I sure someone should know this. Is the Tomex/Atlas track cleaning car compatible with DCC?
Thanks in advance,
Track Cleaning Car Question.
Jim, You need to add a DCC
Jim,
You need to add a DCC decoder, I believe if you put it straight on DCC it will damage the motor.
I will look up some material available on another group and provide the links later. But there are two possible installs. One is a custom decoder install that last I knew was only available in Japan in general (last checked a long time ago), the other is a standard wired decoder install. Here is a link to a document I created from the Japaneese original to help the others:
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/QDImScke_Dv0IaEfOV2dw4mDBgGaiKNubMflqDtMPexSoo9kPITSKlTy3pfNiwNCfFZp8rhGGowOF6lwa36fQUUE2xQVySFP/dcc%20-%20DF4_5TCL_manual_large%20translation.zip
Be back later if you don't find it yourself.
Thanks,
Charles
Chuck is correct.These are
Chuck is correct.
These are not to be used on DCC without a decoder.
There is a drop-in decoder from Japan, but it is cheaper to use a DZ125.
The wired decoder install is simple on these... I'll take/post a pic of an install when I get some time.
--
Bryan
Jim, Sorry my link does
Jim,
Sorry my link does not seem to work worth beans, here is a link to the "files" page.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ndcc/files/
The document:
dcc - DF4_5TCL_manual_large translation.zip
Manual for Atlas/Tomix Track Cleaner P-n-P Decoder
is about the 17th entry down the list.
DesertRat,
From looking at the document I reference above, there are some electronics and a selector switch that run the motor from the track. If part of these electronics is a bridge rectifier, the full DCC voltage will end up DC on the motor. If the DCC voltage is over 12 volts, the motor could be toast. While looking around for more info look what showed up in Google:
http://www.nscale.net/forums/dcc/2004/12/09/atlas-track-cleaning-car
Apparently if the DCC voltage is kept no more than 12 volts it can operate (though I might be a bit concerned about running the motor at max voltage continuously, but then I may be a bit over cautious). I found this in another place too.
Charles
Thanks for all the info.
Found the Japanese made
Found the Japanese made decoder for the Tomix.
http://www.snjpn.com/ngdcc/df4tcl/df4_5tclj.htm
Since I can get the car from Japan for about 38.00 US, I can hardly see paying 3,300 yen, about another 34 dollars for the decoder. Plus about $9 shipping for each. If I decide to get it I'll sure consider the DZ125.
Unfortunately my Japanese is rusty!
Any idea what the price is for that Japanese 'plug and play' decoder, and if they ship to the US? I sure would like to avoid soldering if I don't have to
FYI...just ordered the Tomix version, which is available on ebay from a seller called plazajapan, at $45.00 plus $15 shipping if anyone else is interested. It seems that both the Tomix and Atlas versions are hard to find in stock at most places.
Jerry, I can't find the
Jerry, I can't find the link I had but I'll keep looking.
You might want to check my post under DCC. I just got the Atlas version on eBay for $31 and installed a Digitrax DZ-125. Decoder cost 22.00 at my LHS and took about an hour to install. That was my first attempt at a hard wire installation and even with some pretty sloppy solder joint the darn thing works.
Found a link
http://74.125.93.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.snjpn.com/ngdcc/df4tcl/df4_5tclj.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtomix%2Btrack%2Bcleaner%2Bdecoder%26start%3D30%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN&usg=ALkJrhjSKm5m2Ia7uKs2hFgF_tA5K62DcQ
Jerry, found a link. Decoder cost is 3300 Yen. Thats about $36 US. They have an order form on the site that should give you an idea on shipping cost.
Joined: 2006-12-18