Digital Four Function Locomotive Decoder
Hornby Railways R8215
Review by Doug Teggin
I purchased a few Hornby locomotive decoders and a couple of stationary accessory decoders.
I set up a test station on my desk (in from the cold garage) and connected up my Lenz Set 100 with the LZV100 command station and the LH100 hand controller.
I have a short test track set up as a main line. I also have the rolling road connected to a switched section of the main line for testing faster running of the locomotives (preventing them hurtling off the edge of the desk).
I have a programming track set up for dedicated programming purposes.
Here we have the Hornby DCC Decoder (R8215) on the left and a Lenz JST Gold on the right together with a 1 Euro coin for scale purposes.
This Hornby decoder at 17 x 10 x 3.5mm is very small and will fit in many places that the Lenz will not.
For the moment, I find the short wires to the NEM 652 plug fine. Sometimes longer wires from other decoder get in the way and take up valuable space inside the loco.
It is slightly interesting that the layout of components on the decoders that I have are not exactly the same as the decoder in the marketing material Hornby have used (below), indicating that product development has been ongoing since the product was first announced.
Photo: Hornby
I'm testing the decoder in a few locos. As I don't have any of those new fangled Diesel or Electric locos with lots of functions, I'm using the American geared Climax loco from Bachmann that allows easy access to the DCC decoder. It has directional lighting so that can be tested too.
I'm using a couple of Hornby locos to test running characteristics. I am very used to the Class 08 which I use quite a bit so I'll be able to judge well any differences to how the loco handles with the Hornby decoder.
* according to Hornby leaflet
Features
Hornby Railways R8215
Review by Doug Teggin
I purchased a few Hornby locomotive decoders and a couple of stationary accessory decoders.
I set up a test station on my desk (in from the cold garage) and connected up my Lenz Set 100 with the LZV100 command station and the LH100 hand controller.
I have a short test track set up as a main line. I also have the rolling road connected to a switched section of the main line for testing faster running of the locomotives (preventing them hurtling off the edge of the desk).
I have a programming track set up for dedicated programming purposes.
Here we have the Hornby DCC Decoder (R8215) on the left and a Lenz JST Gold on the right together with a 1 Euro coin for scale purposes.
This Hornby decoder at 17 x 10 x 3.5mm is very small and will fit in many places that the Lenz will not.
For the moment, I find the short wires to the NEM 652 plug fine. Sometimes longer wires from other decoder get in the way and take up valuable space inside the loco.
It is slightly interesting that the layout of components on the decoders that I have are not exactly the same as the decoder in the marketing material Hornby have used (below), indicating that product development has been ongoing since the product was first announced.
Photo: Hornby
I'm testing the decoder in a few locos. As I don't have any of those new fangled Diesel or Electric locos with lots of functions, I'm using the American geared Climax loco from Bachmann that allows easy access to the DCC decoder. It has directional lighting so that can be tested too.
I'm using a couple of Hornby locos to test running characteristics. I am very used to the Class 08 which I use quite a bit so I'll be able to judge well any differences to how the loco handles with the Hornby decoder.
Normal operation | |
Maximum current carrying capacity of the decoder in sum | 1 A |
Rated continuous current output in sum | 500mA |
Continuous motor output current | 500mA |
Function output current | 100mA each |
Address | 0-255* |
Speed Steps | 14, 28, 128 |
Dimensions | 17 x 10 x 3.5mm |
Features
- Control of the motor's rotational speed (load compensation)
- Acceleration and deceleration separately adjustable
- Selectable for operation with 14, 28, 128 speed steps
- Programming on the main track
- Four On/Off function outputs. Two of the function outputs are dedicated for the head / tail lights
- Operation on standard DC systems (analogue operation) possible
- Motor overload current protection
- With NMRA RP-9.1.1 / NEM652 medium plug
List of supported CVs |