are laughing but thanks for thoes of you who are willing to help
You need a decoder (any brand) with an 8 pin harness on it. Should cost about $15.
Just plug it into the plug on the engine then change the address from 3 to another address.
well it has thiese little jumper metal pieaces in there do i take them out???
If there is a dummy plug in the engine with jumpers it will obviously have to come out in order to plug the decoder in. But the manual that came with the engine will have the instructions for installing the decoder.
Yes you have to take them out, these are for DC operation. Do you happen to have first release SD80 and SD90, there is a possibility to short the decoder on these. If you do I will provide a link to Tony’s site for a work around.
That SD40-2 is it a first production release ? If so there is a pickup problem with those, you have to hard wire the trucks pickup on these units.
yeah i got it when it first came out…it was featured in BN colors but i got a CN one it was like 150 bucks…working ditch lights and stuff …it was featured a long time ago in a model railroader mag a while back thats when i got it …so im guessing i got a 150 dollar POS lol thanx for all the help guys …so how do i fix the SD40-2
Nope that SD40-2 is the latest release from Kato does not need any fixing. Unless there is something I am not aware of.
huh idk i never had the hood open lol maybe it doesnt have the jumpers for DC running guess im gonna have to look