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NMRA

Education and Training Program presents

NMRA Education and Training Program

DCC Decoder Installation

Installing a DCC Decoder while not

emptying your wallet

In other words - CHEAP

Learning Objectives

• What tools you will need

• What supplies you will need & where to buy them

• How to install LED lighting

• How to make your own – LED Tester

Solder Fixture for Wiring

• Types of basic decoders and there differences such as manufacturers,

functions & warranties

• Why & where to buy a decoder tester & how to modify it to suit your needs

• Locations of help on the Internet

• And lastly, step by step instructions on installing decoders in a Proto 2000

GP9 and Stewart F7A locomotives

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This clinic is designed to give you that nudge to get you started

installing decoders in your locomotives. You already have a DCC

system and a few DCC locos that you bought ready to run with

decoders already installed. Now you want to tackle those locos that

are just sitting there waiting to be converted.

And do it for a reasonable cost !

The Basics

• ToolsSoldering Iron – Pencil Type 25 watt

Volt Ohm Meter

Wire Strippers

Wire Cutters

Small Screwdrivers

Heat Gun or Old Soldering Iron (For Heat Shrink Tubing)

Decoder Tester (We will talk about in a moment)

Optivisor Magnifier (For us old guys)

LED Tester (We will talk more about later)

Work area with good lighting

Decoder Tester

Testing your decoder before installing it

can save you a lot of grief !

Below are some examples of what is on the market

• NCE Model DTK $24.95 List

Litchfield Station sells for $19.46

• Loksound ESU Model 51900 $49.90 List

Litchfield Station sells for $39.89

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Decoder Tester

• Ulrich Model DT-01 $49.95 List

Tony’s sells for $39.95

• Build Your Own – RailRoad Model Craftsman Magazine

September 2001 Issue

Decoder Tester

Regardless of what brand of decoder tester you buy you will want to

modify it to suit your needs.

LED TesterTo make a simple LED tester you need to following:

9 Volt Battery Connector

470 ohm Resistor

Heat Shrink Tubing

Miniature Socket – Molex Style

9 Volt Battery

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Wire Soldering Fixture

Alligator Clips

The copper clips that I used on the Decoder Tester are available at

Radio Shack for $2.99

The Basics

• Supplies

Heat Shrink Tubing (1/16 & 3/64”)

Kapton Tape

Electrical Tape

LED’s (3mm Warm White)

1k ¼ watt Resistors Color Code: Brown Black Red

Wire (30 Gauge 7 Strand)

Solder & Flux

Tip Tinner

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Kapton Tape

Flux & Tip Tinner

LED’s

What kind of LED’s do you use for headlights ?

Warm White LED’s simulate incandescent light.

What size LED’s should you use ?

T-1 3mm with a dome or flat top. Flat top LED’s

do not focus the light forward so you will have to

sand the end flat to focus the light forwards.

What if I can’t find warm white LED’s. What

else can you use ? You can paint cool white

LED’s with Tamiya Clear Orange or Clear

Yellow paint .

LED’s

Where can I find 3mm LED’s ?

NCE – 10 pack Golden Glow

Walthers 524-218 $18.95 List

Digitrax – 10 pack Warm White

Walthers ACC-T1W $14.99 List

Miniatronics – 10 pack Yeloglo w/resistors

Walthers 475-1231010 $18.95 List

Newark Electronics – Part Number 14N9390 .34 ea bulk

Multicomp MCL034SWC-YH1

Christmas Tree Lights – By far the cheapest option.

A string of 50 costs less than $10.

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Christmas Tree Lights

Christmas Tree Lights

Where to buy Supplies

Litchfield Station, LLC1412 N Central Ave Suite D

Avondale, AZ 85323-1316

Phone : 623-298-7355 or 888-395-3976

http://www.litchfieldstation.com

Shipping is Flat Rate $4.00 per order

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Where to buy Supplies

Tony’s TrainsPinewood Plaza

57 River Road, Suite 1023

Essex Junction, Vermont 05452

Phone 1-800-978-3472

http://www.tonystrains.com

Where to buy Supplies

• Radio Shack http://www.radioshack.com

• Digi-Key http://www.digikey.com

• Local Electronics Surplus http://www.electronicsurplus.com

• MCM Electronics http://www.mcmelectronics.com

• Newark Electronics http://www.newark.com/

• Manufacturers also sell supplies

Information on the Internet

• Tony’s Trains

http://www.tonystrains.com/download/dec-installation-hout.pdf

• Mr. DCC University – Bruce Petrarca

http://www.mrdccu.com

• Yahoo Group Blogs

• Manufacturers Web Sites

• Mark Gurries Web Site

https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries

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Decoders

• We are not going to discuss sound decoders in this clinic.

Sound decoders are a clinic on there own.

• Three basic types of decoder interfaces found in the US market:

1. 8 Pin Plug or NEM-652 or NMRA Medium

2. 9 Pin Plug or JST 9 Pin or Digitrax 9 Pin

3. Hardwired

• In addition to the above there are countless other decoders

which are made specifically for certain installations. But by

being custom they carry a higher price.

Decoders

• What decoder do I need?

A basic two or four function decoder is the most

economical.

• Now you ask, what the heck is a function?

A function is simply a light output. Each light on your

locomotive will require a function output.

Example: Head Light - 1 function output

+ Back Light - 1 function output

+ Ditch Lights - 2 function outputs

= 4 function outputs

Decoders

Motors & Decoders – A very important relationship !

Motors Draw Current - Decoders Feed Current

You need to match the decoder to the motor. In most cases

the manufacturer of the decoder has done that for you by

labeling the decoder for a certain gauge locomotive. As a

general rule of thumb, you want a closed frame motor or can

motor in you locomotive. Open frame motors often have

current requirements higher than the output of the decoder.

The end result usually involves smoke. Not a good thing,

since manufacturers know what happens when you overload

a decoder and will deny you a warranty replacement. We

will talk more about warranties later on.

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Decoders

• Whose Decoder should I buy?

NCE

D13SR – 4 Function w/wires $19.95 List

D13SRJ – 4 Function w/9 Pin Plug $19.95 List

Ten Packs of either one are $174.95 List

TCS

T1 – 2 Function w/9 Pin Plug $26.74 List

T1-LED – 2 Function w/9 Pin Plug and Resistors $26.74 List

Digitrax

DH123D – 2 Function w/9 Pin Plug $19.99 List

SoundTraxx (Tsunami)

MC2H104P9 – 4 Function w/9 Pin Plug $23.95 List

MC1H102P8 – 2 Function w/Direct Plug 8 Pin $19.95 List

Decoder Do’s & Don’ts

• Don’t strip the wires back on the decoder leads until after

you test it. This will void some warranties. That is why

you should test your decoder before installing.

• Do ground yourself before handling your decoders. You

can do this by simply touching a metal workbench or a

metal lamp base. Decoders are electronic components

and static electricity can destroy them.

Decoder Warranties

OK, lets talk about Decoder Warranties

NCE – One year providing you don’t strip the wires back.

or $10.00 fee to fix or replace any decoder.

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Decoder Warranties

TCS – One year goof proof coverage. Kind of like Craftsman

hand tools only better. You can even abuse it and they

will replace it no charge.

Decoder Warranties

Digitrax – One year “No Worries Warranty”

Decoder Warranties

SoundTraxx - 90 Day “Safety Net” Warranty

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Before Starting

• Read the Owners Manual for the engine before starting. Many

times there are notes about installing a decoder which can cause

great pain if not followed. Sometimes there are traces which

need to be cut or jumpers changed.

• Check the color code of the wires on the decoder. Most decoders

are made to the NMRA specs but mistakes can happen.

• And finally, read the instructions which came with the decoder.

Color Codes

Time For Surgery

Our 1st patient is a Proto 2000 GP9

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NCE D13SRJ Decoder

NCE D13SRJ Decoder

Proto 2000 Instructions

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Starting Point

Unplug the 8 Pin Board

Remove the Black Light Covers

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Remove the Light Board

At This Time We Could Just Replace the Lights &

Add a Decoder

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Spare Parts

Ready for Conversion

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Test Your LED’s

Let’s Build Some Lights

Close-Up of My Soldering Fixture

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Adding the White Function Lead

Finished Rear Light

Finished Rear Light in Locomotive

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Finished Front Light in Locomotive

All of the Decoder Wires Have Been Hooked Up

Close-Up of Wiring

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Apply Electrical Tape for Insulation

Check Power Pick-Up Wires for Correct Slack

Look Ma ! No Smoke !

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Time to Secure Everything

Leftover Engine Parts

Leftover Decoder Wire

Stewart F7A

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Starting Point

8 Pin Socket

Cut the wires to the board

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Spare Part

Ready for Conversion

NCE D13SR Decoder

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Insulate the Decoder

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Questions ?

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