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Choosing The Right Decoder

Abdullah asks:

“I have a LIFE-LIKE Train GP-38, Santa Fe 3500, Power Locomotive model # 8294. I would like to know the right decoder to fit this engine. Thank you.”

2 Responses to Choosing The Right Decoder

  • Donnis Davis says:

    go to sound traxx, they have a decoder/sound selection section .. type in your mdl and mfg it will give you the correct sellection …

  • Hervey says:

    Donnis is mostly correct. The Soundtraxx website has a tool to help you pick the correct decoder you just have to follow the steps by clicking on the appropriate loco info. There is no need to type in anything anymore.
    You don’t say if you want sound or not. If not, you can go to the digitrax website (they have sound also but not as good) or Train Control Systems (TCS). TCS even walks through with photo’s the installation of a non-sound decoder in a Proto 2000 GP-38.
    Installing sound in these locos is not a job to take on without some previous installation experience. There is not enough room inside the Proto 2000 GP locos to install a sound decoder and speaker(s). It can be done but you have to remove (cut away) a portion of the weight. TCS shows an installation of their WOW sound in a Proto 2000 GP-38 but doesn’t explain it well enough to undertake the project.
    All this to say if you have to ask what decoder you probably don’t have the experience to install sound and would be better off to get it done by someone who does it for a living.

    Good luck.

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