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Will Any Decoder Do?
Ben sent in this question for readers:
“This might sound stupid but can I use any decoder model in a locos? I ask this because I will be soldering the connections regardless and know the frames can vary between manufacturers, so can I still choose any decoder, or will I need specific decoders for certain locos?
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8 Responses to Will Any Decoder Do?
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decoders are command-station-specific(märklin, trix, motorola, dcc etc.) so if it works in one loco it works in all of them…
things to keep in mind, though:
1. some older locos use frame as one conductor and needs to be isolated from the motor…
2. measure the stall current of the motor and choose a decoder accordingly – most can only handle 1a but older athearn motors draw over 2a…
MTY The whole point of the NMRA Recommendations is that decoders are NOT controller dependent, but any chip is MEANT to be universally usable
i bet you have never heard of the term ‘rest of the world’ , too…
any DCC CHIP, yes…but dcc is just one of a few standards used worldwide, as i mentioned in the first sentence…
MTY _ I live in the rest of the world – I am not north American mate – and here we have chips (decoders) from all manufacturers being run by DCC systems of all makers using the NMRA standards. The question from Ben was do you need to use specific decoders with specific DCC systems and the answer is no.
Ben, it depends in what type of loco you will install the decoder.
a) If the loco is “DCC ready”, it will have the receptacle to plug in the decoder. The plug may be a 21 , 8 or 9 pin, so you need to choose the right decoder, with harness, no matter what manufacturer (for example ESU)
b) if the loco is an old model, DC only, then you can choose any brand 8 or 9 pin decoder with “loose” wires (Digitrax, Laiss, MRC for example. In this case you will need to isolate the motor and solder all wires, according to the decoder instructions.
Just as a highlight, all the wired decoder uses the same wire color configuration:
BLACK and RED for pickup
Orange and Gray for motor power
Blue is a common (+) phase for lighting and other functions
Wite is front light (-)
Yellow is rear light (-)
Green and Purple are additional functions.( -)
Some things to bear in mind as you choose the decoder, make sure it will cover all of the functions you want, ie lights in addition to motor control.
And some are bigger in size than others.
Also, as Mty says, you need to know how much current the motor will draw. Another way of saying this is don’t put an N scale decoder in an O scale engine!
As stated by others, all makes of standard DCC decoders will work with all standard DCC control systems.
But it needs to be for the correct scale, (N, HO/00, O &c), and have the correct stall current rating:
(This is the maximum current the motor will take if it is stalled at full applied voltage.)
It must be small enough to fit inside the loco or tender.
For a sound decoder, you will want one with the correct sounds for your loco: Steam / Diesel / Electric, Make and Type of engine. (And a speaker that will fit inside also.)
I advise you to start by buying a basic book on DCC control systems to get an overview of how all the parts work and fit together.
Having installed many decoders, here is my take: The decoder must be able to handle the loco’s max current draw. Another big issue is, the lights, many times you will need an in line resistor depending upon the type of lamps, incandescent, or LED etc. You must consider how much space you need for a given decoder. Sometimes you will need to machine the chassis to make room. I have found that replacing a large Open frame motor with a smaller but stronger can motor, also helps to create space for the decoder. If installing a sound decoder, be sure to get a sound that closely resembles what your Locomotives sound should be. I have used N gauge Dcc & sound decoders inside of HoN3 loco’s with good results, but I make sure the motor don’t exceed the decoder’s current rating. Be sure that either motor contact are isolated from chassis (left or Right rail), to protect the decoder.