LGB decoders

[sarg]

will LGB decoders work in other locos I like to buy an use other equipmeht on my layout. SARG

[Anonymous]

I do not know if they will ornot but I think that tye will but I do not think you will get much in the way of warranty. I have three loco's with LGB decoders in them and they work really well but they were put in officially and even then i did have a few samll problems to start and they made it clear that things would have been different if they hadn't been put in by them (the local distributor)

For instance I have an LCE and its two motors wanted to go in opposite directions on MTS but ok on DC and it had to go back for reprograming, again they wouldn't have touched it if I had done the job myself.

Further I have had nothing but trouble with trying to operate points from the points decoder and it had to go back twice the module had two burnt out IC's and they inferred that I may have caused it, may no real idea of what had happened actually.

So be wary if you are going to instal the stuff yourself, I don't think they will put their decoder in other loco's but you never know. My entire MTS system is now workinga treat and its is owrth all the effort and all the money



Reagds



ian.

[RhB_HJ]

Yep, they will.

However

a) do not tell LGB that you mounted the decoder in a non-LGB item (no warranty)

b) make sure the LGB decoder can handle the current draw. LGB is notorious for specifying two decoders where other mfgs use one.

c) make sure you're happy with the extremely meager Functions (F0 and F1)

d) make sure you have a programming module that is universal and lets you program all the CVs.

e) make sure that you understand that LGB's technical information (the real nitty gritty) is hard to come by. There are instances when the mfg and the OEM would not provide the detailed info.

f) with all the makes of decoders on the market there are plenty that will fit any bill, will offer more and the info will be well documented.

g) to the best of my knowledge there isn't another mfg that limits his warranty to product being used in their own product only. That is a LGB exclusive!

[cacole]

If LGB has such stringent conditions attached to the use of their decoders, I'll certainly not consider using theirs. Are they really DCC decoders, or for some other type system? I can understand LGB trying to protect their products from abuse and misuse by inexperienced modelers who might mis-wire the decoder and turn it into a smoke generator, but there are other manufacturers, such as Lenz, who offer decoders with a "Goof-Proof" warranty; i.e., even if you burn it up because it was installed wrong, they'll replace it. LGB seems to be going to the opposite extreme with their warranty.

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

If LGB has such stringent conditions attached to the use of their decoders, I'll certainly not consider using theirs. Are they really DCC decoders, or for some other type system? I can understand LGB trying to protect their products from abuse and misuse by inexperienced modelers who might mis-wire the decoder and turn it into a smoke generator, but there are other manufacturers, such as Lenz, who offer decoders with a "Goof-Proof" warranty; i.e., even if you burn it up because it was installed wrong, they'll replace it. LGB seems to be going to the opposite extreme with their warranty.

The LGB decoders respond to most of the standard controls, however unless they are the newest generation they won't recognize 128 speed steps.
But there are so many other decoders that offer much more for basically the same price.
The latest series of engines from LGB have what they term an "onboard decoder" i.e. it is combined with whatever other electronics (sound etc) they incorporate. People are still trying to figure out how to replace one of those with a standard decoder, because they may like the sound and the other features but not the decoder.

[Anonymous]

Having read all the above can anyone recommend a decoder I can use in my Bachmann consoidation and mogul locos which will be compatible with my LGB MTS system. I would like to run a mix of manufacturers at the same time.

Thank you.