C&NW E-4 4-6-4 decoder install.
Video:
Yard test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6vVeUnej08
A few weeks ago I finished up the striping on the tender.
TCS 1517 decoder installed.
Back when I had the PFM sound system I used their speakers. I still have a dozen, or so, and I like them as they produce the low frequency sounds very well.
Normally, I solder the 'ground' wire to the inside of the tender but there were no brass wires inside the tender and I didn't want to damage the paint by trying to solder a wire to the tender's 'shell', thus, the 'ground' wire was soldered to the 'running gear'.
The PFM speakers came in a clear plastic case (edge and facing).
Tender completed.
All the LED's were, previously, glued to their respective places.
All LED's are checked to insure they are not 'grounded' to the boiler frame which will cause them to, immediately, 'blow out'.
This signal tester provides a low, safe voltage as I run an extra wire to the 'boiler' to insure the LED's do not 'get brighter' or 'dimmer' indicating an LED is 'grounded'.
Double headlights.
Cab light is 'linked' with the headlight.
I always used green for the engine marker lights to give it some 'bling'.
Never have too much 'heat shrink' tubing!
Routed the LED wires through 'heat shrink' tubing to protect them. They are not 'heated'.
Several pieces of short 'heat shrink' tubing to route to the top of the boiler for the 'running board' lights.
All the wires come to just 4 wires. Blue (hot), Green (marker lights), white (headlight and cab) and pink (running board lights).
4-pin connector.
Engine came with one weight.
There isn't a lot of room for extra weight so this engine will not be pulling a lot of cars, especially since it's only a 4-6-4.
Ready to be assembled.
Programming track.
You know the decoder is being updated when it moves momentarily, several times.
Upload complete.
Kapton tape to insure the motor doesn't ground to the boiler.
Nice looking engine.
Running board lights.
I installed a 'back head' and 'deck plate'.
Two 'down' and about 8-10 more engine that have been painted but need decoder's installed.
Since the 'bulk' of my engines have TCS decoders, a reference is at the bottom of each of my throttles.
With the TCS decoder, one doesn't have to reduce the speed to stop: only apply the brakes (F7) and then release the brakes (F6) will allow the engine to resume the 'original' speed.
All lights are independently controlled via function keys so they can be turned 'on' or 'off'.
