1st Gen Kato HO SD40 DCC Conversion

[spdaylightfan]

First time user of this forum. Used to frequent the predecessor forum.

I have a 1st generation Kato HO scale SD40 that I'd like to convert to DCC. It has an electrical "board" with the two lights mounted in the middle, and 2 plastic light tubes which transmit the light to the front and rear lenses. Any recommendations on how to EASILY make this conversion?

[shoofly]

How about a DH163KO from Digitrax. A drop in replacement for the lighting board in the loco.
www.digitrax.com/products/mobile-decoders/dh165k0/

[spdaylightfan]

Shoofly,

I looked at that decoder. I would still have to wire in the lights. I would like to retain the existing light bulb shielding, which works well with the plastic light transmission tubes. Looks like the bulb housing can be removed from the electrical board and remounted above a replacement decoder. I'll let you know what I come up with.

Thanks for the suggestion.

David

[shoofly]

You can reuse the bulbs but i strongly recommend replacing the bulbs with sunny white LEDs and positioning them to use the stock light tubes.

C

[p42hogger]

The 165 series from Digitrax will work I used one in mine