I recently purchased a Bachmann HO Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern steam locomotive that is DCC equipped. I want to replace the stanadard decoder with a SoundTraxx TSU1000 and Speaker/Baffle kit. This is my first venture into DCC models. Can someone explain the "how-to's" in simple lay terms.
This should be simple enough. Ok, easy is a relattive term. Easy if you know what you are doing.
Look at the diagram that came with your loco. There will be a speaker hole in the tender floor that a 28mm speaker will fit. Use a thin film of bath caulk around the rim of the speaker or buy a gasket when you order the decoder and speaker, plus adapter.
Unplug the present decoder or DC adapter. Cut the decoder shrink just enough to remove the 9 pin JST connector. The Tsunami does not come with the eight pin connector.
Purchase a 9 pin to 8 pin adapter. Plug in the decoder. Find a spot for the capacitor.
You will have to solder two purple wires to the speaker terminals. Polarity is not important.
Below is who I order from.
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/DCC-University/index.htm
Below is good info about the Tsunami and about cutting back the shrink on the Tsunami. Look at All his stuff and store the links in Favorites. You will need them as it sounds you have little DCC experience.
http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/soundtraxx/
Good luck
Rich