class 158 question

[londonboi1985]

hi all does anyone know if the bachmann 31-504 which is the class 158 DCC ready if not is it easy to convert o ver to dcc

[SRman]

No, the Bachmann class 158/159 is not DCC ready - neither are the classes 166 and 170, unfortunately.

Hard-wiring a decoder to the motor is easy enough - black and red wires to the track pick ups and orange and grey to the motor brushes. You could also snip off the capacitors while you are delving into the works.

The tricky bit is wiring the lights - I'm still working on mine!

[poliss]

Here's a couple of guides to fitting a decoder and lights to the 158.
http://s110605900.websitehome.co.uk/cla ... /index.htm
http://s110605900.websitehome.co.uk/cla ... /index.htm

[hairyhandedfool]

It's simple to dcc the lights using the existing leds. The return wire from the decoder is soldered to the 'pick-up' side of the resistors, the function wires are soldered to the 'LED' side of the resistors. Obviously you will need to disconnect the resistors from the pick-ups aswell. The only thing this won't let you do is have the tail and headlights on simultaneously at the same end, but then you are unlikely to ever need that anyway.

[martin_l_jones]

Its is a simple job, I did post some photos on how to do it some time ago.

Do a search for DCC lights or similar it should turn up..

Cant remneber the exact post it was under..

[martin_l_jones]

Here are the key photos..





The motor is red to red, black to black..