I have a new Proto 2000 GP-20 that I'd like to put in a decoder. I thought it was DCC ready, but it's not. It has a cuircit board on top of the weight. Can someone tell me what I have to do to install DCC? I know I have to isolate the motor from the frame and I think I know how to do that. From there I need help. Thanks to anyone who can give me some advice

Dave Poor

-- Dave Poor (dwhstj@surfglobal.net), August 30, 2003

Answers

The circuit board is half the equation. That's the decoder, or receiver. You need to buy a DCC console, that's the transmitter that sends the signals through the rails. Most consoles ship with a necessary power supply.

Which one you buy depends on how many trains you run. I like to replace the decoders in some "DCC ready" locos with ones that produce the sound (diesel idle, diesel runup, coupling sounds) and lighting effects I feel are an important part of Model Railroading.

-- Chuck Smart (csmart@electronic-learning.com), September 09, 2003.

I think you are looking for the module DH163L0 Life Like Proto 2000 HO Locos, http://www.digitrax.com/decodeindex.htm

-- Cary (ctf1800@yahoo.com), September 12, 2003.

I just installed decoders in 2 P2K GP20's. I used Digitrax's DH163D with 9 pin connector and harness. Most of the other P2K "geeps" can use a plug-n-play DH163LO but the GP20's must be hard wired. If you get the book "Digital Command Control" (Stan Ames, Rutger Friber, etc) section 5.8 Page 66 shows you exactly how to do it on an older P2K GP9 which is just like the GP20. You will also need to change the light bulbs to 12 or 14 volt. The second one was much easier than the first!!!

-- Geoffrey S Accursi (ezio48@sbcglobal.net), December 24, 2004.