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Are these Lenz decoders too?

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  • Member since
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Are these Lenz decoders too?
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 7:44 PM

I removed these from two new Bachmann standard DCC Onboard locos.  They say R0HS H60LX which I think is only the circuit board maker imprint.

I did not think to ID them while still in the locos.  However, I might find a use for them somewhere.  Do you think they are just a board version of the Lenz 100 value line decoder that is in all the others with NMRA plugs?

One says Rev. B and one Rev. C and PCB01.  Both were made in 2006.

 Thanks.

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Posted by cacole on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 7:55 PM

ROHS is an industry standard which means "Restrictions on the use of certain hazardous materials in the production of electronics components" and has nothing to do with who the manufacturer of an item might be.

As near as I know, Lenz has the exclusive contract to manufacture the non-sound decoders for Bachmann, so they are do doubt a Lenz product.  If they were sound decoders, they would be a custom made SoundTraxx Tsunami.

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Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 8:27 PM

Was there a shrink wrap on the board? My Spectrum Richmond 4-4-0 had a decoder in it with the part number Bachmann 44915 on the shrink wrap. A Google search told me the decoder is a rebadged Lenz. The decoder is advertised as Bachmann EZ Command.  I was surprised to see this decoder is available for ten to twenty US funds from various sites. About a year ago I was told the decoder was not available separately.

Yours might be good for controlling  a turntable or some other motorized item. Maybe controlling a light or two. Those look like deisel decoders. Remove the LED and connect the pins to a LED somehwere on the layout. Might need a resistor on the decoder motor leads for a load so the controller "sees" the decoder.

Rich

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 9:22 PM
These long boards are made by Lenz. NCE makes a full function replacement for them, the BACH1, which is a far superior board. I have about 6 or 7 Athearn locos that I've installed these cheap Bachmann boards into and they run quite well. I also put one in an Atlas GP40. It's a good runner as well.

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 9:28 PM

Thank you, Mr. Richg and Mr. JW.  Yes, I used the NCEs too, that's why these were removed. 

I think I will do as you suggested and keep them for a few odd old locos or for layout lights as suggested above.

I just wondered because all the other DCC Onboards I have were the old shrink wrapped decoder plugged into a lightbaord.

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