hello guys, im in the process of installing NCE DA-SR decoders in my set of A-B-A Athearn Genesis locos. is it necessary to replace the grain of wheat bulbs that come in them or can they be used as is on DCC? thanks!

-- steve (trainzman@verizon.net), November 05, 2004

Answers

That depends on what voltage those bulbs are operating on. Typically, you can use the existing bulbs.

You can measure the voltage across the bulbs before you do the installation. Or you can do the installation of the decoder and see if they burn out or not. Other than loosing a bulb, you won't hurt anything if you go with this unscientific method.

-- Allan Gartner (wire4dcc_admin@comcast.net), November 05, 2004.

I have measured the DC voltage and current of the Athearn grain of wheat lamps in the SD70 series. They use 10 ma at 1.5 volts. I am using a 1.2K resistor in series with DCC.

-- Tony Bolthouse (tonybolt@epix.net), November 12, 2004.