DCC decoder and sound decoder install tutorials

[upnick]

Hi all,

As promised here is the lighting for the SD40 ....... Sorry the pictures are a little out of focus.

I use 3MM LED'S on HO installs though smaller ones can be utilised ........
First off install a 3MM LED holder in the square hole of the front plate shown here where the original bulb lived these are cheap at you local electrical supplier.




Next place the LED in the holder and measure the length of the white lead cut strip and tin it in readiness now you need a jumper wire from the postive side of the LED (the longer leg of the LED) tin and solder a blue wire to it keep with the decoder wiring code long enough to reach the rear LED positive leg.
Thread a length of heatshrink onto the positive lead and shrink down, now add a resistor between the other leg of the LED and white wire solder up remembering to use heatshrink.
Some 3.2 heatshrink over the LED will lessen any light seepage a tiny amount of contact or latex adhesive holds everything firm in the bracket but allow removal later if you wish .



Front LED with jumper wire and resistor installed.
Repeat fitting a resistor with the rear LED inline with the yellow wire this time as here ...... the decoder /front jumper blue wires can be seen .



As before with the red jumper wire tin and twist the decoder/front jumper blue wires together and solder to the positive leg of the rear LED, a drop of glue again will hold the rear LED to the truck pick up top (circled in green) leave enough length in the LED/wires to bend the light up to the body underside, again some 3.2 MM shrink over the LED to finish.



While doing the lighting install i always test the LED's are working at each stage, remember use heatshrink wherever a bare joint occurs and insulate especially where any joins can come into contact with metal parts.

Finally test and enjoy your newly converted loco