[Nygma]

Hi Everyone,
I am a relatively new gauge 1 modeller, owner of some Marklin models. I have two German Umbauwagen coaches that come without interior lights. I have already installed LED lightning with a similar flicker free solution that was featured in this forum, but I want to change to DCC.
So far I have found Hornby R8215 or TCS Fleet Lighter 2 as possible candidates. If I am not mistaken both Mobile Station and Central Station can work with DCC decoders. 100 mA (R8215) or 250 mA (TSC) would be sufficient to drive my LEDs.

Does anyone have experience with these decoders (similar project)? Or can you recommend something else?

I have used 5 high luminosity 3mm amber LEDs. White would have been "too white" for such coaches where bulbs were used instead of neon light. This is a short article about the DC project if you are interested:
http://nygma.hu/content/view/2645/46/
Text is in Hungarian, sorry

Thanks,
Nygma

 

[Doug]

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?

 

[Nygma]

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.

 

[Dennis David]

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

 

[Brian Considine]

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.

 

[Gordon H]

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.

 

[Dennis David]

As part of the National Garden Railway Convention in 2006 I visited many outdoor layouts. Most of them were not running live steam yet I was struck by the popularity of Radio Control such as what controlled this layout's trains ...

 

[Brian Considine]

That does look interesting David - thanks for the info.