DCC decoders: what should I use?

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T

Tankengine389

New Member
Now before anyone states it based from my username, Yes. I am a Thomas fan, and I will not deny that. Now onto the real main topic, as of now, I’m trying to find the right DCC decoder for the present model I am working on. I don’t really care for sound, and I am not planning adding speakers anytime soon or ever for that matter. However I have an interest in adding smoke and lights, and have already found a seuthe smoke generator as well as some lights that will do the job. Nothing too complex, or expensive, but something local and will do what I want it to.
 
Tankengine389 said:
Now before anyone states it based from my username, Yes. I am a Thomas fan, and I will not deny that. Now onto the real main topic, as of now, I’m trying to find the right DCC decoder for the present model I am working on. I don’t really care for sound, and I am not planning adding speakers anytime soon or ever for that matter. However I have an interest in adding smoke and lights, and have already found a seuthe smoke generator as well as some lights that will do the job. Nothing too complex, or expensive, but something local and will do what I want it to.
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I always do a stall test first, and then measure how much space there is for a decoder, then look around for a decoder to fit those spec's, I have Digitrax, Zimo, Gaugemaster and Lokpilot, but mostly Laisdcc, which is one of the cheapest, but runs my lights and smoke generator on my OO scale with no problem,
 
Smudge617 said:
I always do a stall test first, and then measure how much space there is for a decoder, then look around for a decoder to fit those spec's, I have Digitrax, Zimo, Gaugemaster and Lokpilot, but mostl, which is one of the cheapest, but runs my lights and smoke generator on my OO scale with no problem,
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Laisdcc? I don’t think I’ve heard of that brand. I might give that one a try. Any recommended series/types of those decoders? Particularly small ones if possible so they can fit in a variety of different engines.
 


I've never heard of them either, but checking out their Aliexpress store, I just placed an order for some of their products. :)

Tankengine389 - What model train are you working on?
 
KB02 said:
I've never heard of them either, but checking out their Aliexpress store, I just placed an order for some of their products. :)

Tankengine389 - What model train are you working on?
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Well right now, I’m presently working on a Hornby Thomas. Whatever decoder for it, I will probably also use for future projects.
 
I'll agree with Smudge and see what kind of room you have available to play with.
Not sure what kind of layout you've got (or will have), but with Thomas being an 0-6-0, turnouts might give you a little trouble. If you have the room, you might want to consider a Keep-Alive.
 
KB02 said:
I'll agree with Smudge and see what kind of room you have available to play with.
Not sure what kind of layout you've got (or will have), but with Thomas being an 0-6-0, turnouts might give you a little trouble. If you have the room, you might want to consider a Keep-Alive.
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My layout is a double line on a 4x8 board. I do have to probably fix it some, but my Hornby Thomas shouldn’t have any trouble running on it. Also, I think it should be important to note that I may add additional sections to the layout with more separate boards added to it, similar to how people do with modular layouts. BTW, I’m more concerned for the decoders within the locos, not so much for the layout and track. (I settled on the idea on using the roco Z21 or something similar for the system.) Furthermore, I think Hornby has some springs or clips to help with the DCC current on the turnouts. Also, I think from the research I did, using boosters should help spread the power across the tracks.
 
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Tankengine389 said:
Laisdcc? I don’t think I’ve heard of that brand. I might give that one a try. Any recommended series/types of those decoders? Particularly small ones if possible so they can fit in a variety of different engines.
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Not a well known brand in the US, and Laisdcc are considered by some to be a Chinese "knock off" of the TCS M4 decoder, personally I have no idea, but if on a budget or you just want a basic decoder, their cheaper than most major name brands, and usually you'll find them on eBay or Amazon.

https://laisdcc.com/decoders/

I have to admit so far I've never had an issue with any of them, (bar two, one I blew and second was returned and a replacement sent). I've literally wired or plugged them in and it's run straight off without changing any CV's. even at crawling speed, and that's on both my older and new OO and HO locomotives.

But in fairness, you should also look both Lenz, Zimo and Digitrax all are very good and reliable decoders.
 
Tankengine389 said:
I think Hornby has some springs or clips to help with the DCC current on the turnouts
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You intend to use booster's, so your not using a buss ??

Hornby R8232
There is the another option of using paper clips instead of these if you have a few laying around.
1670073940009.png
 
Smudge617 said:
Not a well known brand in the US, and Laisdcc are considered by some to be a Chinese "knock off" of the TCS M4 decoder, personally I have no idea, but if on a budget or you just want a basic decoder, their cheaper than most major name brands, and usually you'll find them on eBay or Amazon.

https://laisdcc.com/decoders/

I have to admit so far I've never had an issue with any of them, (bar two, one I blew and second was returned and a replacement sent). I've literally wired or plugged them in and it's run straight off without changing any CV's. even at crawling speed, and that's on both my older and new OO and HO locomotives.

But in fairness, you should also look both Lenz, Zimo and Digitrax all are very good and reliable decoders.
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Well, I was initially thinking of the Zimo mx600r, but with living in the USA, ordering from eBay or Peterspares does prove to have an expensive shipping cost. However in terms of functionality, decoder equivalent to that will do the job.
 


Tankengine389 said:
Well, I was initially thinking of the Zimo mx600r, but with living in the USA, ordering from eBay or Peterspares does prove to have an expensive shipping cost. However in terms of functionality, decoder equivalent to that will do the job.
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Great, we both have the same postal problem, but in reverse. 😂
 
Smudge617 said:
Those clips are around £10 here, and all they are are springy bits of metal, plus if one goes boing! it's in the hands of the Carpet God to find it.
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Well, regardless of how the turnouts are powered, I’m very much intending to have a plan in place for when I’m ready.
 
Tankengine389 said:
I think like 20 to 30 dollars for shipping. (May need to double check.) Which why I’m trying to find another decoder that is similar to the MX600R by another company on Amazon.
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That's cheaper than the $72 postage someone wanted for a pack of motor springs.
Royal Mail Tracked and Signed to the US £7.00 I just checked
 
Smudge617 said:
That's cheaper than the $72 postage someone wanted for a pack of motor springs.
Royal Mail Tracked and Signed to the US £7.00 I just checked
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Still though. I wouldn’t mind finding a good substitute to the Zimo decoder on Amazon. Back in the day, there was this tradition that my family did for Christmas, where we had this train display running on a table. It may be unusual for this, but if there is a chance where I can complete my Hornby Thomas for it, I want to take it.
 


Tankengine389 said:
Still though. I wouldn’t mind finding a good substitute to the Zimo decoder on Amazon. Back in the day, there was this tradition that my family did for Christmas, where we had this train display running on a table. It may be unusual for this, but if there is a chance where I can complete my Hornby Thomas for it, I want to take it.
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Yeah, Christmas train running round the tree or a table is a must.
Isn't their a LHS near you ?
 
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