I have seen people who have MUed permenetly two locomotives by using the same decoder.
I am wanting to do that with my two Alton and Southern GP38-2’s.
Does anybody know how to do this?
Thanks
Actually it is easy, I used to do this a lot back when decoders were expensive. You just run two wires from the “motor output” of the decoder (orange and grey wires on a standard DCC harness) back to the motor of the second unit. This would put the two motors in parallel with each other. Make certain the polarities are correct so both the locomotives are going the same direction.
The wires between the locomotive can be just two wires strung between, they can be on a plug and socket type arrangment. Or as I like to do, Cut two brass draw bars to connect the locomotives with rather than using couplers. I solder one wire to each. I separate them with an exact same sized plastic draw bar, so they can’t short. They are mounted into the normal coupler brackes with a PLASTIC screw so that the screw doesn’t short them. This configuration makes a really strong coupling between the locomotives and there aren’t any unwanted wires hanging between the locomotives to tangle or catch on something. Oh yeah, make certain the loco frames aren’t hot. If they are you have to add an additional insulator.
With TCS decoders costing only $15 each, it’s just as easy and cheap to put separate decoders into the locomotives and run them on the same address or make them into a consist. In order to run two engines from one decoder, you may need a heavy-Amperage decoder, which is going to cost more than two 1 Amp decoders.
There’s also the issue of headlights. You will need more wires going across if you want the decoder to control the lighting in the second engine.
Decoders just aren’t that expensive. Besides, making up and tearing down MU’s is part of the fun of DCC.
I posted the same question a few months ago. The responses were about 50/50.
Sure, some decoders have come down in price…but where is your sense of adventure? I have a hunch that the nay-sayers would have no problem hacking into a shell just to change the radiator cooling fans.[%-)]
PS: I still want to try this idea, even just once.
Are there any issues with amp draw when doing this? Two motors running off of one decoder.
I agree with MisterBeasley, MUing loco’s is part of the fun of DCC. I’ll run trains one way and then turn the loco’s around on a wye and run them some more.
I’m one of the 50%. Two decoders. MU them if you want. Split them if you want. Why limit options?
Looks like more than 50/50 to me - TWO decoders. It’s a lot easier to deal with two locomotives if you only have to couple and uncouple them, not deal with a bunch of wires between them. And a lot more flexible if they have their own decoders since you can mix and match them with each other or with other locos at will.
And another thought - if they are not nice low-current locos like Atlas, Kato, Stewart, etc., but more like Athearn Blue Box, you are going to have possible current draw issues trying to run two such motors on one decoder.
–Randy
I don’t turn my engines around. And prototypicaly do they? and MUing is just that, a bunch of wires and some airlines correct?. So it’s not a bad idea from an operations stand point right? My question is how many of you have ever done it? And what were the results? I’m looking for a way to save some money on my new layout. With over 20 Locos I plan to leave on my RR at all times It gonna cost a fewbucks!! to get er done.
How much money are you going to save? If you use a single decoder, you might havet o get a ‘larger’ one to handle twice the amperage. And you are going to have to buy some connection wires/plugs to get these wire to the second unit. So now you have at least two wires that have to bridge across. Add lights for that decoderless engine - another pair of wires. Oh yeah, it would be nice to use the 8 wheels on the other engine to pick up power - another 2 wires - you now have to bridge the units with 6 wires. Right now I can see $5-$6 worth of flex wire/small plug connectors and at least an eavings worth of work for each pair on units. A $15 ‘drop in’ decoder and about 5 minutes of your time to install it sure makes more sense(and you are not hacking up the rear end of the models).
Jim Bernier
Or less, if you buy in quantity. 10 NCE D13SRJ decoders are $119 from Empire Northern. < $12 each. And it’s a top quality decoder, lights plus 2 additional functions, back-emf, etc. Still working my way through my first 10 pack, but that makes them the #1 decoder in my fleet so far.
–Randy
Yes, the decoder must be capable of electrically handling both motors.
I do that even if each locomotive has its own decoder. ABBA set and 32 wheel pick up!
Lots of Railroads use wye’s to turn locomotives around. Here is a shot of the wye used by the Ontario Northland Railway to turn their locomotives around.
