Can I do this, will it work?
Can I put a Digitrax DH123D decoder in my steam engine and run the motor and headlight from it and them put a SFX0416 Soundtrax decoder in my tender to run the speaker and the read headlight?
I will have independent pickups from the wheels in both the engine and the tender and with this arrangment I will only have two wires between. Will it work that way? If not, what do I have to change?
Art,
The Digitrax SFX0416 'sound only' decoder will work just fine. Digitrax even uses the DH123D motor control decoder as an example! Another 'sound only' decoder you might want to look at is the MRC 'Sounder' series. Usually I shy away from MRC as the motor control is lacking and too many are DOA when they are taken out of the package. I saw the low 'under $30' price and ordered on - It works just great! It includes the speaker as well. I got the 'diesel' version and it has a non-turbo 567 sound that I installed in a dummy F7B chassis(Stewart).
Jim Bernier
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
To clarify the question, Can I run the headlight off of one decoder and the tail light off the other and get the reversing effect?
ARTHILLTo clarify the question, Can I run the headlight off of one decoder and the tail light off the other and get the reversing effect?
jrbernierAnother 'sound only' decoder you might want to look at is the MRC 'Sounder' series. Usually I shy away from MRC as the motor control is lacking and too many are DOA when they are taken out of the package. I saw the low 'under $30' price and ordered on - It works just great!
How is the volume on this MRC unit?
I've got a couple of the SFX0416 units. I put one in a trolley, and the other in a dummy F7B. On both of them, though, I'm really disappointed in the available volume. I've got them cranked up all the way, as far as the CVs will go, and they're barely audible. Contrast that to my QSI and Soundtraxx decoders, that I have to run at half volume.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.