Looking for advice from techs for upgrading a dummy

I would put a err board in there. It would give you command control over the lights,  smoke unit,  and options for coil couplers. It then regulates your power for the smoke unit.  A much better match for the powered a unit.

I agree with Joe - I have several dummy units I put the Err dummy board into so I could control everything.  I would suggest that if the Powered unit is TMCC or Legacy, that you wire the couplers and lights in reverse.  Then you can give it the same ID as the powered unit and when going forward, the lights will be off, and when going backward, the lights will be on.

 

On mine, I also disconnected the back coupler on the powered unit and the back on the dummy unit, so when I hit Coupler F, the front powered one activates, and when I hit Coupler R, the front on the dummy fires (as it is the rear coupler in the MU setup).

where would I get an ERR board?

http://www.electricrr.com/MiniCommanderEx.htm

Don't get the EX, it does not control sound.  You will need to get the dummy engine controller.  Go to www.electricrr.com and then go to purchase-> mini commander products.  It will be the last board on the list.

 

I know the page for the EX says it controls sound, but it doesn't work - I tried.

Good info. Something I'd like to do with several dummies. I'd have to add ( I guess from Lionel parts) and wire up roller pickups, too, of course.

I've upgraded two diesel dummies and two auxiliary tenders this way.  When I did the tenders, I hooked up the rear coupler to the front position and programmed it with the same engine number as the loco so I could control which tender fired without having to change the engine id.  The diesels both have sound, lights, and couplers, and one has smoke.  I also did this for another club member.

This sees like it will work... two questions...how does this respond when this is used in conventional not TMCC?  and do I need TMCC to program this or set it up.  I do not have one

 

If running conventional only, I don't think you will need to program it, but am not sure.  You might want to call ElectricRR on Monday to confirm that and how it will work in conventional mode.

I wish someone would make realistic looking MU cables & receptacles to power up dummy units.

I found that to be somewhat expensive...roller pickups and the assorted plastic bits.

I think this would be an excellent topic for an OGR article. Hint. Hint. 

Back in the day, the Lionel kit for GP-9 was the perfect fit.  The version with trucks had everything needed.  New trucks with pickups and remote couplers, an LCRX and wiring/antenna to give the unit directional lighting and remote couplers.  G

Those kits (I assume you mean for the GP-9B units) are still fairly easy to obtain. Unfortunately, those are different trucks from the scale GP30 the OP was talking about. However, it might be possible to cannibalize the parts from those kits other than the trucks (including the pickups) to fit out any dummy.