Dale Kraus

Here are a few tips from Sandy Webster concerning decoder selection and use. 

I have used and liked the NCE DASR drop-in decoder on many of the old Atlas/Kato model Alco diesels (RS1, RS3, RSD5, RS11, RSD12, C424/5). I just discovered there is a drop-in decoder for the old Atlas/Roco model EMD diesels too, although it’s not labeled as such.  It’s the NCE BACH-DSL decoder made to replace the really basic decoder in Bachmann diesel like my FT’s. I bought them figuring I might use them in my FT’s. I decided to use them in something else and have been looking at various candidates. I decided to try an Atlas/Roco SD24 since I had a couple with the shells off due to body kitbashing.

It’s a no-brainer, just as simple as the DASR. All I had to do was cut the wires from the trucks to the motor, unsolder the motor contacts from the actual motor tabs and replace them with wires, cut the old headlight bulb tabs off the top of the original plastic strip to make it level, run the 6 wires up through holes on the decoder and solder them to six pads. Add the supplied LED’s in the proper location and you are done. The LED’s may need wires to extend them to the proper place and pay attention to the polarity instructions. Don’t panic, it’s a picture! This works on the GP38, GP40, SD24 and SD35. One of the best things, the list price on the decoder: $19.95.

Sometimes ya gotta ignore the labels and use the decoder that fits.