What is the difference between the Digitrax DH163L0 and the DH165L0 for P2K’s?
2 things…
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The 165 is newer.
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The 165 has a plug for the sound bug.
David B
Can the Sound Bug be used with the DH163L0?
No. The 165 has a Soundbug socket, the 163 does not. With a 163 you would need to wire in a separate sound decoder. I’ve done a few Soundbug installs with the 165s. It is pretty straight forward.
If one were to install a DH165L0 now would you then be able to replace the lights later on with LED’s? Or would the built in features of the DH165L0 cause problems with lighting other than the stock P2K lights it is designed to compensate for? Thanks…
Joe
You can always go back and do LEDs later. I beleive the regulator in the DH163L0 is a current regulator, so it can be used with LEDs or bulbs. The DH163L0 is a simple resistor designed for the bulbs used in the P2K locos and would not work for LEDs without additional resistors. In either case there is also an option t bypass the onboard regulation and use the LEDs with their own resistors and not worry about anything.
–Randy
Both the 163L0 and 165L0 decoders have current regulators and can be used with either 1.5v bulbs or LEDs. Here’s the notes from rhe 163L0 manual:
Installation Notes:
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Do not exceed the decoder’s 500mA total function output rating.
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The decoder F0F and F0R functions are factory configured with an onboard current regulator for the factory lamps (or LEDs) when using a maximum DCC track voltage of up to 16Volts. To bypass the current regulator and use 12V to 16V lamps on F0F and F0R, peel back the yellow tape and bridge each of the two pair of solder pads as shown on the back side of the decoder in Figure 5. Be sure to replace the yellow insulating tape on the decoder back and change the locomotive lamps to 12V to 16V bulbs.
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Functions F1, F2, F3 and F4 do not have current regulators, they do switch the full track voltage from the Blue/+Common lead, so LEDs or 1.5V lamps being r
Actually, the answer to that is “Yes, it can”. As outlined in the instructions that come with it, you simply wire track power to the two solder pads on the Soundbug where the screws normally attach it to the DH165-series decoder. It’s not much different than wiring in any other sound-only decoder.
However, it may not be the ideal solution as you are left with the pins on the Soundbug, which must then be insulated to avoid the possibility of a short.
I’d personally just go with the DH165L0 if the eventual intent is to add sound. As long as you read and follow the instructions with regards to lights, changing them later shouldn’t be a problem. Like Jeff said, it’s a pretty straight-forward install.
HTH,
Steve
Agreed that you physically can wire a Soundbug in with a 163L0 but without the Sound FX compatability of the 165L0, there will be some functionality limitations.
Can you give me an example of what those limitations might be? After checking the Soundbug doc and FAQ’s, I’ve found these references:
“As long as the SFX-series is connected to the track power, a “host” decoder is not needed.”
http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=919
“Sound projects loaded into this decoder may be operated independently of any other DCC motor or function decoder.”
http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=1176
“The SFX004 can be used in a stand alone configuration as well. In these situations just connect pins 9 and 10 to the track and address the device normally.”
http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=1335
“The sound project loaded into this decoder may be operated independently of any other DCC motor or function decoder.”
http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/SFX004.pdf (Page 4)
However, I was unable to find in these or any other documents, any mention of “functionality limitations” when using the Soundbug in this manner. What am I missing?
Steve
I haven’t seen or heard of any limitations.
Don
The only ‘issue’ is ease of use. The SoundBug has pins to plug into the socket on the 165-series decoders. It’s certainly possible to sodler wires to it, but it’s much easier to use the 165 decoder, plug in the SoundBug, and tighten the screws.
–Randy
One consideration when using a soundbug or another sound-only decider in conjunction with a motor decoder is how to program them independently. Probably, a soundbug plugged into a soundbug-compatible motor decoder will behave a little better than one used with a decoder not specifically designed for use with the soundbug. I installed a soundbug along with another decoder - either a TCS or an NCE, I don’t quite remember which. I also did an install with a Digitrax SFX0416 and the TCS or NCE. I do remember that I did NOT put a load on F0 on the SFX0416. One of these combinations proved difficult to program - I ended up leaving a jumper block installed which allows me to remove the shell and isolate the decoders for programming. I think the soundbug programmed better for me - maybe it has an onboard load. Anyway, I decided that next time I would either use a motor AND sound decoder or a soundbug-compatible decoder with a soundbug.
Jim
The limitations will be around programming. The 165L0 series is designed to work with the Soundbug decoders and you have full programming support on the program track. I’ve tried Soundbugs and other Digitrax s
Okay, semantics I guess.
I just think of programming issues and requirements as, well, programming issues and requirements. To me they’re not “functionality limitations”. Now if (for example) you couldn’t blow the whistle unless the Soundbug was attached to a 165-series decoder, that would be a “functionality limitation”.
But those programming issues and requirements aren’t even specific to the Soundbug in any way. They are the same issues and requirements you’d expect to encounter in any dual-decoder installation.
Steve
If you put a 470 ohm resistor across one set of the light function wires on an SFX004 or SFX0416 and presumably the SFX064D you won’t have any problem reading CV values. The supplied instructions recommend putting a load on the light functions. It works for me and I have no problems with dual-decoder installs as long as they are both from Digitrax.
Don
Yes, my choice of the word functionality was a bit misleading. I was in a little hurry and partially distracted when writing that post. No, my point about the programming issues are consistent to all of the Digitrax SFX decoders when coupled with a non-SFX aware decoder. The CV readback workaround is Ops mode programming. I found the PR3 limitations more of an annoyance than anything else. I originally had tried an SFX0416 with a DN143IP in a Kato unit. I switched the DN143IP out to a DH165IP and it was much easier to work with the PR3 downloading/playing back sound files, reading back CVs etc… Here’s the note from the SoundBug manual:
I cannot run the “SoundTest” feature of the SoundLoader program used in conjunction with a PR2 Programmer. If the SoundbugTM is combined with a DCC decoder that is not fully SFX compatible, then it may not be possible for the SoundTest feature to activate properly.
Going back, my original point was if someone is buying a new P2K Digitrax decoder, my recommenda
Don,
That helps for the SFX0516 and DFX064 decoders but the SFX004 has the integrated plug and doesn’t have function outputs for lights. With the Soundbug it looks for the motor and light controller to perform this function.