Mini Commander in Atlas SD40 Dummy

I can't believe that no one has installed one of these boaards for dummy engines...

Marty

I have but it was on a Williams dummy unit which had no electronics at all. After retrofitting it with a Lionel frame and power trucks I used the Mini-Commander EX for lighting and couplers.

The ERR instructions for this board are very clear and the installation is dead easy - all you have to do is follow the diagrams. If you have any issues with it you can contact Ken at ERR for advice.

Now for the sting in the tail: If you want sound in your engine then the Mini Commander EX is not for you. Although it has a serial data output and the instructions show a one wire connection to a sound board it will not drive the latest ERR Railsounds boards. For that you need a TMCC dummy engine board, also available from ERR. These will handle couplers.

You don't mention any operating features apart from couplers so I assume that sound is not on your agenda.

P.S. You don't need to wire the MCEX to the existing run/program switch because it has a software option to set engine ID etc. The power feed to the board is very simple to set up although that might involve cutting into your existing wiring from the pickup rollers and ground.

I did tap into the hot znd ground wires for the main power to the board, and also have the couplers plugged into the board.  I printed out the install manual but it is sort of over welming to me.  I would of thought you would have to wire this into the existing program switch.  I sent Ken a email and one to Atlas also.

Marty

Marty,

 I put a Mini Commander EX in an Atlas SD40 a year or so ago. I don't remember all the details, but the only real problem I had was with the marker lights. The installation for power and the couplers is pretty straightforward. I think I put a diode and a resistor in each of the front and rear lighting circuits as the output of the Mini EX is 12 VAC and the lights are LEDs. Those details should be in the ERR instructions. The marker lights have their own circuit boards and I couldn't figure out how to easily connect these up to the EX board so I left them connected to track power and their respective ON-OFF switches. The powered and dummy both have only two pickup rollers and I had problems with the powered unit stalling on some switch configurations, so I put in a one wire tether between the units. The PGM ON-Off switch is a removable jumper on the board so you need to program it before you put the shell back on.

The EX works fine and I hope I remembered correctly on the installation details. The only way I can be sure is to take the shell off and take a look at the installation.

Ken

I did have a conversation with Bill at Moder Toy Train Parts and he was very helpful.  I got a email from Bill at Atlas O and pretty much hit a dead end there.  I did hear from Ken at Err and he said I would have to gut the Atlas connections and use their board.  At least now the couplers work.  That was what I was aiming for....

Marty

Marty, it can't be that difficult to put this into a dummy locomotive!  I haven't done it, but I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard.  You are correct, the lighting outputs require current limiting for LED's, that's the same as standard TMCC.

In ERR's defense, they do tell you hot to connect LED's, and note that the polarity of the two lighting outputs changes.

You can even have them both driven from one output if you want smoke or some other option.