@0-Gauge CJ posted:Aren't MTH locos built with a DCC chip socket - just buy DCC and stick it in? Someone in the thread mentioned that PS3 had DCC out of the box (I'm coming into the hobby as MTH is closing up shop, I don't know much about them).
There is no socket in Protosound 3 (PS3) locomotives, the PS3 electronics has a DCC decoder already built in. On premier locomotives there is a DCS/DCC switch that you flip to select the command system it'll respond to. On RailKing locomotives if there isn't a switch on the bottom, you have to open the locomotive and splice in the switch or just cut a wire and it'll stay in DCC.
@Rockershovel posted:TBH, I don’t see why anyone would convert a 3RO loco to DCC, or go DCC in 3RO.
Why not? I've converted one, and have nearly a dozen that I will be converting to DCC. MTH PS3 locomotives are native DCC once you flip the switch and run pretty well. DCC on 3RO is great. You get the great control system, and the easy track wiring. It's a win-win. My home layout is DCC - TMCC/Legacy selectable. As for cost to upgrade, it's about half the cost of a TMCC upgrade. In fact as the factory electronics fail in my locomotives, they'll all get converted over to DCC. The mindset that DCC is only for true scale 2 rail really needs to die, DCC is great for anyone that runs trains.
But it seems we have really strayed away from the OP's question.
