Hi Gang, Being new to the DCC world, I wonder if there is anyone that might be able to suggest a good book/manual on how to wire an Analog or DC Locomotive for DCC Decoders and operation. I have the Big book of DCC by Digitrax and Digital Command Control. While these books really just cover the basics, and are not that thorough, I need some help. I have a myriad of Locos from Varneys, Life-Like to modern Steam ready for DCC. Thank you all for your time and consdieration. Ron.
Ron: Welcome to the Trainboard. Wiring loco's for DCC is different for most loco's. Here is a site that can help you out. It will describe conversions for some of the more popular loco's. DCC conversions
Wiring isn't usually the hard part, it's the mechanical issue of where to stuff the little bugger! Frame milling or tender installations are common for "non-DCC ready" locos. In older locos, isolating the motor from the frame can also be problemeatical. Basically, you need to pick up track power on the red and black wires. The motor (orange and grey wires), being on the other side of all the control circuitry, can't connect to the input side or you can damage the decoder (newer decoders offer some protection, but don't push it!). If one (or both) motor contacts connect directly to the loco frame, you will have some work to do. Beyond that, only lights are left (white and yellow wires, with the blue wire as common). There's really not much to it. Doug
Ron, with every decoder you buy you should get an instruction manual that tells you how to install and program it. If you didn't get one you can usually download one from the manufacturer site or you can download a manual from our site. Our manuals cover ZIMO decoders only but the wiring colors should be the same for all decoders, so at least you can use it for installation purposes. Regards, Art Zimo Agency of North America http://www.mrsonline.net/
Ron, with every decoder you buy you should get an instruction manual that tells you how to install and program it. If you didn't get one you can usually download one from the manufacturer site or you can download a manual from our site. Our manuals cover ZIMO decoders only but the wiring colors should be the same for all decoders, so at least you can use it for installation purposes. Regards, Art Zimo Agency of North America http://www.mrsonline.net/ </font>[/QUOTE]Art: The decoder manual won't tell you how to hardwire a Spectrum 2-8-0 steam loco, or hardwire an old Kato F-7. You need specific instructions for each loco to do that. Drop-in decoders are another story. Stay cool and run steam....
Bob, what's the difference in hard wiring different loco types or brands? Every loco I worked on so far had two leads going to the motor, two to the track, one common to all lights and one individual to each light. The manual tells you which wire color goes to what connection. Where is the problem? Regards, Art Zimo Agency of North America http://www.mrsonline.net/
Art: There is no problem. Some folks like definite instructions and pictures to describe a decoder installation for a specific loco. We must not forget that many folks haven't installed decoders in loco's. Maybe you and I don't need specific individual instructions, but many folks do. Ron was very clear in his post saying he was new to the world of DCC. Stay cool and run steam.....
Ron, You're gonna love DCC! A small learning curve, and trying to speed match locos is fun... but it's great!
