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8 ver 21 Track and electrical/DCC
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Frequent poster 758 posts packnrat Frequent poster 758 posts
packnrat

i do not know why but looking at another couple power units, (like i need any more).  and they are only on sale as dcc ready, ?  might cost less to buy ready made dcc and sound,

but my question is the factory kato has only a 8 pin not the 21 pin. is this even worth it? or just wait till i find in dcc with sound?  what is the difference other than the number of pins?

brand is not that important, but a couple brands i will not even think about buying, no matter how good the deal might look.
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MikeHughes Super User 5,566 posts
MikeHughes

8 pins doesn't provide as many functions

If you're prepared to wire directly, the plug is irrelevant.

Here is a link to an excellent installation guide for one brand of decoder that I am presently installing (A Tsunami TSU-2200).  This guide goes over all the various plugs and pins and a number of direct wiring scenarios, so might be useful to you in seeing what is supported by the 8 pin (very basic) and the 21 pin plugs.  The plug discussion starts on page 15.

Tsunami 2 Installation Guide 

If you don't want to mess with the built in board, you can buy 8 pin plugs and solder the relevant decoder wires to the plug and then plug it in, and then solder other wires from a decoder, if you're using one with more wires/functions to the appropriate lights, etc. on your loco.   Or use a Decoder Buddy
[MRH%20Sig%202]Mike’s Index and Blog
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Nick Santo amsnick MRH Advertiser and MRH Author 2,815 posts
Nick Santo amsnick

If you solder

the Decoder Buddys, a 21-pin decoder, speaker and stay alive, if you want, is a very versatile way to proceed.  It makes a good basic platform to proceed to any decoder of your choice along wit your choice of options.

Nick

https://nixtrainz.com/ Home of the Decoder Buddy

Full disclosure: I am the inventor of the Decoder Buddy and I sell it via the link above.
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packnrat Frequent poster 758 posts
packnrat

ok so the 8 pin is just a

ok so the 8 pin is just a less than plug. no problem.

as i have installed a couple tsunami's tsu-2200's already in other units. including removing the factory boards.

but thank you for the like to see how a better person does it.

but for now off to bed work at 4pm..... till 4:3m am.
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