With 76 engines to test and do WHICH brand decoder?
95% will be kiss engines the others will have the “BELLS & WHISTLES”
98% Steam, 10% are from the 70’s or earlier. This does not include the units with plug in’s.
FIgure there will be some 00 Address and LOTS of parked engines.
Brands Please, that like Digitrax equipment
Thank You
I’ve been using Gold series Lenz decoders from Tony’s Train Ex, Very smooth operation, I use 28 speed steps, when the throttle is set to 1 loco starts to move very slowly. They are full BEMF etc. Nice.
Ken.
The answer, as usual, is, “it depends”
For locos that aren’t truly DCC ready (ie most of them… those that need the light bulbs changed, resistors added, circuit boards cut, etc), I pretty much always strip out the stock boards and hard wire the decoders in. Hard wired decoders usualy cost less, too. I do use the ones witht he 9-pin JST plug ad socket ont hem - Digitrax and others sell dummy plugs for those so the decoder CAN be removed without rewiring the loco.
For specific fitments - P2K that cna take the drop-in repalcement decoders, I use the DH163L0, since it truly IS a drop-in replacement. No bulb changes or resistors required. Disadvantage - they cost more. But not more than a hard-wired decoder plus 2 LEDs and resistors.
Other specific fitments - P2K SW’s (the older ones without sound) - NCE makes a decoder specficially for them. Has solder pads for a new LED headlight, but includes a resistor for the rear light so you don’t have to tear out the cab interior to replace it. Atlas/Kato, I’ll use the TCS A series or an NCE DA-SR. The require new lights
My current generic decoder choice is the NCE D13SRJ - 4 functions, silent running, JST plug. No Back-EMF but I’ve put it in everything from a Spectrum E33 to a Walthers Trainline FA and they run nice at low speed. The Bachmann is probably the worst runner of the bunch, and might benefit from a better decoder. Nice thing about these is that in 10 packs they are $12 each. Not much excuse to not put a decoder in a loco a that price.
–Randy
Randy the list of 1st ones to update are ALL Rivarossi new stock, second is AHM/Rivarossi ols stuff (major work on these) Then a bunch of Sectrum, Stewart, Atlaas PFM, Balboa, Mantua and a cople of Varney to start with.
I guess with the spectrum I will get what Digitrax recommends. the NCE D13SRJ is that the package from Walthers or another Tony’s thing?
Thank you
George P.
PS Orderd a bunch from Tony’s and the order frorm said WHEN THEY GET STOCK, is that normal?
(2) PSfour, (2) PS2 and (3) PSREV.
Have you tried those older AHM’s? Are you using Code 83 track? I have 3 of the old-timers and a streamlined NYC Hudson that I’m keeping for sentimental reasons, but they don’t run on my code 83 track, the flanges are too big.
The D13SRJ you can get anywhere, but Empire Northern is where I get them in 10 packs for $119.95.
As for PowerShield backorders - seems a lot of DCC equipment is backordered these days. Too many peopll getting into it and these relatively small companies can’t keep up with the demand. Not to fear, I have a few decoders on hand and otherwise have everything I need for now.
–Randy
Your PFM, Balboa, Mantua, Varney and older AHM/Rivarossi engines should be tested to see how much the stall current of the motor is before installing any decoders. These older motors can draw in excess of 3 amps when stalled out and will fry some decoders if they cannot handle that current draw. My recommendation is to remotor the older models to get smoother running and lower current draw, then you will also be able to use the lower cost decoders, such as the NCE13 series, TCS-T’series and Digitrax DH123 or 163 series decoders without worrying about burning up the decoders. Lenz decoders do come with a 1 year ‘goof proof’ warranty, so hang on to your receipt and try one out. If you fry it, they’ll replace it.
Mike
Thanks folks, I am in the TEST mode now for theses units.
Randy how old your AHM?
TCS decoders also come with a goof-proof warrantee.
Mine are early 70’s vintage. My father in law has a few even older - those have even BIGGER flanges. Sometime in the early 70’s they revised them and reduced the flange size a bit but they still bump on the code 83 track. You might want to run them around a bit and test - or at least check the flanges with an NMRA gauge. If I was desperate to run them I suppose I coud find someone with a lathe to turn the flanges down - I HAVE heard of people doing that. Tender truck wheelsets can be replaced, steam loco drivers aren’t quite so easy, so a careful machining might be the way to go.
–Randy