I purchased a new Atlas Silver Line SD7 DCC Ready intending to install a Digitrax DN163A0 decoder. After I removed the shell I discovered that the light board wiring and mounting is completely different. The light board has 2 screws to mount it and the motor leads and power pick-ups plug into the light board. Has anyone made a DCC decoder install and how is it done? Thanks in advance for an early reply Harold
Harold I have NO CLUE but have been researching conversions to DCC as well. I found this () based on your type of diesel? GOOD LUCK surely someone more knowledgeable will come along!
According to Spookshow it appears that Atlas has redesigned the SD-7 and the DCC ready one now uses an "E24" interface (which is apparently only used by ESU). I suspect it wouldn't be too hard to hardwire a decoder to the board, but without one in hand it's hard to say for sure.
Thanks Robert, a hard wire is possible but the typical drop in for Atlas would be difficult since the power wires come from the front and back trucks and plug into the light board as well as the motor wires. It is not a split frame chassis and no easy way to fasten a drop in. Using just a function decoder requires installing lights. Spookshow is correct in that the ESU E24 interface makes either sound or non sound decoders a simple plug in to the existing light board. Thanks all for your responses.
Don't know if this is a solution or not but a search for LokPilot and E24 shows a LokPilot (non-sound) with the E24 interface.. https://sbs4dcc.com/products/esu-59...a-dcc-decoder-esu-e24-integral-connector.html .... not a bad price and I really like the LokPilot series decoders. I also see there are LokSound decoders (sound) that have that interface. Sumner
Just an FYI - Scaletrains new runs of N scale SD40-2 are coming with the E24 connector for nano decoder. Because the SD40-2 model is narrow as is the Atlas SD7 and 9; it requires a narrow motherboard and smaller decoder to fit inside the shell. I was told that future releases for Scaletrains will all be changed over to that combination. Since neither the new Atlas or ST locos are split frame; you are limited on what you can install after market. Personally I will need to check to see if ESU makes a non-sound decoder to plug into the E24 connector. I run and have converted most of my fleet over to Sound BUT I believe that it would be problematic if the manufacturers don't offer that option as not everybody wants sound. Brian
I just checked and I could be wrong but I don't see that ESU offers the non sound nano (size) decoder with the E24 Connector. So its DC or DCC with sound for options? Hopefully KATO stays with split frame which enables a ton of after market options that are easily done by most modellers. Brian
Is the one I posted in the link above the right one? I've only hardwired the LokPilots so not familiar with the E24 option. Sumner
Bryan at SBS4DCC specified that decoder as well (ESU 59925). They are on back order with no delivery schedule available. I am going to wait for a while. If they don't become available, I may just get another sound decoder. I also sent an email to Atlas, They responded with the same info about needing the ESU E24 connector.
I can't find the 59925 on ESU site but that doesn't surprise me..... I could be wrong but the picture of that decoder (SBS4DCC) doesn't show the right connector which leads me to believe that the correct decoders are not yet in the pipeline. Side note; The ScaleTrains Sd40-2 delivery has now been pushed out to January of 2024. I think I pre-ordered mine in June of 2022. Maybe there will be more info about the 59925 by that time. Supposedly that nano decoder has more capabilities and outputs. The Atlas SD7/9 all come with the speakers mounted on top of the frame instead of the fuel tank. They sound pretty good. Brian
As far as hardwiring, I wasn't thinking use the typical Atlas drop in but instead use a hard wired decoder, such as a DN136D, and wiring it to the lightboard that is in the loco. You would just have to figure out where to tap into the existing light board.
Atlas changed from NCE to ESU decoders I think last year or year before(?). I have bought new Atlas/ESU with the standard slide-in, could be NOS? Maybe this is their latest version? I have changed over to the wired versions of many ESU decoders to allow bigger speaker cases in Atlas, Kato FVM and InterMountain diesels. Takes a bit of machining, but it is fun (OK, I am weird).
