[Doug]

I've added a DCC article on getting Back to the Basics of DCC Installation.

Inspired by some people that were telling me that there was not enough info on installing decoders into locomotives that were not 'DCC Ready'.

This answers some of their questions and perhaps opens up a little debate.

Click here for the article.

 

[LisaP4]

A nice little piece that. There's a little rhyme to help remember what goes where when fitting a decoder.

Red and Black, to the track,
Orange and Grey, the other way.

Makes it sound simple, which it is really.

 

[Doug]

I've updated this artice to relect the new decoder.

Initially I had installed a Lenz LE1000 decoder, but the LE1000 does not support CV5 (Max speed) and CV6 (Mid point speed) neither does it support Speed tables. It didn't perform well and was erratic on my Layout. Notably when it came to managing the top-speed of the loco. Tony's Trains swapped these decodes for LE1014W ones that do support a speed table. So the loco now runs much better. Smoother acceleration and a much more realistic top speed with a modified Speed table in place.

So check it out again if you want to see how to set-up a speed table for this Streamlined West Country class 4-6-2.

 

[Ozzie21]

Doug, While your choice of decoder is ok I have fitted a Gold or Silver series decoders in all my locos, 28 RTR Hornby or Bachmann Branchline and 20 DJH/Footplate Models ( Australian ) loco kits including an AD60 Garrett 4-8-4+4-8-4. These have replaced mainly older Le130G5's and Le 1035's. I find the finer control of the Gold decoders most pleasing and the slow speed capability, shunting speed, really excellent. Also the Constant braking feature is a good feature if a trifle tricky to use at first. What is confusing is the motor selection in CV 50. You have a choice of 5 types but which one to use. The literature that comes with the decoder doesn't help much so yo have to experiment a bit which takes time. I think Lenz could provide a better explanation for this feature.

Ozzie 21
DCC user since 1994

 

[MickD]

Doug,
Correct me if im wrong but have you got the red wire to the left hand rail pick-ups?
Hope so then Im not the only one

MickD

 

[Dave Tandy]

Hi, As a complete newcomer toDcc-I have the Gaugemaster Prodigy 2-I've tried fitting a decoder to a Bachmann standard class4 tank not easy on spare room!! I have managed with a Hornby 4 function decoder ,£8 from Hattons.Surprise,surprise it works
Dave Tandy

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (MickD @ 3 Feb 2006, 16:54) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Doug,
Correct me if im wrong but have you got the red wire to the left hand rail pick-ups?
Hope so then Im not the only one

MickD

It's simply the way the diagram looks - it's a Lenz diagram & the associated instructions do say "red to right". In practice it makes no difference at all - the important ones are the motor connections if you want the locomotive to go forwards when selecting forwards.

 

[SPROGman]

QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 29 Jan 2008, 07:57) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It's simply the way the diagram looks - it's a Lenz diagram & the associated instructions do say "red to right". In practice it makes no difference at all - the important ones are the motor connections if you want the locomotive to go forwards when selecting forwards.
It matters a lot for Lenz. If you get the track connections wrong you'll screw up ABC operation.

Andrew Crosland

 

[SPROGman]

QUOTE (LisaP4 @ 13 Sep 2005, 02:55) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>A nice little piece that. There's a little rhyme to help remember what goes where when fitting a decoder.

Red and Black, to the track,
Orange and Grey, the other way.

Makes it sound simple, which it is really.
Also
Red for Right, bLack for Left
oRange for Right and Grey... for the other one

But it doesn't rhyme :-(

Andrew Crosland

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (SPROGman @ 29 Jan 2008, 12:05) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It matters a lot for Lenz. If you get the track connections wrong you'll screw up ABC operation.

Andrew Crosland

The original question refered to pick up connections, not the track ones, hence my answer.

 

[Chirkwood]

Doug an excellent article . do you know of a similar step by step guide of how to fit a Decoder into a Bachmann Split Chassis as fitted in for example their current model Lechlade Manor

 

[SPROGman]

QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 29 Jan 2008, 14:43) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The original question refered to pick up connections, not the track ones, hence my answer.
Sorry, I meant the track side connections of the decoder ie the pickup connections. My response still stands. If you reverse these, Lenz ABC will be confused. At least that's my understanding of how it works.

Andrew