AZL E7s and DCC

Is anyone running DCC with their AZL E7 locos? I am interested in getting one and have not seen one with the shell off. Are they hard wired like the SD40-2s or do they have a PCB? Any advice will be most appreciated.

Thanks,
John

I just received an E7 and there is a small light board at the front. There is an area at the back of the chassis where a decoder would fit. I think one of the new TCS Z2 would be perfect. I like the weight, should pull quite a few passenger cars

John

I'll post pix in a day or so. The back notch will hold the TCS, Digitrax DZ125 or Lenz Silver mini. You need to cut a trace on the front PC board to isolate one leg of the LED and get the Red / Black power pickups. The motor mod is the problem.

The motor has two tabs (contacts) for electrical pickup. The copper frame halves have cast raised areas to make contact with the tab contacts. You will have to grind these off (no worry, if you ever want to go back to DC, the other end of the frame's motor cavity has the same raised contact area !)

Make sure you insulate the ground area so that the solder ball from connecting to the decoder wires to the motor tab won't short ! Use Kapton or black tape.

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z