I'm looking to see if anyone has installed LocoFi Version 3 in the tender of the Bachmann Spectrum DCC/Sound Baldwin 2-8-0 using track power. This is unlike the simplerBachman Alco 2-6-0 install on YouTube where there was no DCC wiring to work around.
I would like to keep the existing connection plug system between the loco and the tender if possible.
Can the motherboard in the tender be stripped of unnecessary Bachmann electronics such as EU required interferance suppression capacitors and coil? Then can the solder pads on the motherboard be mapped to the LocoFi unit standard color coded leads. If anyone has done this please lets start a cooperative dialogue to share and develop the idea. Unlike a diesel unit the steam tender has track power pickups on the trucks.
If you have added a commerical Keep Alive/Stay Alive in addition to the KA on the LocoFi receiver unit, can you share how this was wired into the tender circuitry
Can a working backup light on the tender be added and wired? I am making extensive modifications to the tender shell to make it resemble a Southern Pacific 90-R-7 oil bunker tender.
You may want to look at this. It's a LocoFi 3 (DULLHB) install in the Bachmann Spectrum Baldwin 2-8-0 using DCC track power. Not only that, it also has the supercapacitor based power backup for dirty track issues. The video of LocoFi install in the 2-6-0 you are refrring to has an example of the rear LED install.
It is recommended to take the DCC ready board out and simplify the 7 connections. Although, you can keep the DCC ready board and use it for power and motor (lights are incompatible) but we do not recommend having those coils and capacitors because they are required to provide smooth operation for DC only. With LocoFi, you have advanced electronics and software onboard to achieve ultra slow, smooth operation without needing any external components. Rather, they may in fact hinder the performance. You can try it out if you wish to see if that works better for you.
Looking forward to your install. Good luck!