I anticipate taking delivery of a new loco soon, a Liliput HOe/HOn30 ZillerthalBahn Diesel D13. It is wired to take a 21-pin European decoder and is ready for sound, although I don't think sound is in the budget right now. I know ESU has 21-pin decoders, but have no experience with them.
Anyone have any tips on suitable 21-pin decoders?
Are there specific sound options available for this loco?
It probably doesn't matter as far as the decoder goes, but I will be converting this loco to HOn3.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike,
ESU sound decoders are top choice and most upmarket brands have them installed.
Zillertalbahn Lupo D 13 has a CAT 3412 E DI - TTA 1,000 HP engine and a hydraulic transmission. The sound differs quite a lot from a Diesel-Electric loco. I am not sure whether ESU has the appropriate sound file available, but the nearest would be the sound of a DB class V 100.
Lenz also makes a 21-pin in their Silver- and Gold-series decoders. Although they aren't sound, they have terrific BEMF.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
TCS makes a great one that I have used. http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Products/Decoders/HO-Scale/EU-Series/EU621/EU621.html
Litchfield Station carries them, which is where I got mine from http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=999003506&cat=338&page=1
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Ulrich,
I even vaguely remember what a V100 sounds like, but it's been a long time (early 70s). So good to know what sounds might fit it if I go that route.
Lately, I've had a run of narrowgauge diesels I've had this problem with. I've got a PSC DL-535E I built recently, which needs a not-available Alco 251 6-cylinder. I've been thinking about putting a Tunnel Motor Tsunami in there....
So who knows what kind of sound this little brute will end up emitting.
Tom,
Lenz does have a great rep. Are they plug-n-play like US decoders? i.e. need no special programming, which the ESU Loksound does.
Simon,
Good to know there is a non-Lenz oe -ESU option. I know it's an extra $150 or so for the ESU programming stuff, but not sure what if anything extra Lenz requires. I presume that the TCS is plug-n-play.
mlehman Tom, Lenz does have a great rep. Are they plug-n-play like US decoders? i.e. need no special programming, which the ESU Loksound does.
I checked the Lenz Silver-series webpage. It's an "NMRA-21 socket for locomotives that have 21 pins". Again, it's only a motion decoder, therefore, non-sound.
I have one in a Stewart FT, a Blueline (BLI) 4-8-4 Niagara, and a Walthers SW1 switcher. All of them will do <1 sMPH at speed step 001 and the SW1 can crawl as slow as 0.33 sMPH. And I didn't even have to adjust any CVs.
Mike the TCS is non sound as well. I programmed it fine on my PR3 with decoder Pro.
ESU decoders need no special programming stuff. You only need that to change the sounds. The regualr programming for stuff liek addresses, function control, and adjusting volume is all done like any other decoder, no boosters or special programming device needed.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks for clearing things up for me, guys. Always best to ask, rather than assume. So looks like I have multiple choices and it only gets complicated or expensive if I want sound. Good enuf.
DCC Concepts has a nice description of the 21 pin plug and instructions for adapting it to an 8 pin plug. They also have a 21 pin to 8 pin adapter available.