NCE SW9-SR Manuel utilisateur
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
CN 7035 EMD SW1500 Switcher:
The PROTO 2000 SW1500 switcher by Walters, formerly LifeLike, is a very versatile and smooth running
locomotive, even in DC mode. DCC really makes it shine. The limited space under the shell makes it very
challenging to add a DCC Decoder. NCE makes a mobile Decoder (non sound) specifically designed to fit
in this switcher’s shell.
It might be possible to put a mini speaker in the cab, but it would still be a challenge to put a sound
decoder and keep alive capacitor in the shell. However, it is worth noting that the manufacturer of this
locomotive (LifeLike) did have the forethought to make a removable section of the lead weight at the
front to allow space for a small decoder. This section attaches to the main body of the weights by two
screws. If attempting a sound decoder installation, and you are using the optional space provided by
removing a section of the front weight for the Sound decoder, and a keep alive current capacitor is
deemed necessary, it could be placed in a freight car behind the switcher, and connected with a 2-wire
micro-connector. This freight car would then be tethered to this switcher whenever using the keep alive.
Another option, should a keep alive be deemed necessary, and you are just installing the NCE mobile
Decoder (non sound), is to place the keep alive capacitor in the space provided by removing this front
section of the lead weight.
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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NCE’s solution to limited space is the NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder that replaces the original PCB light
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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board that sits on top of the motor.
I found that at least on my layout, thanks to good design of the P2K EMD SW1500 switcher, and the well
engineered circuitry of NCE’s decoder, that I did not require a keep alive capacitor. You will see in my
article that I pre-wired wire leads for the attachment of a keep alive later should my needs change.
The most difficult part of this project is removing the shell from the chassis of the switcher. See
instructions included with the P2K locomotive switcher. Remove both front and rear gear
boxes/couplers first. Basically there are five tabs, 4 on the sides and 1 on the back of the shell that need
to be pressed in, in order to release the shell. Press on the most forward ones first and slightly lift the
front of the hood then press on the rear side tabs. Move the shell forward slightly to release the rear tab
and lift up the shell. The running boards come off with the shell. Try grasping the chassis itself when
lifting up the shell.
Circuit schematic as supplied by NCE:
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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Next remove all wires that are soldered to the original printed circuit board. I just touched the solder
iron tip to the solder pads and the wires came off easily.
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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This is what you see after removing the light board. (On tablet double tap image to enlarge)
I chose to replace the original 1.5 volt front headlight mini bulb with a sunny white 3mm LED, and to
retain the original 1.5 volt mini bulb in the rear light, as suggested by NCE. If replacing the front
headlight with a 3 mm sunny white LED, a resistor is not required as a 1K current limiting resistor is
already included by NCE on the decoder board. Use heat shrink tubing to insulate the leads from the
chassis. Solder the anode (long) lead of the LED, to the top solder pad and the cathode lead (short) to
the bottom pad as indicated in the NCE instructions. The downside of retaining the original 1.5 mini bulb
for the rear headlight is that it is not very bright. NCE puts a 100 ohm resistor in the circuit and only
feeds the bulb 1/2 wave voltage so as to not generate too much heat, but in the end this does not give a
very bright light.
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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Circuit schematic for lights as supplied by NCE:
Should you choose to use a white 3mm LED for the rear light, I assume you could connect it to the 12-14
volt connections as indicated in NCE’s circuit diagram above. Note the LED is rated at about 3.5 volts so
a current limiting resistor would need to be connected to the cathode lead of the rear LED. NCE supplies
a pre-wired 1K resistor for the front headlight LED, but I do not believe this applies to the rear light. I did
not use an LED for the rear light and chose to stick with the original existing 1.5 volt bulb in the loco cab,
for the simple convenience of not having to take the cab apart to access the rear bulb. NCE has also
supplied connections for an additional output 3, for a 12-14 volt bulb such as a rotating beacon or
strobe, controlled by Function 1. ( See above). If using an LED for this, you also would require a 1K
current limiting resistor. The space required for the additional resistors could be problematic, as the
space under the shell of the SW1500 is very limited, which of course is the reason to use NCE’s specially
designed decoder for the SW9 in the first place.
I next proceeded to add leads for the rear light to provide enough wire slack to facilitate easy removal of
the shell for future servicing. In addition, as a precautionary measure, I added leads for the addition of a
keep alive or No Halt capacitor, that I would place in a freight car behind the switcher should future
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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needs require. So far, I have not found the current maintaining capacitor to be necessary.
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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The photo below was provided by NCE to demonstrate where to make the positive and negative
connections for a keep alive capacitor:
Install an NCE SW9-SR mobile Decoder into an P2K SW1500 switcher.
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I drilled holes in the back wall of the cab to bring these leads out. They can be connected to a 2 Wire
micro-connector to join to the keep alive capacitor in the freight car.
Should you not use the keep alive option immediately just coil the wires up and place them on the
exterior rear platform of the Switcher.
The extra length of wire for the rear light is connected to the pre-existing wires in the top of the shell
and the joins protected with heat shrink tubing and secured with Kapton tape
Now let’s see if we get the shell back on?
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