ESU Decoder

[Groh1127]

Is there a webpage or chart or something, showing what decoder goes with what locomotive? I'm very new to DCC and very new to ESU. Thanks for any help.

Peter

[maxman]

If you are referring to decoder physical sizes, try [e-mail].  You have to join this group, but that is free.

If you are referring to the sounds themselves, Loksound decoders are generally sold "blank", and the sound files get downloaded from the ESU website. If you want to do this yourself, you will need a Lokprogrammer.  Alternately, if you know the sound file you want many decoder vendors will do that for you.

[BigDaddy]

to the Forum.  Your posts will be delayed in moderation for a while.

What goes with what: another confuseopoly.  They make it too hard to understand.

TCS has the most helpful site, but it's  for their decoders not intentionally ESU.  Still it gives you an idea what the interior of the loco looks like and how to do it.

Historically DCC "ready" transitioned from meaning almost nothing at all to plug and play.  What you need depends on when your locos were made and how DCC ready they are.

When loco manufacturers started using circuit boards.  ESU marketed a drop in "Select" decoder.  Drop in is an exageration, it fit where the old circuit board fit, but required soldering skills.

There is also something called "Decoder Buddy"  It replaces a circuit board in a DC decoder and then you can plug a 21 pin decoder into it.

You can also strip everything out and hard wire a decoder.  That is often recommended because there are components on a DC circuit board that can hamper DCC operation.

You haven't mentioned sound.  I like sound but some do not.  Finding space for a speaker in 1980's locos can be challenging. 

Lighting:  Just to be complete, older locos came with bulbs.  In fact Athearn was the last manufacturer to convert to LED's.  Everyone recommends converting to LED's.  Warm white works for my transition era.  Depending on the DCC decoder, you may or may not need resistors. 

I also belong to Groups.IO.   You could ask here or there about what you want to do.  Don't skimp on the details.   An Athearn GP9 or an Atlas RS3 isn't enough info.  They have been making those for 40 years.  We need to know how old the loco is.

You can and should order an ESU decoder with the proper engine sound for your loco.  The various DCC mailorder places will do that for you.   If you don't you need a Lokprogrammer which can install a sound package. 

There are some that will tell you that you need a Lokprogrammer, period.  I have one, but I am not convinced that is the case. 

[BigDaddy]

• DCC shops:
• Streamline Backshop
• Yankee Dabbler
• Litchfield Station
• Tony's Trains
• DCC Xpress (Installations)

[wjstix]

Groh1127

Is there a webpage or chart or something, showing what decoder goes with what locomotive? I'm very new to DCC and very new to ESU. Thanks for any help.

Peter

 

 

Since you're new to DCC, let me throw in a few basics....

 

If you look inside a non-DCC HO locomotive (remove the body shell from a diesel, or the tender shell from a steam engine), if the engine has been made in the last 15 years or so, you will see a green lightboard. The lightboard will normally have an eight-pin receptacle, a nine-pin receptacle, or a 21-pin receptacle. You generally remove the 'dummy plug' in the receptacle, and plug in a decoder. 

 

ESU makes eight-pin and 21-pin decoders. As others have mentioned, the sound the decoder makes (if you opt for a sound decoder) will be determined by how the decoder is programmed. Many dealers will load a sound package into the decoder for you, and then you can use CVs (Control Values) to choose the horn and bell sounds, and some other options. 

 

Digitrax makes decoders that can have sound files loaded onto them too. Otherwise, you generally would buy a decoder that has the sound you want, or has that sound as one of the options, pre-loaded at the factory. The sound of the 'prime mover' (diesel motor) differs depending on the builder of the engine, so GM, Alco, Baldwin, FM, or GE engines will all make different sounds. So you need to match the motor sound to the type of loco.