Decoder Buddy

[mbinsewi]

I'll be interested in seeing your "wire management".

Mike.

[2ManyHobbeez]

I tried installing a Decoder Buddy with a LokSound V5 in an old P2K GP9. The DB/decoder assembly was too thick and I couldn't get the shell seated properly. This was after I cut off all of the pins on the DB connector to an appropriate length. 

The interference wasn't much and I probably could have made it work by removing some metal (the raised areas around screw holes) but wasn't interested in that. I put it in a a P2K SD7 where it did fit OK. I then hardwired a LS V5 decoder into the GP9.

I'm perfecting a technique for wire management for hardwired decoders that I think will be a favorable solution. I'll share it here once I prove to myself that it works.

So watch out for the thickness issue if contemplating the Decoder Buddy. 

George

[mbinsewi]

rrinker

Though I have little need for all those functions, 21MTC is probably the future of decoder connections for HO and larger.

That would also be me.  I can't see myself trying to do all the different lights, etc, but, it looks like the 21 pin will be the norm, soon enough.

Mike.

[rrinker]

 Seem like a useful idea. I like how all the lights connect through that little board which plugs in to the main board. If the lights are all in the shell, this certainly makes it easy to remove the shell to work on the loco. And each funtion has BOTH wires broken out - beats having one big pad for the blue common where you try to attach a whole bunch of wires. Every LED just connects to the proper pait of pins on the Decoder Buddy.

Do with it would have the third wire for the ESU stay alives, although since I don;t need ditch lights or any beacons on my locos, the only thing I MIGHT do would be add step lightsor ground lights if I can deal witht he tiny pieces, so I have little reason to need a board to centralize all the wiring. I tend to hard wire my decoders, and if I need to consolidate resistors, a small board with some resistors can act as a common point to tie all the light wires to.

Though I have little need for all those functions, 21MTC is probably the future of decoder connections for HO and larger.

                          --Randy

 

[mbinsewi]

So, you buy that, use it to replace the existing board that came with the loco ( such as an Athearn RTR), and then buy the decoder?

So that's addtional $21 a piece, (includes shipping, US customers) above what the decoder cost, to get the 21 pin connector.

Mike.

[BigDaddy]

I saw some very enthusiastic discussion on another forum.  Is anyone here using them?

Basically it's a replacement circuit board with a 21 pin plug

https://nixtrainz.com/