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Post by jwar on Oct 30, 2014 1:17:28 GMT -5
 ![]() Making room for a decoder and modifying the trucks pickups. This engine is an insulated split frame , one half frame is positive and the other is neg, even the headlight uses both sides of the frame for voltage. When done this will be an insulated frame, from motor and trucks, as it is now its hot all the time. Ill get to the trucks later in another pic
Notice the deep groves in the side of the frame, groves on the sides will be for truck wiring, the grove toward the left will be the channel for head light and running the trucks back to the decoder, also for the truck light of which I will cover later. Before ya start hacking away, note the wood strips, these were cut to sit on that walkway support, as wide as the depth of cu ( I cut down to the wood.) and with one on each side make a nice setup for putting in the vice. Had a double blade in my hacksaw to cut the side groves, then a dermal ball cutter , be sure of no burs and round out end so no sharp 90 degree ends, that will cause abrasion to the wires. The grove down the back slope is for the cab light, also another wire for the strobe, using one blue from cab back to decoder.
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Post by lajmdlr on Oct 30, 2014 9:47:56 GMT -5
A TCS M series will just barely fit in the headlight notch on the top front of the chassis. Got one off eBay that was done that way.
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Post by jwar on Oct 30, 2014 12:20:05 GMT -5
Hi Andy. That is what I have decided, like TCS products and will go with the M with four functions. Main thing I want to do is get away from the split frame pos/neg design as its not really DCC friendly as it is. frame will not now have voltage, wiring straight to the truck . Also want a cab strobe and truck lights.
This is a friends engine and he might want sound, which is also a easy to do now, may have to hack some more off.
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Post by jwar on Nov 1, 2014 22:24:31 GMT -5
NW 2 is now wired straight from trucks to decoder, this isolated the frame, before this modification it was a split frame with one half Pos, the other Neg. Note coupler can now be used with a metallic screw, before it had to be plastic, a metal screw would be a direct short.
I routed the sides for wire routes, taper the bottom as it gives this small wire room to slightly flex, if to small it bends sharp and wont last. Will also add fiber optic truck light after programing decoder and testing, another reason groves so wide and radius at hood so deep, fiber don't like to bend and loose a bit if to sharp.
Headlight board trace cut as it was the electrical path before, wired direct to decoader, installed led and 680 Ohm resistor. Cab light is just the led and resistor
ground off hood dimples that locked hood on, hood is easy on easy off,
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Post by jwar on Nov 2, 2014 0:13:13 GMT -5
 Original truck pick ups of which make this model Non DCC friendly, even if a decoder is installed it laying in a electrically hot frame, is best to isolate the frame, see other pics in this album |
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Post by Mark R. on Nov 2, 2014 0:14:19 GMT -5
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Post by jwar on Nov 2, 2014 1:04:12 GMT -5
Thanks Mark, always enjoy your input. This is a friend's engine and he had problems frying decoders an has set around his layout for two years.
I really like the stay alive in your pics, I will let his see the pic and if he want's, I will do something like that for him.
I did ask him if he wanted a sound install, but wasn't interested in it.
Thanks again Mark, have a great day.
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