gazzabj Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Hi all,This is my first post so please be gentle as I am back modelling again after a 30 year break. Thanks to my 3 year olds interest in model trains, I am (very slowly) putting together a DCC layout of Thomas and friends. I converted my first loco (James) to dcc which is working great.However, the conversion instructions for Thomas on the Hornby site dont seem to fit for the version of Thomas I have.When you remove his body shell, the connections and wires are not the same as shown in the sample pictures.I really want to convert Thomas next so I wondered if anyone else has had the same issues and knows what needs to be done to convert.I will provide a picture of him if someone can help?Thanks for reading and I hope someone can help.Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morairamike Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 On mine it was a hard wire job. unsolder the leads that go to the motor, unsolder or cut off the capacitors on the motor, usually 3 whicch go between the brush terminals and the motor. Now solder the red lead from the decoder to to the left hand wheel pickup lead, solder the black decoder lead to the right wheel pick up lead. Solder the orange decoder lead to the brush that the left lead originally came off and the grey to the right brush. tuck the decoder into a convinient location and put body back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morairamike Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I posted a reply to this on how to do it but the moderators seem to ahve decided that my post infringed some kind of rule, so sorry can't help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brightstar Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Look in the Hornby DCC section on your left of this page then click on Decoder installation guides, you will find under the section headed Thomas and Friends detailed instruction on how to intall a decoder in Thomas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 gazzabj said "However, the conversion instructions for Thomas on the Hornby site dont seem to fit for the version of Thomas I have." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brightstar Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 poliss, Your right, I should have re-read the originl post!gazzabj,Have a look at the 0-6-0 Terrier to see if this will help in the same section? Or send a request to Customer Services with the Model or Train set number to see if they can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzabj Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 Hi everyone,thanks for all the help so far and sorry its taken so long to get back.My Thomas engine is pictured here...http://flic.kr/ps/DogF3I shall also contact Hornby CS to see if they can help.CheersGary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzabj Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 As an extra point. I have just looked at Devious Diesel (also Thomas) and he has the same wiring layout as Thomas.Really hope someone can help :o)I have also contacted Hornby CS now, so await their reply too.Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzabj Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 magfan said:Hi Gary the key to this loco is the negative connection to the railsI think you need to isolate the negative brush commutator connection from the chassis ( icant make this out on the photos)connect the grey wire to the brush contact the orange wire can connect to wire going to the brass strip on the top remove the capacitor.the red wire connects to where you removed the black wire im sure you have figured that bit out the black wire on the decoder connects to the chassis connection which is where the other wire on the capacitor is nowi'd suggest using an multimeter to ensure isolation from the brush to the chassishope this is helpful good luckif your not 100% sure yell out againJohn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzabj Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 John, So thankful to have someone explain to me. But, I am not an electrician and without having the step by step guide I am not 100% sure I understand it all.I dont have a multimeter, but I understand they are only around £5-£6 so I will get one, but I need a bit more of an in depth guide if you can please.Sorry to sound so stupid, but this is new to me. I have now succesfully converted both Gordon and James using the guides on the Hornby site, so I really need something along those lines if possible.Thanks again for any help so far and your patience.Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzabj Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi,Another lot of pictures added, hope this helps and thanks once again.http://www.flickr.com/photos/42305554@N00/sets/72157627042507512/Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzabj Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi John again :-)Just got a reply from Hornby Cust Services and they made the following statement...This is an old 'English' Hornby Thomas, you can convert this to DCC but it won't work very well. There is no exact guide in how to do this. I have attached information that will be helpful to you. Also the link provided shows a general guide of the decoder wiring (at bottom of web page).The information they attached is a word document with lots of detail about the pro's and con's of converting old trains. I can supply a copy to anyone who wants it.My concern now is whether to go ahead with the conversion as they state, it wont work very well.Any thoughts on this?Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Have you done a stall current test? You may need a Sapphire decoder for this loco. It should run quite well if you have a controller, such as the Elite, that can write to CVs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzabj Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 Well here is the link to the file supplied by the Hornby CS team.http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29033159/Guide%20to%20Fitting%20DCC%20Decoders.docxI dont know if this is available anywhere else, it probably is!I am happy to continue trying to convert Thomas with your help but I am now going away for 2 weeks for a well earned holiday. I'll be back on here around 12th or 13th July so keep an eye out.In the meantime I used my last decoder on Emily who was DCC ready. So I need to get a few more nbefore I can restart on Thomas, but I will definately give it a go.I do have an Elite controller, which I am glad to say only cost me £135 brand new! So whatever it takes, although writing CV's also means something new to learn I'm afraid.Will catch up when I'm back. Thanks for all your help once again, you are all very patient :o)Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Link doesn't work. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody52 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 poliss said:Link doesn't work. :-(The document is in .docx format and is only readable in later versions of MS WORD. Not a good way to distribute information.Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregd99 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 there is a convertor available for download - google office 2007 convert or similar - that lets older versions of word read these files.greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I don't have room on my HD for extra programs. Missus and kid storing gigabytes of tunes on my puter. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 poliss said:I don't have room on my HD for extra programs. Missus and kid storing gigabytes of tunes on my puter. :-(I've sent you a PM on the central station Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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