Is there a way to make Thomas locomotives DCC? I ask because I saw this webpage where someone added DCC chips on Thomas, Percy, and James. Unfortunately, the page is no longer available. So, can anyone answer the topic question?
Thank you very much.
Bachmann makes DCC decoders for their E-Z command system. These will work with regular DCC too. You need to solder the appropriate wires to the motor of the engine. Hope this helps.
Matt Wilson
try this site:
http://www.trainbuddy.com/Reference/Decoding%20Engines/thomas.htm
I added DCC chips to my Son's Thomas and Henry locomotives. Thomas was an easier job because he has much more room for the chip then Henry.I don't have any links, but there are a few sites that will install a DCC decoder in a thomas and friends engine for you.
Quote from: RGC on December 28, 2010, 08:11:54 PM
I added DCC chips to my Son's Thomas and Henry locomotives. Thomas was an easier job because he has much more room for the chip then Henry.I don't have any links, but there are a few sites that will install a DCC decoder in a thomas and friends engine for you.
Cool and thank you.
Quote from: jward on December 28, 2010, 05:24:37 PM
try this site:
http://www.trainbuddy.com/Reference/Decoding%20Engines/thomas.htm
Thanks
I would recommend NOT buying from Train Buddy. I bought a DCC Thomas from them and within a week it had motor problems. I sent it to Bachmann and they took a look at it. They said it was extremely dangerous, as in it could blow a power pack or something. Really, it's not the best site.
has anyone put DCC in their Bill and Ben yet? if so, how did you do it?
Quote from: Anthony P2 on December 29, 2010, 06:54:01 PM
has anyone put DCC in their Bill and Ben yet? if so, how did you do it?
I did not, but I figure it will be really easy or really hard. Most likely really hard because they packed the motor in there. But easy because you may be able to fit it in the cab... ;)
Cool.
you'd have to fit the decoder in the cab, same as with all the other tank engines....
related question, would a decoder with back emf help fine tune these locomotives? or would i be better off using a basic decoder and not trying to smooth out their throttle response?
well yeah i know how to put in decoders, it's really easy (if you have a solder iron). but if anyone who has bill and ben open one of them up and see, because they have 4 capacitors in them. i don't know how someone would put in DCC, and there is some metal piece that goes around the motor..... this is really hard to explain.
Quote from: jward on December 30, 2010, 07:55:09 PM
you'd have to fit the decoder in the cab, same as with all the other tank engines....
related question, would a decoder with back emf help fine tune these locomotives? or would i be better off using a basic decoder and not trying to smooth out their throttle response?
Now that I know where to put decoders in tank engines, where would I put them in tender engines and Toby?
with the tender engines you'd have ample room in the tender. all you'd have to do is run wires between the tender and locomotive. toby shoud have enough room that he'd be like converting a diesel to dcc.
as for bill and ben they make decoders about the size of a dime. surely one of those would fit.....
Quote from: jward on December 31, 2010, 02:19:26 AM
with the tender engines you'd have ample room in the tender. all you'd have to do is run wires between the tender and locomotive. toby shoud have enough room that he'd be like converting a diesel to dcc.
as for bill and ben they make decoders about the size of a dime. surely one of those would fit.....
Thanks, but wouldn't there be room in the cab or somewhere on the body of the engine?
I put the DCC decoder in the body of Henry. It was a tight fit , but I didn't use a really mini size decoder. If I was going to do it again I would go with a TCS M1 decoder.
Quote from: RGC on January 02, 2011, 10:40:09 PM
I put the DCC decoder in the body of Henry. It was a tight fit , but I didn't use a really mini size decoder. If I was going to do it again I would go with a TCS M1 decoder.
Cool. Would that same process need to be done on Gordon if he were to have a DCC decoder? Or would you know anything on how to put one in Edward or James?
I haven't had any of those apart, but I think from looking at the parts list for them it should be about the same. My next two trains to DCC are Percy and Toby. I think james and Edward will be the two after that. I might go with DCC sound in James.
Cool.