Shedmaster 47 Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Hello folks, firstly apologies if this has been asked before?!! I have the chance of buying from my local supplier an early version of bachman voyager. I am told it will have to be " hard " wired into a decoder to work on DCC?. Am I right in assuming that I would also have to perform this task for both the non driven dummy cars to operate the lights correctly?? There is not any electrical connection between any of the three cars!! Many thanks for any help posted Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Hi. You are right. You can just hard wire a decoder in the centre car and run it like that. You will then have all lights on at both ends but , as a temporary fix until you have two more spare decoders, it will be fine. Hardwiring central motot car is as simple as they come. Bachmann have instructions on their website and it is very easy. Once I did get round to fitting decoders in two end cars for lights, I couldn't get the lights to work when using the Bachmann instructions (as, using a four function decoder the wiring didn't seem to have a return) but if you search in bromsgove models voyager lights, their instructions worked perfectly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shedmaster 47 Posted September 10, 2016 Author Share Posted September 10, 2016 Hi. You are right. You can just hard wire a decoder in the centre car and run it like that. You will then have all lights on at both ends but , as a temporary fix until you have two more spare decoders, it will be fine. Hardwiring central motot car is as simple as they come. Bachmann have instructions on their website and it is very easy. Once I did get round to fitting decoders in two end cars for lights, I couldn't get the lights to work when using the Bachmann instructions (as, using a four function decoder the wiring didn't seem to have a return) but if you search in bromsgove models voyager lights, their instructions worked perfectly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shedmaster 47 Posted September 10, 2016 Author Share Posted September 10, 2016 Hi baldy, Thanks for the info. This would work out to be a rather expensive project to run on DCC.... I will give it a miss methinks.. Thanks anyway. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil S Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 I think I mentioned this recently on a similar thread: If you use the Voyager (and similar Bachmann non-dcc-prepared models) on dcc, WITHOUT modifying the directional lighting, then you may well find the bulb housing melting with the continuous use .... and the bulbs may even reach their life-expectancy since they will be on all the time . in both directions (double the expected heat???) If unchanged from original release, the PCB is also 'common cathode', and is best replaced completely. Some firms do kits for this. A useful product now readily available is pre-wired-surface mount LEDs .... using LEDs of only 1mm x 0.5mm which are a pain to wire without suitable magnification etc, and also fit more easily into existing models than 3mm or 2mm LEDs 8-). They are available both with and without the required resistor already connected. Although it is possible to replace the couplings with 'power couplings' (various makes Roco, Piko, Heljvan, V eissmann... with 2 3 or 4 poles... use the 4 pole versions) the cost of these is about the same as a cheap decoder ! and if you have to separate your coaches between use, then will be at a disadvantage. (The latest Lenz Std Decoder can be bought for about 14GBP each when buying 10 at a time from Germany - including free postage) Alternatively - and more awkward still for separating and joining - small JST plugs and sockets are available pre-wired via Ebay ... but these also risk getting in the way of other coach connections. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shedmaster 47 Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 I think I mentioned this recently on a similar thread: If you use the Voyager (and similar Bachmann non-dcc-prepared models) on dcc, WITHOUT modifying the directional lighting, then you may well find the bulb housing melting with the continuous use .... and the bulbs may even reach their life-expectancy since they will be on all the time . in both directions (double the expected heat???) If unchanged from original release, the PCB is also 'common cathode', and is best replaced completely. Some firms do kits for this. A useful product now readily available is pre-wired-surface mount LEDs .... using LEDs of only 1mm x 0.5mm which are a pain to wire without suitable magnification etc, and also fit more easily into existing models than 3mm or 2mm LEDs 8-). They are available both with and without the required resistor already connected. Although it is possible to replace the couplings with 'power couplings' (various makes Roco, Piko, Heljvan, V eissmann... with 2 3 or 4 poles... use the 4 pole versions) the cost of these is about the same as a cheap decoder ! and if you have to separate your coaches between use, then will be at a disadvantage. (The latest Lenz Std Decoder can be bought for about 14GBP each when buying 10 at a time from Germany - including free postage) Alternatively - and more awkward still for separating and joining - small JST plugs and sockets are available pre-wired via Ebay ... but these also risk getting in the way of other coach connections. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shedmaster 47 Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 Hi phil s Sorry for LONG delay in replying recently upgraded my mobile and lost my password for this site ..had to reset it etc ...Many thanks for the detailed info , but i think i will save time and money and buy a DCC ready set instead . Thanks again Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted September 24, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 24, 2016 Hi phil s Sorry for LONG delay in replying recently upgraded my mobile and lost my password for this site ..had to reset it etc ...Many thanks for the detailed info , but i think i will save time and money and buy a DCC ready set instead . Thanks again Allan If you're looking for a DCC ready Voyager, I don't think they've done one yet. From the Bachmann website. Although there is one listed as DCC ready on ebay............ Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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