I just ordered an Intermountain F7A and B locos. The A unit has LocSound and DCC. The B unit is reg DC. What would be a good choice for a motor only decoder for the B unit, that would work well with the LocSound in the A unit? I have done plenty of DCC installs, but there is so much new stuff on the market these days, it's hard to keep up. Thanks in advance.
No direct experience with LokSound, but people do mention the exceptional motor control. Do they make a DCC-only decoder? That is likely to match well. That'd be my first choice
I'd think you'd want something just as silky smooth if there isn't. I have a Lenz Silver decoder in one of my narrowgauge diesels and it's pretty darn sweet. So I can recommend that, although no experience speedmatching between the two.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike:
Apparently Loksound doesn't make a non-sound decoder. If they do, I couldn't find it on their website.
Dave
Lokpilot!
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I have done something very similar on two occasions, purchasing a pair of HO scale Intermountain F3As, one with sound and one with no sound or motor decoder.
In both cases, I installed a Digitrax DZ143PS which Intermountain recommended and which fit perfectly. I am quite satisfied with the results. Incidentally, Digitrax recommends this decoder for the F3 and the F7.
Rich
Alton Junction
The non-sound ESU decoders are the LokPilot series:
http://www.esu.eu/en/products/lokpilot/
Steve beat me to it. All my non-sound locos have TCS decoders in them, and they have some of the best BEMF outside of the European decoders and run pretty well together. Lokpilot would be the best combo, TCS would be close and slightly less expensive. I've never had an issue MUing locos as long as they were resonably close - they don;t HAVE to be in lockstep with each other, no one ever did that in DC, they just think that because you CAN do that in DCC, you MUST do that in DCC. You don;t want one unit starting up and the dragging the other, or one stopping while the other one's motor keeps running and spinning its wheels, but if you run the two set a foot apart and at times the one closes up to 8 inches, and other times extends the seperation to 16 inches, running them coupled is not going to hurt them or cause wierd operation.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The new Intermountain engines come with a 21-pin plug right on the factory board. Order a LokPilot (non-sound) decoder with the 21-pin plug and it will plug straight onto the board and work perfect with your Loksound A unit.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
I agree with the TCS for non sound. All locos are going to be a bit different to speed match anyway, even if they're the "same" there's always a little difference in how they work. Anyway, I would speed match since I'm kind of a perfectionist. Since I'm doing that the TCS is the best option. Not sure the sound/nonsound ESU decoders would be exactly the same anyway and again, if they were the same the mechanicals/electricals will have some real world differences.
Richard
Loksound decoders have a feature called "Delay Start" which prevents the engine from moving before the sound revs up and / or releases the brakes. The LokPilot decoders also have this feature so they work in unison with their sound counterpart.
Other decoders do not have this feature, so things like this which make the Loksound decoder work so well, need to be turned off in order to match them to non-ESU decoders. I've also found the BEMF should be turned off in Loksound decoders in order to match them perfectly with other brands.
In other words, it's necessary to "de-tune" a Loksound decoder to run perfectly with other decoders. If other decoders had the same superior motor control, then it would be a lot simpler. You can't perfectly match a TCS decoder to a Loksound, but you can perfectly match the Loksound to the TCS - done it many times.
The LokPilot Standard is relatively new, having replaced the LokPilot Basic. Pay attention to this when purchasing as a lot of dealers will still have the LokPilot Basic in stock and they are missing a few features that are rather important .... like they don't support CV19 Advanced Consisting.
Thanks for all the good info, guys.
Update. The B unit that I ordered with the sound equipped A unit made no mention of DCC. But it came with Loc Version 4.00, and the instructions said ALL Intermountain locos now come with DCC, with or without sound. They sure run nice, creeping along tie to tie.