two motors one decoder

[graymatter]

Have a cow and calf each with a motor. I would like to use one decoder for both.

I measured the stall current and found a decoder that can handle the combined current draw of both motors.

Before I took the plunge I wanted to ask if anyone has used one decoder for two motors and if they were satified with the slow speed performance.

I am assuming that I would hook the motors in parallel.

But I thought it would be easier on the decoder if the motors were wired in series. Maybe adjusting the start voltage CV would make this the best way to use the decoder.

[tstage]

Is it lack of room in the calf the reason you are trying to go with only one decoder?

Tom

[graymatter]

Right Tom. There isn't enough room in the calf.

[RR_Mel]

I have used two motors on one decoder in several locomotives.  I remotored three of my Rivarossi articulated locomotives to dual Canon EN-22 can motors.  I paralleled the two Canons on one MRC 1731 decoder.  I added 10 ounces of weight the Rivarossi boilers and all three locomotives perform perfect.  The Twin Canon EN-22 motors work great in parallel.  Both EN-22 motors will draw close to one amp under a heavy load.  I have never had a decoder fail!

 

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-9-2014-remotoring-rivarossi-cab.html

   

The link above was a post in 2014 before I installed a MRC1731 decoder in the tenders.  I bought my first MRC 1731 decoders in 2016 and they work great in my dual motor articulateds.

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

 

[richg1998]

For a few years I ran an HO F3 A/B with one decoder. Used the B for pickups also. Speaker in A and B.

I also ran them with a F7, A/B and each had a decoder and speaker. Ran both sets in ABBA. Not a big deal. Little bit of fine tuning.

Had to lower the sound quite a lot.

Rich

[graymatter]

Did the F3A and F3B both have a motor?

If so did you wire the motors in series or paralelle ?

[richg1998]

Motor in both. Six pin small inline plug assembly in the Diaphragms and pretty much out of view, depends on radius of track. Close coupled A and B. Pretty sure motors in series. Been some years.

A few years before, I had a two motor HO Bachmann 44 tonner converted to DCC with a LokSound v3.5 decoder and ran them in series. I believe those locos had a twenty mph limit. Worked quite nice until a gear cracked.

Rich

[jjdamnit]

Hello all,

Which calf unit?

I have a SW-1500 in HO with a calf.

Decoders were successfully installed in both and run MU’ed.

Perhaps modifying the calf’s frame by milling out a pocket for the decoder is the answer.

Hope this helps.

[richg1998]

There are some small decoders.

A few years ago I used a DZ125, not much larger than a USA dime. I think that one has been upgraded to a DZ126. They are for Z, N and HO decoders good for one amp.

TCS has some small decoders also.

Rich

[MisterBeasley]

One thing you can not do with one decoder is speed-match the engines using DCC CVs.  If they run well enough together, then you're good.