Train store gives me an 8 pin MRC decoder for my 9 pin Athearn F59?!? Uh, now what?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I asked for a decoder with sound for my Athearn F59 Sounder which is supposed to be DCC ready so he gives me an 8 pin MRC #1626!! So much for plug and play! Is there an 9 to 8 pin adapter or am I going to have to solder this thing on somehow? Thanx

2

Sounds like one of three things happened:

  1. He sold you the wrong one

  2. He sold you what he had in stock to make the sale

  3. He has no idea which is the right one.

Personally I would return it and probably start shopping elsewhere if it is 2 or 3

3

Did you specify it was for an engine with a 9-pin set-up??

You should be able to find an eight-pin to nine-pin short adapting harness. However, if the decoder has a separate eight-pin harness (i.e. the eight pin is not an integral part of the decoder like a “plug and play” one) then the harness is probably an 8-pin on one end and 9-pin on the decoder end. If you remove the harness you may be able to plug the decoder in??

Otherwise you could use an adapter harness, but you might end up with a situation where you have a 9-pin decoder connected to a harness to convert it to 8-pin, connected to a harness to convert it back to 9-pin.

[:)]

4

Umm, could you maybe go back to the store and ask for the correct decoder?

Did you know you needed a 9 pin decoder when you left with the 8 pin?

5

I was holding the loco in my hand at the time because he had it in stock. I’ll try to find an adapter if not I’ll pay someone to install it in my UP DD40AX and buy the right one for the Athearn F59PHI.

6

Rob, don’t think you will have much luck getting an adapter for the 8 pin. I’m thinking your best bet would be to get a Digitrax harness, cut the 8 pin plugh off and solder the decoder wires to wires on the Digitrax harness. MRC changed their 1650 decoder (to the 1651) so it would accomodate the 9 pin plug. (It comes with a harness that has an 8 pin plug).

I don’t believe MRC makes a 9 pin sound decoder, or for that matter a sound decoder appropriate for an F59.

As for the DD40Ax conversion, is it a Spectrum DD40Ax? I’ve converted one and can give you some tips/ideas if you’d like.

Tilden

7

Yes it’s a Spectrum DD40. I’ll take any advise you can give me. Thank you!