Railrunner130
Well-Known Member
I have a bunch of older Mantua steam locomotives in HO-scale that I'd like to convert to DCC. The problem I am running into is that the locomotive gains electrical power on one side and supplies it directly to the motor while the other side gets power from the tender and supplies it via a wire to the motor. Is there a way to convert these locomotives?
Perhaps I would need to simply connect the body to the decoder using the appropriate wire and the power from the opposite side would be connected as per normal? Or would this fry the decoder or perhaps the motor? But then what would I do with the decoder output to the motor for that side?
I almost had one figured out. It had brass U-channels holding the main wheels in place which could have been replaced with plastic. The tender axles could have provided power from both sides, but then I realized that with the metal body there is no way to isolate it.
Perhaps I would need to simply connect the body to the decoder using the appropriate wire and the power from the opposite side would be connected as per normal? Or would this fry the decoder or perhaps the motor? But then what would I do with the decoder output to the motor for that side?
I almost had one figured out. It had brass U-channels holding the main wheels in place which could have been replaced with plastic. The tender axles could have provided power from both sides, but then I realized that with the metal body there is no way to isolate it.