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I Recently purchased an athearn rtr ac4400 quick plug dcc and after opening this model i noticed how low the detail was. i am new at this and have never added details to a loco before. i want add working ditch lights to this model and i have no idea what im doing could someone please point me in the right direction.
I Recently purchased an athearn rtr ac4400 quick plug dcc and after opening this model i noticed how low the detail was. i am new at this and have never added details to a loco before. i want add working ditch lights to this model and i have no idea what im doing could someone please point me in the right direction.
I did a CNW Dash 9 a while back. Check out the link and let me know if you have questions.
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19260
I want to drill out the fake ditch lights and add working ones.
I'm new and completely lost. i dont even know where to start
I want to drill out the fake ditch lights and add working ones.
List of Items needed.
1.5v lamps (I use 1.5v 30ma Micro Engineering Lamps)
330 ohm 1/4watt resistors (Radio Shack is great for this)
Shrink wrap tubing 1/16inch.
Drill bit. Just larger than a 1.5V lamp.
Detail Associates Ditch Lights with Stand
DCC Decoder with Function 1 working.
To start I recommend cutting off the original ditch light lens. Not the stand, but just the lens part. Next glue the Detail Associates ditch light lens. Once dry drill it out all the way through the shell. Test fit the lamp, but do not force it. You want to be able to get it out may it burn out after being used for a long time. Next is wiring up the light.
To wire I use F1 on the decoder. I prefer Digitrax DH163D. Take one lead from each lamp to be your common (blue wire on 9pin harness) Solder them together and then splice into the blue on the 9 pin harness. Do not cut the blue but do a wrap splice onto it. The board needs the blue to run your front and rear lights. Next cut F1 from the harness so you can solder to it. It is the green wire on the 9 pin harness. On the two reaming lamp leads solder one 330ohm resistor. Each lamp will need one. The solder the two resistors to the green wire for F1. Use shrink wrap tubing to cover all the connection. You do not want them to touch or they will fry the decoder.
Now test the loco. When you turn on f1 the ditch lights should light. If they are too bright use a larger resistor to bring the volts down. As for the wires I tape them up in the shell. so they can be removed for service. All thats left is paint on the parts and put the shell back on.
Hope this helps.
I believe Athearn RTRs need to be isolated from motor from the chassis. I don't know how, I just send my locos to Mark (MGWSY) here on the forum for all my decoder installs, because I already fried a couple of decoders. He does excellent work and is very reasonable prices.
If you're new at this, I don't recommend trying to install a decoder and lights.
Thank you very much.
-Drew
The decoder is already installed.
If its a RTR with the 9 pin plug in and play the motor is already isolated. All you have to do is plug your decoder in. If it is done like you say all you have to do is wire it.
Be sure to think about the sound feature as well before you purchase the decoder. To add sound will require a different decoder as well as a speaker. This option is much more $$$ but is worth it if you are thinking about sound.
Dave
Thank you i forgot about that i do want to add sound .
I've purchased some decoders from Tony's Train Exchange and I've been real happy with their service.
http://www.tonystrains.com/products/digitrax_decs_sound.htm If you don't get all your questions answered on the site just give them a call and I'm sure they will be glad to help. They did for me.
I don't have anything to do with them other then I purchased from them before.
Dave
In my opinion, nothing beats the Soundtraxx Tsunami. Best price is at Litchfield Station.
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/home.php
They offer free shipping on all orders over $75. A single Tsunami will put it over that so you can order a bunch of other goodies like wires and speakers and get free shipping.
If you're looking to install a QSI Revolution or need DCC help in general, Tony's is great. Just be careful, they are affiliated with QSI so they will try to sell you QSI products (not a problem if you decide to go with QSI)
Hey thanks man i'll give tony's a try i let you know how my project is going.
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