Budget function decoder for gauge 1

Hi and welcome to the forum.

LEDs use about 20-30 mA so you could power 4 or 5 LEDs with a decoder that has a 100 mA output. The 250 mA TSC would be better perhaps.

The coaches look great. Are you using them outside or in?

QUOTE (Doug @ 4 Mar 2008, 20:24) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The coaches look great. Are you using them outside or in?

I just have a starter set, and some additional track. So I was only using them inside. But it has to move outside eventually. But that's years from now.

Years from now you may want to look at radio control if you go mostly outside.

QUOTE (Dennis David @ 5 Mar 2008, 03:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Years from now you may want to look at radio control if you go mostly outside.

RC is fine for live steam/diesel, but surely DCC is the way for electrically powered models.

DCC will not work well with live steam as live steam & clean track are not usually seen at the same time. As long as the track is clean DCC will be very effective outside & also gives the power for coach lighting.

QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 5 Mar 2008, 08:35) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>RC is fine for live steam/diesel, but surely DCC is the way for electrically powered models.
This may be true to some extent for proprietary G scale RTR, such as LGB etc. However, many British outline Gauge 1 models are kit or scratchbuilt, and battery powered R/C control is seen as a convenient alternative.

QUOTE DCC will not work well with live steam as live steam & clean track are not usually seen at the same time
Not only that, but most live steam locos have solid (i.e. uninsulated) axles and wheelsets, so would short out any 2-rail control system.
From experience, Gauge 1 enthusiasts like to visit each others layouts. Some are dominated by live steam, whereas others prefer electric. Most like to be able to accommodate both for visitors, ideally at the same time. Battery electric operation is an easy solution to this, though of course it has issues of its own, such as the recharging required.

That does look interesting David - thanks for the info.