Joined: 03/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 302 Location: Fraser Valley
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Hi
What is involved in converting a Trix DC locomotive (IE 22174 Lollo) to three rail? This locomotive is analog, DC and has a 21 pin MTC socket. Would it be as simple as installing a mLD3 decoder, installing a slider, and rewiring the wheel contacts.?
Another option I'm considering is to lift up the outer loop of my C track layout and isolate the rails so that I can switch between two rail, DC and three rail operation. That might be a better idea. I already have the Outerloop isolated from the rest of my layout so that I can run three rail analogue trains. Doing this, however, will prevent use of any feedback tracks in the outer loop. But that's not a big issue for me anymore.
Cheers! |
Best Regards,
Don ___________________________________________________________________________________ IB 2 and MFU modul, C track and Z scale, mostly DB/DR and SBB, SJ |
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Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,555 Location: Paris, France
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Hi Don Your loco is 2 rails DC So to convert it into 3 rails you need to change the wiring - MTC 21 Pin 22 was track right now is connected to slider - MTC 21 Pin 21 was track left now connected to both track left and track right  ATTENTION: the figure above is misleading: PIN 20 is ONLY the common return for digital fonctions AND NOT the frame ground. Installing an mLD3 decoder, your loco is now 3 rails analog and digital ATTENTION: double-check the wiring before applying power Cheers Jean |
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Joined: 03/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 302 Location: Fraser Valley
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Thank you Jean
that's great information! I already have the appropriate slider and I will rob a decoder from one of my other models to test this out. Best regards Don |
Best Regards,
Don ___________________________________________________________________________________ IB 2 and MFU modul, C track and Z scale, mostly DB/DR and SBB, SJ |
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Joined: 03/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 302 Location: Fraser Valley
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Well, that worked out just great. As I said, I had the slider in my parts bin, and I invested in a low cost Lokpilot basic DCC decoder ($35.00 CDN). At that price, I decided not to steal one from one of my other locomotives. I utilized the rear bogie DC wheel pick up and simply unsoldered It's red wire from the circuitboard and soldered it to the grounding lug on the bogie with the brown wire. I plugged in the three rail slider in the front bogie, and plugged in the Lokpilot decoder. Very simple. After the third attempt at automatic motor calibration, it now drives perfectly as expected. My total cost for the new locomotive ( Trix all-metal quality) plus the decoder works out to about the same cost to me (in Canada) of a similar new Piko hobby model, in plastic. As you will see in the photo, like other countries, my imaginary country has recently increased its military spending. Cheers!  |
Best Regards,
Don ___________________________________________________________________________________ IB 2 and MFU modul, C track and Z scale, mostly DB/DR and SBB, SJ |
 1 user liked this useful post by Donb
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,770 Location: New Zealand
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Most Trix locos will convert simply by plugging in a decoder and a pickup shoe. I have struck some locos that don't have a pickup contact point even though the clips for the pickup shoe are there. It's easy enough to fabricate a pickup point out of a spare K track rail joiner and fit that. Then there's the wiring change to create a common ground.
Bigdaddyland is also increasing It's military budget, there are six Leopard 2A6 tanks on order to supplement the four already purchased. Flat cars are ready to go...
Also there are five 1:35 Leopard 2 kits to be assembled further increasing the defensive firepower...
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 1 user liked this useful post by Bigdaddynz
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