Can I Piggyback Decoders Like this?

[Otis]

I just thought I would try something.

I have a couple of Digitrax DZ123s that I seem to have fried the lighting circuit on ( by shorting them).  However the motor circuits continue to run just fine.

I also have a handful of those old Lenz 100s. 

Can I install the Lenz just to control the lights and the DZ 123 as well? I could address them the same, but how would the controller or Decoder Pro handle that?

Oh, I guess I could address them  differently to program them, then readdress the Lenz to match the motor decoder.

So if that is possible, I guess I would wire the Lenz just to the track leads and the motor as normal?  Is there any danger of damaging what is left of the DZ123 by piggy backing like this?

[MisterBeasley]

I see no reason why you couldn't use the DZ123 for the motor, and the Lenz 100 for the lights.

Otis

So if that is possible, I guess I would wire the Lenz just to the track leads and the motor as normal? 

I would NOT connect the Lenz to the motor at all.  That wouldn't be healthy.  You may, however, have to connect the Lenz (by itself) to the motor in order to program it, but then you should disconnect the Lenz from the motor and connect up the DZ123 instead.

I would set them both to the same address.

[Otis]

MisterBeasley

I would NOT connect the Lenz to the motor at all.  That wouldn't be healthy.  You may, however, have to connect the Lenz (by itself) to the motor in order to program it, but then you should disconnect the Lenz from the motor and connect up the DZ123 instead.

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking----just connect it temporarily to set the lighting function---then take it off and leave only track power connections.

Thanks Mr. B.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Otis

MisterBeasley

I would NOT connect the Lenz to the motor at all.  That wouldn't be healthy.  You may, however, have to connect the Lenz (by itself) to the motor in order to program it, but then you should disconnect the Lenz from the motor and connect up the DZ123 instead.

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking----just connect it temporarily to set the lighting function---then take it off and leave only track power connections.

Thanks Mr. B.

I program decoders without a motor load by connecting a 12 volt light to the motor leads. This provides enough resistance for my Zephyr to see the decoder.

[cacole]

 Your idea should work okay.  Connect both decoders's inputs (black and red) together.  Connect the Digitrax decoder's gray and orange outputs to the motor and the Lenz decoder's blue and white outputs to the light, and program them with the same address at the same time as if they were just one decoder.

If using Decoder Pro, select either Lenz or Digitrax parameters because they should be the same on all of the basic NMRA Standard CVs.