Installing DCC in Spectrum EMD SD-45 #82708

[Marcopolo123]

Hi all!  I'm new to the board and just getting back into model railroading after a 20 year hiatus!  Boy, have things changed!  I just purchased a new Spectrum EMD SD-45 from a gentleman on e-bay.  The part number on the box says it is #82708.  According to the literature it was produced in 2003 and is "DCC Ready".  I understand this to mean that it will easily accept an NMRA standard decoder.  However, when I removed the shell, I see the PC board, but no 8-pin plug like I was expecting...  I would like to put a Tsunami AT1000 sound card in this fella... Is that possible?  Is the PC board an installed decoder, by any chance?  Thanks for any help you can give a newbie, oldie!

[ABC]

The PC Board id not a decoder, but the loco is isolated, so you can hard wire most any HO decoder in this loco.

[Marcopolo123]

Thanks for the quick reply.  I am going to download the installation manual from the Tsunami site and see if I can make sense out of it.  Should be a fun project...

Curiosly, as I look at the PC Board, I notice there seems to be a spot for a resistor (r3) that is missing it's resistor...  Seems to run great, though!

[ABC]

I was thinking of a capacitor or condenser...which eliminates interference. The resistor does not, sorry for the mix-up.

[richg]

I have the Spectrum 44 ton and 70 ton but removed the PC boards and did a hard wire install for sound decoders. The PC boards were ready for a motor/light decoder using the connections on the factory PC board. Those style decoders are much smaller than a sound decoder.
Probably have to remove the PC board and install the AT1000 decoder board. I have not seen the inside of this style loco.
If you get  chance, take pictures of the project and post them here.

I use the AT1000 decoders. I use LED's so had to add resistors.

Rich

[full maxx]

if its dcc ready look and see if there is a little rectangle board with soldier on it...if so pull it out and thats where the decoder plugs in ... if not it would have to be hard wired