Adding DCC to a Bachmann g scale trolley (the United traction one)

[HimRail23]

The loco has clearly been messed with, notice the diodes with full length leads, not insulated and one cold/broken joint on the diode on the left.

Is there any chance to return the decoder and get a more appropriate one? Are you experienced with soldering?

Well this one I think was brand new, though I have another one that has definitely been tampered with, one of the footplates is broken, 2 poles at the end of the trolley are missing, and the remaining ones are glued on, with the soldering also being not professionally done.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Uhh... hard for me to believe that wiring is stock. But it does not matter, it is what it is, bad solder joints and all.

Onwards, have you any option to get a more suitable decoder?

And asking again, how are your electrical and soldering skills? (just to get a calibration on what to recommend in forthcoming questions)

Greg

 

[HimRail23]

Well I can solder properly so that it isn’t faulty or anything I have managed to solder the wires on my other trolley

 

[HimRail23]

Uhh... hard for me to believe that wiring is stock. But it does not matter, it is what it is, bad solder joints and all.

Onwards, have you any option to get a more suitable decoder?

And asking again, how are your electrical and soldering skills? (just to get a calibration on what to recommend in forthcoming questions)

Greg

Well now I understand what kind of decoder I need, and I have one of those on another train

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Where I was going is if your soldering skills are good, then I'd try to use the decoder if there are other advantages, but it's designed to plug in and I would use a screw terminal decoder myself.

Greg

 

[Mohawk Valley]

Mine looked very much like that, a very unprofessional job, but I think it was original.

I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned, but for around £3.50, Illuminated Models sell a lovely and simple to solder up 21 pin decoder board. You have to solder wires to a smallish pad, which is really self explaintory and the decoder simply plugs into it. It’s like a small motherboard. I used them a lot when I was working with o scale. You can get them on eBay.
Illuminated Models AL-13.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Not trying to find fault, but there should have been holes drilled into the connection pads.... by soldering a wire to the surface of a pad, there is no mechanical connection before soldering, which over time will fracture the solder connection.

In smaller scales with small diameter, very flexible wire, not so bad, but in larger scales, a no no in basic soldering techniques.

Greg

 

[dutchelm]

Plenty of room underneath for a G scale decoder.