Installation Notebook:
DCC installed in N-Scale Life-Like GP-38-2
Jerry and Bruce checked this loco out and decided that the best solution was to hard wire a decoder to the light board, making a LocoSpecific decoder in the process.
First, Jerry removed all the parts from the existing light board. He then cut the traces, isolating the LED leads from the rails. He replaced the amber LEDs with golden white ones.
Then he disassembled the loco, marking the top orange (right rail) motor tab. Then he machined a relief in the left side frame as shown for the gray wire to connect to the bottom motor tab - be carfeul that you don't cut off the boss that holds the motor from rotating in the frame.
The decoder was wired to the two rails and the motor. The LEDs were wired to one rail and to their respective decoder function wires. Kapton tape insulation was installed as shown.
If you don't want to tackle this installation, we will be happy to do it for you at Litchfield Station.
June 3, 2008