dcc ready 3truck shay

[Chastity]

So the ad in the April GR says 8 pin interface.  So this is different than that in the
C-19 and similar

[Kevin Strong]

Yes, it's different than the C-19, etc. The 3-truck Shay came out before Bachmann began using the large 21-pin socket found in Aristo locos and most B'mann locos since the K-27. (Note this is a different 21-pin socket than what's in the Peter Witt trolley.) The 8-pin socket is also a DCC standard interface, though designed primarily for the small scales. Most large scale decoders do not come configured for plug-and-play with an 8-pin socket, though if they've got screw terminals, it's a very easy task to also order an 8-pin DCC plug and wire it to the decoder. The wires on the plug are typically color-coded to DCC standards for easy identification of which wire needs to go where on the decoder.

Later,

K

[Chastity]

Thanks that is what I thought.  Disappointing that the 21 pins on the Peter Witt are different yet again.

Thankfully, doing Fn3 so it is not a concern.

[Kevin Strong]

The Peter Witt will draw very little current compared to a "typical" large scale train, so it's actually advantageous to have a socket designed for smaller, (cheaper), lower-current decoders. Space is at a premium, so the smaller, the better. The Davenport is set up the same way, though with the 8-pin connector. I'd think any 1-amp decoder would be sufficient for this car. The Aristo PCC draws very little current, and nearly identical in size.

Later,

K