Bachmann DCC Decoders

[Blaine's Trains]

I've read that the DCC decoder in the regular HO Bachmann locomotives have only a few function controls. This brings some questions to mind.

1) What brand and type are the decoders?

2) How many functions are built in to the decoder? 

3) Would it be worthwhile to take this decoder out and put in a more "robust' decoder?

4) Could you take this type of decoder and fit it into a DCC passenger car to provide various types of lighting, or would it be better to just get a decoder off the shelf to do this?

Blaine 

[cacole]

The decoders used by Bachmann are made by Lenz of Germany, but are a lower grade with fewer functions than the normal Lenz product.  Changing the decoder should never be necessary unless you are wanting to add something that is not provided by Bachmann and requires more functions than available, such as flashing ditch lights.

[Anonymous]

I have left some basic Bachmann decoders in. 

I have had some Bachmann DCC locos (from ebay) that were fine in all respects, except that the decoder gave very poor performance, so I replaced them with NCE decoders for about $13 each.

These are the only CVs available to the basic Bachmann decoder:

Lights are basic.  Switch on or off.

There is no back EMF on the decoder. 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Answer to question #3: Absolutely! Just about anything is an improvement.

Answer to question #4: Yes, it could be used in a passenger car for lighting that can be turned on and off, though you can do this with any good function-only decoder.