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manufacturers. If a loco, marketed as "DCC-Ready," fails this
test, it belongs in either the "DCC-Aware" category or the “DCC
Ignorant” category.
Figure 2 shows the Athearn Ready-to-Run light board
(outside of a loco). Once you remove the shell, you see this
on top of the motor. You simply remove the (white) JST
plug and adapter board and plug in the JST decoder of your
choosing. Almost every DCC manufacturer makes JST (9-pin)
connectored decoders.
Another example of truly "DCC-Ready" is the Atlas C424 in
figure 3. After removing the shell, installation is simply a matter
of plugging the decoder into the NEM-652 (8-pin) socket.
DCC-Aware
The next level is what I call "DCC-Aware." By this term I mean
that the manufacturer was aware of the needs of DCC and
designed their product for easy decoder instalation.
Things like easy access to the wiring and total motor isolation
go a long way toward filling this bill. Isolated light wiring helps,
too. NMRA DCC color code compliance is the icing on the cake.
4
4: Model Power N-scale steamer has room for an
HO-sized decoder.
DCC Impulses Column - 4
For example, I rate the N-scale Model Power steamers released
about 8 years ago about 80% DCC-Aware. Figure 4 shows a
Lenz (HO-scale) LE1024W decoder installed in one of these
locos. They have an easy to remove tender shell. Inside, there
is enough room for many different N- and Z-scale decoders.
They even have NMRA color coded wires for the motor and
track connections. All one need to do is clip the splices off and
wire the decoder, matching the colors. Why do I say 80%? Well,
you may have noted that I didn’t mention lighting wires. The
headlight is wired to the track pickup in the loco. To add on/off
capability for the headlight requires extensive disassembly of
the loco itself.
I expect that locos in this category require a bit of
disassembly and soldering to install a decoder and make the
lights work on DCC.
DCC-Ignorant
I can come up with many examples of locos that were designed
without a clue about DCC. In all fairness, many of them were
designed before the NMRA embraced the Lenz-patented DCC.
However, command control systems that need to be inserted
between the power pick-up and the motors have been around
since the 1980s. So, while the designers of "DCC-Ignorant" locos
may get a bit of forgiveness, there is no absolution for them.
Most prevalent of the "DCC-Ignorant" locos are the split frame
designs. Here, each half the frame is connected to a rail and
the motor is cradled between the halves, making contact with
both. This design is reliable and cost-effective, just a pain to
put a decoder into. Add to the mix the fact that these are
frequently small locos, like N-scale or HO scale switchers, and
the installation gets even more difficult.
MRH-Apr 2013
