DCC Controls, decoders availability

I can take a partial shot at it.

As far as I know, any old Flyer would need to have a DC motor installed in order to use a DCC decoder.  I know there's one or two folks that offer conversion motors, but not being a Flyer guy, I don't keep up with who they are.

Any newer Legacy controlled Flyer made after December 2012 will be DCC compatible.  It's not a full blown DCC decoder like Soundtrax, Digitrax, ESU, etc. offer, but has a basic set of CV's in the code to control the Lionel Legacy electronics.  Works pretty good.

The MTH (ex-S Helper Service) F3's are supposed to be DCC compatible also, if they ever show up.

American Models offers conventional controlled DC or AC locomotives.  DCC would have to be wired in, but I'm given to understand they will install an 8-pin DCC socket for 15 bucks.

The only S company that really offered installed DCC (with or without sound) was the now gone S Helper Service.  You had to specify it when you ordered.

Rusty

I know digitrax has made a DCC decoder that ran AC motors, not sure what happened to it

I'm in O scale 2-rail and I am not familiar with AF.

With that introduction, Of course there are new S scale trains with DCC or DCC ready.   There are always ads IN MRC and MR offering these.     There is also an S scale magazine, I think.

I do not know what kind of motors are in the the AF engines.    I think they might be series wound (what we called AC motors).    Also they would draw considerable current compared to HO, more like O Scale.

I use NCE D408SR decoders in O scale.    These will handle any old motors.    They have capacity for 4 Amps continuous use and 10 amps stall.    My old Max Grey locos do not draw that much.   

I don't know if/how to wire a series-wound motor for the straight DC output fromt he decoder.

You need decoders that will run AC split field motors. After looking at the Digitrax website I found that they do have the large scale decoders designed to run these AC split field motors. One just needs to find one that will fit inside the tender. Here is a link to setting up theri products to run your AC motors

http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB587/ac-motor-operation/

Thank you, gentlemen!

I passed all this information and the links to my friend, and he was very appreciative.

Alex

Guys, for future reference, old AF S gauge is essentially post war Lionel without the third rail. they run on AC and have the AC split field motor so standard decoders  are designed for DC brush motors and will not work.