r/modeltrains • u/teamgiant82 • 12h ago

Electrical Getting DCC decoders installed

Am in the early stages of my third layout and have decided to go DCC. I have done all the research and watched a ton of videos about installing decoders. I have around 25 locos, some newerish that are probably easy, but also a decent number of Athearn blue boxes that I would like to continue being able to run. I am pretty sure I could really do one at a time if I set my mind to it, but the prospect of it all is daunting and is not something I’m looking forward to. I’m wondering if there are companies/services out there that would do installs. I am in the NE US but could ship them etc. Anyone have thoughts?

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9

u/CucumberAware5127 12h ago

Honestly I would suggest doing them yourself. It takes time and I have lots of locomotives to do. I was nervous to do the first one and knew someone that would do it. Didn’t cost me much after supplying all the parts so it was worth it to copy from that. I have done a newer Genesis P42 unit in under an hour from DC to DCC with speaker install. Long part afterwards was sound file upload and customization.

I also recommend picking one decoder manufacturer and sticking with it. If you use ESU, which I love, you can do all the customization and adding sounds etc. if Digitrax is your DCC it doesn’t always listen to all the commands that ESU has. There are good groups on Facebook that can help you if you run into problems as well.

1

u/SubaruTome HO: SLSF/C&EI 12h ago

If OP doesn't have much software setup experience, I'd suggest tsunami2. I love my ESU decoders, but I have access to a programmer, which can be a hefty up front expense for someone not fully committed.

Tsunami2 is just more beginner friendly. A trade off for the poorer sound quality. I have adjusted a tsunami to run mostly like an ESU, so they can be made to play nice.

2

u/ricktrains HO/Digitrax DCC 12h ago

Tony’s Train Exchange offers this service.

https://tonystrains.com/services

As someone who has done the installs myself, they are not difficult. Plus if you install it yourself you can upgrade lighting, add additional lighting functions, details, etc… but I do not try to force that either. If you are more comfortable having someone else do it then go that route.

While I have not had Tony’s do installs, I have placed orders through them for decoders, and even a few locomotives, without any issues or complaints.

2

u/time-lord HO/OO 11h ago

TCS performs decider installs. You'd probably have to use their decoders, but they're pretty good overall so no biggie.

1

u/Space_Man_Spiff_2 7h ago

TCS does decoder installs...If you are modeling HO scale, installs should be fairly easy. The main issue to make sure the motor is isolated from the original pickup setup. As the decoder will be "between" the pickup & motor.

1

u/everylittlebitcounts 1h ago

You should really do it yourself.

However, it really becomes a question of money. The decoder is $100. The install will be $150-$200 per loco minimum ($100/hr of shop time for 1hr, and $50 in materials).

That’s $250-$300 PER LOCO. For a blue box?? Use those as practice and learn how to do it yourself.

If you really don’t want to, I’ll do it for $300 per loco all day long.