Weekend Photo Fun 22, 23, 24

jeffrey-wimberl

Active Member
Hopefully today I'll get the chance to install a decoder that will run this loco and it's B unit.

P1010062-1.jpg
 

jeffrey-wimberl

Active Member
I've completed this weeks project. That was to install one decoder to run two locomotives. Here's an account (with photos) of how it was done.

First, the item on which this is all centered. The decoder to be used.

This is a standard Bachmann two function decoder. There's nothing special about it. Current capacity: 1 amp. Motor output: 1 amp. Function output: 100 mA.

P1010100.jpg


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Next are the chassis to be used. Twin Proto 2000 FA chassis. Since they're both identical we'll focus on one. Here the pickup wires have been linked with their identical twins on the other chassis. Now I know somebody out there is going to notice that a red pickup wire is connected to a gray pickup wire. The answer to that is simple. Life-Like used a red wire for the right rail pickup (hot frame). Now here's where it gets interesting. Life-Like, in it's infinite wisdom, used a red wire on the rear truck for left rail pickup and a gray wire on the front truck for left rail pickup.

P1010102.jpg


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Next, the wires for motor control have been added. Since the decoder will not be powering the headlight (that will be installed later and connected to track power so it's always on) I have elected to install it in the B unit. Here the wires in the A unit have been connected to the wires going to the B unit.

P1010103.jpg


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In the next photo we see that the wires have been passed through the door windows of the shells. I drilled the windows out a little bigger to insure that the wires can move freely.

P1010104.jpg


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For those who know that I have a past history of using masking tape here's a photo showing the wire connections wrapped in ELECTRICAL tape.

P1010105.jpg


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Here we see the decoder taped in place in the rear of the B unit and the red and black wires connected to the pickup wires of both units. This insures good power pickup as the joined units will be collecting power with 16 wheels. The orange and gray wires of the decoder have been connected to the wires linking the motors of both units.

P1010108.jpg


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Here the two chassis are coupled together as they will be in service. The decoder can be seen taped in place at the rear of the B unit chassis.

P1010107.jpg


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The shells have been put back on the chassis and the locos have already made several trips around the layout pulling an Athearn F7-A unit and 15 cars through the entire gambit of a crawling slow start at near full stall all the way up to top speed and the decoder didn't even get warm.

P1010110.jpg


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Here the wires can be seen passing between the two units. Being that they're close-coupled the gap is only a 1/4 of an inch.

P1010115.jpg
 

TomPM

Another Fried Egg Fan
Jeffery
Nice looking loco!

Chessie4155
Cool shot!

Kurt
Nice loco in a nice setting!

Jeffery
Nice job!

Ralph
Great looking overpass and weathering on the hopper!
 

Packers#1

Ultimate Packers Fan
I went through yesterday and made some updated pictures of my roster.
GP35
IMG_2014-1.jpg

GP30
IMG_2016-1.jpg

GP9
IMG_2019-1.jpg

H-15-44
IMG_2028-1.jpg

Playing around w/ the above picture:
IMG_2028-1-1.jpg

the fleet together:
IMG_2046-1.jpg
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
I think someone on the forum has a model of this unit:mrgreen:. We found it still wearing her PC logos on April 16, 1978. Cedar Hill yard, New Haven CT.
Charlie

Close! Its her sister unit 6922....
IMG_0385.jpg


but once the guys at the shop saw your pic Charlie one of them thought about changing the two to a three. :mrgreen:
IMG_0387.jpg

Ralph
 
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