KB107: Con-Cor N-Scale Aerotrain Decoder Installation

This article was last updated on Dec. 20, 2011, 4:01 p.m. | Print Article | Leave Feedback

Application Note: Steps needed for installing the DN143IP mobile decoder into the Con-Cor N-Scale Aerotrain "DCC Car".

The image above shows the “DCC Car” for the N scale Con-Cor Aerotrain, which is the 1st car behind the loco.

It shows the holes in the underbody, above which a speaker can be mounted for a sound decoder installation.

The recommended Digitrax sound decoder would be our SFX0416, but to use this decoder the seats will need to be removed.

There is a pocket that is 16mm wide, 36mm long and 3mm deep designed for a speaker above the underbelly and under the seats.

The speaker that comes with the SFX0416 would need to be replaced with a speaker of the appropriate size.

To remove the body, carefully insert a flathead screwdriver between the diaphragm and the body where we have placed the arrows.

Gently pry the body out, lifting up on one side of the car and then the other.

This is the hardest part of the install!

This image shows the car with the body and the dummy 8-pin plug removed.

It also shows the proper orientation for the DN143IP.

The front to the car is to the right.

The light board is held in place with two brass “pins” (See the arrows numbered 1 on this image and the image below).

You do not need to remove the four black truck pick-up wires on the corners of the light board.

They’ve been engineered to have enough play to raise the board high enough to remove the dummy plug and insert the DN143IP.

Be sure to align pin 1 in the pin 1 hole! (See the arrows numbered 2 on the above image)

This image shows the light board removed from the brass pins and shows how to pry out the dummy 8-pin plug.

On this picture you can actually see the pin towards the front of the car.

Once the dummy plug is removed, carefully insert the DN143IP, making sure to orient pin 1 to the pin 1 hole.

The bulk of the decoder should be towards the rear of the car as shown in the last image.

This last image shows the DN143IP fully installed, with the light board snapped back onto the brass pins, ready for the body to be replaced.

Remember that the passenger windows of the car slanted forward toward the locomotive; it is easy to put the shell on backwards.

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