P-B-L Heisler

DCC Installation

On the Sn3 discussion list, a question was posted about how to install DCC and sound into the P-B-L Heisler. There were several hints and tips provided, but Tom O'Hara provided a more detailed explanation (he has converted 20+ of these engines). He states that one can get a SoundTraxx Tsunami II, a keep-alive circuit, and a "sugar cube" speaker into the water bunker of the locomotive. This does require removing some of the metal weight. That weight is well-glued into the model, so it will take some effort to remove, and a lot of patience. Tom says he has always been able to remove it successfully, but it always takes a lot of effort. If some of the electronic components are installed in the boiler, weight has to be removed there as well, which may adversely affect the weight balance of the engine. The wires from the front headlight have to be fed past the motor, which he does by tying the wire to a green florist wire (moderately stiff) with a hook on the end and pull the wires through. The motor wires are attached to the motor contacts inside the boiler facing the front. There are 2 or 3 wires on each of the motor contacts. You need to try to find the longest one on each side and keep it as long as you can and hold onto it. If you lose either of the wires inside the boiler where you can't solder to it, you will have to remove the motor (which is a major effort involving removal of some of the drive train on the bottom of the engine). Make sure that none of the wires touch the boiler shell, or you just destroyed your decoder.