Installation of a DCC Decoder for Austrains NSW 442, SA 700 and the early NRs.
The D14SR is the correct decoder for the Trainorama 44 – nothing has to be done, just fit and it works great.
|
Pin |
Connect to |
Colour |
|
1 |
Motor + |
Orange |
|
2 |
Lamp Rear |
Yellow |
|
3 |
Optional |
Optional |
|
4 |
Track Pickup |
Black |
|
5 |
Motor - |
Gray |
|
6 |
Lamp Front |
White |
|
7 |
Lamp common |
Blue |
|
8 |
Track Pickup |
Red |
The Austrains diesels, the NSW 442, SA 700 and the early releases of the NRs came from the factory with their DCC Ready Plugs incorrectly wired. Fitting a decoder to the 8 pin socket may damage the decoder. Before fitting a DCC decoder to these locos, the wiring has to cross checked to ensue the relevant pins go to the correct places. Use the table on the right and the supplied decoder instructions.
Incorrect wiring is at pins 4, 5
The affected wiring is wiring between pin 4 and 5 have been reversed and the lights are connection are incorrect.
Pin 1 has a “triangle” identifying it on the plug.
I have fitted the below decoders to the 442 and NR.
NCE D13SR – at A$19 - $24, the cheapest of all decoder. This decoder is available at quantity buys. Silent running and a really neat job, due all wiring can be terminated individually by soldering at the decoder. Headlights and decoder are incompatible. Note, if using this decoder, due to its longer length, cut off threaded posts that held in the previous diode light board or use a double thickness of double sided tape to ensure that the decoder does not contact these posts and cause a short.
NCE D14SR – at A$35 it is twice as much as a D13SR. A direct replacement with a NMRA DCC Ready socket. If the loco wiring is correct and if the locos headlights were 12 volt, this would be the easiest way to go about 10 minutes to swap over. Headlights and decoder incompatible.
TCS T1 – at A$26 a great decoder, with limited back EMF. Decoder is terminated with a plug and harness that is long enough to reach headlights and pickups. Headlights and decoder incompatible.
Lenz Gold – at A$70 for a true back EMF with outstanding performance. All the normal features. A better decoder you cannot get, but the highest price tag. Too expensive for a normal DCC installation. Headlights and decoder ae incompatible.
Digitrax DH163LO – at A$48, this is a good decoder as a direct replacement with the DCC Ready plug. This decoder includes a “Current Regulator” that lets you use the loco’s original 1.5 volt headlights, with no modifications and if the DCC Ready Plug wiring is correct there will be no alterations required. The perfect decoder for this loco, but at a price. This is a completely compatible decoder. If you can solder the two voltage dropping resistors, connect the two 1.5 lamps as I have done with the installation of the NR with a NCE D13SR, you can save $28, (48 – approx 20 = 28) for a little extra work. You choose, I have shown how to.
This loco does create a few problems, namely the DCC Ready Plug wiring, if incorrect from the factory and the 1.5 volt incandescents. All decoder installations, except the Digitrax DH163LO, will require some attention to headlights, so as you can see there are decisions to be made. There are many alternatives that you will have to chose by price, features and ease of fitting.