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I like DCC but I don't like gutting my engines. Here a simple way of adding dcc to a USAT f3a It should work with gp 9 as well.
I open the F3
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Notice the plugs are the same as aristocraft part 29511 plug for power to tender
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You will need 2 sets of these
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Unplug the track power pick up line for the front and rear blocks, labled pick 1 and pick 2 plug in the new cables from aristo
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I am using an MRC 1817 sound decoder. It is a new design and is considered "silent" the sound quality is equal to the Dalley unit and is much worse than a QSI chip.
It's also half the cost at $65. The 1817 is rated at 5amps.
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All that's left to do is attach the leads from the track to the track terminals on the chip and attach the leads from the main board to the motor terminals of the MRC 1817.Be aware that the wiring is simulat to aristocraft in that the red track power wire from the front truck lead and the black track power wire from the rear truck are the same side. hook up your speaker ( I recommend using anything other than the supplied speaker from mrc as it is cr*p). I had a small pc speaker from a old PC that worked nicely. Close it up test it and you're done.
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Now for the sd70 I still need QSI to come out with there USAT version.
Downside of this installation
1 When the train stops the lights go out
2 you cant use dcc to turn your head light on or off
Upside
1 the red to green directional led still works.I like this feature
2 I did not have to gut my engine
3 the dual smoke unit works fine, the chip seems to be able to handle the load fine.
I open the F3
Notice the plugs are the same as aristocraft part 29511 plug for power to tender
You will need 2 sets of these
Unplug the track power pick up line for the front and rear blocks, labled pick 1 and pick 2 plug in the new cables from aristo
I am using an MRC 1817 sound decoder. It is a new design and is considered "silent" the sound quality is equal to the Dalley unit and is much worse than a QSI chip.
It's also half the cost at $65. The 1817 is rated at 5amps.
All that's left to do is attach the leads from the track to the track terminals on the chip and attach the leads from the main board to the motor terminals of the MRC 1817.Be aware that the wiring is simulat to aristocraft in that the red track power wire from the front truck lead and the black track power wire from the rear truck are the same side. hook up your speaker ( I recommend using anything other than the supplied speaker from mrc as it is cr*p). I had a small pc speaker from a old PC that worked nicely. Close it up test it and you're done.
Now for the sd70 I still need QSI to come out with there USAT version.
Downside of this installation
1 When the train stops the lights go out
2 you cant use dcc to turn your head light on or off
Upside
1 the red to green directional led still works.I like this feature
2 I did not have to gut my engine
3 the dual smoke unit works fine, the chip seems to be able to handle the load fine.
