8 pin connector with PCB

[billgiannelli]

I bought a birney streetcar that comes with a 8 pin connector that has a pcb 'embedded" into the connector.
I am trying to solder a sound decoder to the "dummy connector"(that also has the pcb).
I may have damaged the connector with my brutal soldering.
replacement 8 pin connectors I see available online do not have the pcb.
my question is, what is the pcb for and is it needed?
thanks
Bill

[jward]

that sounds like a dummy plug, it is meant to let the trolley run on dc. to convert to dcc, you remove this plug and insert a decoder with the 8 pin male plug on the wiring harness. save the dummy plug. it may come in handy at a later date.

[Hunt]

Bill,  I encourage to research and understand what the dummy plug does so you realize why it should never be connected to a DCC decoder.

[billgiannelli]

so having not learning about dummy plugs as Hunt suggested, I ended up butchering my dummy plug for my birney streetcar. can I use any 8 pin dummy plug for DC operation like those sold by digitrax.
thanks
Bill

[Hunt]

Bill,
The Digitrx DHDP can be used but is NOT what you should use. The DHDP is a 9-PIN JST dummy  plug and requires using a wiring harness. You do not want all that extra unused wiring in the harness taking up space.

Contact Bachmann Service Dept. for a 6-pin dummy plug or two 3-pin wire dummy plugs. 

 

[Hunt]

Bill,
The Digitrx Digitrax DHDP can be used but is NOT what you should use. The DHDP is a 9-pin JST dummy  plug and requires using a wiring harness. You do not want all that extra unused wiring in the harness taking up space.

Contact Bachmann Service Dept. for a 6-pin dummy plug or two 3-pin wire dummy plugs. 

 

[Hunt]

more . . .
The Bachmann Parts Dept list the pair of  3-pin wire dummy plugs as Sold Out
Click Here