8
INSTALLING A SILENT DCC DECODER
The SW1200 contains a motherboard specially designed for our decoders. This is
connected to the track, motor and lighting outputs. A blind plug is attached to the
motherboard using a 21-pin connector. To install a decoder, remove the blind plug and
install a 21-pin decoder. Your chosen decoder should have eight function outputs.
At the time of writing, we recommend only the following 21-pin decoder:
• ESU #58429 - LokSound 5 DCC with 21MTC
We feel the 21-pin connectors are superior because there are enough pins to ensure that
all your lighting functions are connected. The necessary resistors are included on our
ESU-designed motherboard so you don’t have to futz around with resistors. Just plug in
the recommended decoder and you have DCC. We know some of you prefer a different
brand of decoder, but we honestly can’t help you install it or map the functions.
ESU has made an SW1200 function mapping which can be downloaded into their
non-sound decoder (58429) so that the function buttons and motor control are exactly
the same as our factory-released sound versions. This should be available for download
on the SW1200 page in the Support section of our web site. If it isn’t, bug us. You will
need an ESU LokProgrammer to write the function mapping to the 58429 decoder. If you
don’t have a LokProgrammer, you can adjust CVs in the usual way.
We will be selling SW1200 sound decoders separately; if they aren’t on our web site
by the time you read this, call Dan Garcia at the office and yell at him. But yell nicely
please.
INSTALLING A DIFFERENT BRAND OF SOUND DECODER
Don’t.
INSTALLING BATTERIES, RADIO AND A NEAT-O APP TO CONTROL THEM
Really… Don’t.
ADD COMPATIBILITY TO 1970s TYCO AND LIONEL CONTROLLERS
Open model. Take out guts. Close model. Push with hand.
OPERATION – DC (SOUND)
To operate your sound-equipped SW1200 locomotive on a DC layout, just give the
throttle some juice. The engine will start up once sufficient voltage has been reached
(around seven volts). See the note above (in Operation – DC (Silent)) about using train-
set or large-scale throttles. With DC layouts, you have very little control over the sounds
of your model.
