new to dcc, maybe a dumb question

[dekker]

I just got a bachman spectrum 44 ton diesel switcher(ebay) like new. The item was listed as like new(and it was) and it was described as dcc wired but no decoder was intalled. I looked at the instruction sheet but it does not show much, anyway I took the shell off and there is a tiny little decoder looking item that has about 6 to 7 wires solderd into, what to me, looks like a pc board and there is a little sticker on top of the decoder looking thing that has a 4 digit number. I do not see anyplace to plug something in. So is it possible that this loco DOES have the decoder installed already and that the 4 digit number is what I would use to program a dcc controller? Thanks

 

[UP2CSX]

No, I don't think so. The older runs of the 44 tonner were "DCC Ready" only in that the motor was isolated from the frame. The PCB board you're looking at is for light and motor control but it's not DCC. I don't know if you have the one or two motor version. There's a good article about installing a Digitrax decoder in a two motor 44 tonner at http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/dz121_in_bachm.htm but the same basic technique can be used for the single motor version. It does take some soldering skill to complete the conversion but many modelers have done it and survived.