So I’ve gotten some locomotive’s and I’m not sure what i actually have. A proto 1000 f unit, a proto 2000 gp7 and a spectrum h10-44. I’m sure the p1k is straight DC but what are the other two?
I knowthat I can open them and look but with my calloused arthritic fingers, I’m lucky to get them out of the package.h
All may; or, may not be DCC, no way of telling unless you can remove the shell; or, put on your DCC programing track and read their addresses.
Place them all on the track. Apply DC power. Gradually increase the voltage. If they all accelerate evenly at approximately the same rate, then they are all DC. If some require more power just to get them moving, then those are DCC.
This would be news to me! When I was only DC, I don’t think any of my locos started at; or, ran at the same speeds.
If the loco has what is called a dual mode decoder, you will probably need at least half throttle to get them to move.
If no decoder, the loco will move at a lower setting. There is quite a lot of difference between both versions.
The decoder in a DCC loco needs at least five volts DC before the microprocessor even wakes up and maybe a couple more volts to begin moving.
Rich
Last I knew, Bachmann sold a H16-44. They might have sold a H10-44 many years ago but it would not have been a Spectrum.
Below is the diagram from the Bachmann website. That one is straight DC. Not easy to convert to DCC. According to the Parts list at the Bachmann site, there are no parts for a H10-44, only a H16-44 and nothing indicates it comes DCC ready or DCC onboard.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/64112.pdf
Rich
Just checked. The H16-44 is a standard line loco, not a Spectrum
Rich
Bachmann never produced an H10-44. Their H16-44 represents a late-production engine.
And how long ago was that? The locos listed by the OP seem to be of recent origin.
The Proto 2000 powered locomotives use to come in a blue box with the shell off before walthers bought them. I know some Proto 2000 locomotives have a DCC plug.
Under Walthers, they have a grey box, and are packaged with the shell on. These are either DCC ready or equipped with DCC and sound. It should say on the box.
If you bought then used, ask the previous owner.
Only SOUND dual mode decoders need excessive throttle to run on DC. A simple dual mode motor decoder? Shouldn’t need to be turned up much more than if the loco has diodes for a constant/directional lighting circuit, like the DC Proto 2000 locos mostly do.
Or some might not move at all - as a matter of standard practice I always disable the DC feature in my locos when I install the decoder. I only ever run them on my layout or at the club, and it’s DCC in both places. Helps prevent runaway locos to disable the DC feature in the decoder. All in all, just putting it on the track and connecting a DC power pack isn’t much of a test - if you put one of my locos on a DC track, you could determine that either a) it is a DC loco, but broken or, if it even occurs to you, b) a DCC loco with the DC mode disabled. With access to a DCC system, you could tell more. First on the program track, if it reads something, it’s definitely DCC. If not, it could be unreadable for any number of reasons, or not have a decoder at all and be a DC loco. A quick test on the DCC main, even if you don;t have a system that uses address 00 for DC operation, will prove one more thing - if it did not read on the program track, but ‘sings’ on DCC track power, it’s a DC loco. If it does nothing, it either has a decoder or there is something broken.
Remember those crazy puzzle problems, like “Joe has 3 friends. None of Joe’s friends is on the football team. Bob is on the football team, and plays another sport along with one of Joe’s friends. What sport does Joe play?” This is what sort of thing they were trying to teach.
–Randy
Shouldn’ta skipped school that day.
Back again. The P1k was purchased new as part of a trainset (the price was less than the cars are worth!) so I;m pretty certain that it is DC.
The P2k was an ebay purchase, new in box. Gray box so I guess newer production run. I was under the impression P2k came dcc equipped?
The Spectrum (Baldwin switcher for sure, model unclear right now) is the big question. The last Spectrum I bought was a 2-8-0 with sound. I am under the impression Spectrums come with sound? This is likely an older model as the box is black with “spectrum” in computer font rather than the script on the 2-8-0.
At any rate, they were all purchased for well below going prices so if I need to add decoders I’m still money ahead.
I’m more in tune with Atlas locos and their grades/features
Did you place on the programing track to see if you can read their addresses? Whether a loco comes with DCC is a crap shoot. I have installed $20.00 decoders in many DC locos, so it is possible any locomotive, no matter its’ age, can be equipped with DCC.
I believe all Proto2000s are at least DCC ready. The prewalthers had the DCC plugs, but I am not sure if a DCC versions was offered. Walthers sells DC versions and DCC versions.