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MRC Prodigy Advance²/Digitrax Decoder Compatibility?

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
MRC Prodigy Advance²/Digitrax Decoder Compatibility?
Posted by RR_Mel on Friday, February 2, 2018 10:37 AM

I’m changing my passenger train lighting.  Over the last year I have been using an E7B dummy as the power source for my 11 car SP Daylight passenger trains.  The battery powered lighting has worked out even better than expected.  I use a single rechargeable Lithium battery for power with a rail powered chip charger and a micro relay to turn on and off the lights in all 11 cars.
 
My Daylight passenger train consists of a powered E7A + powered E7B + dummy E7B battery unit.  The micro relay in the dummy E7B is controlled by the powered E7B DCC decoder (function F3).  Both powered E7s have the same DCC address, not a consist in the Prodigy controller.  Works great!
 
I want to replace the E7B dummy with a Athearn Streamlined 72’ Baggage car as the lighting power unit.  Using the powered E7B decoder works OK but I would like to install a function decoder to control the lighting in the baggage car.
 
Both of the powered Daylight locomotives have MRC 1730 decoders operating off my MRC Prodigy Advance² controller using the same DCC address.
 
My question is will a Digitrax Function only decoder TL1 do what I need installed in the baggage car?  Can I use the E7A/E7B address to control the TL1 F3 function switch in the baggage car?
 
I have several Digitrax decoders and they work fine with my Prodigy controller.  This will be my first venture off a normal DCC installation.
 
 
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
   
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, February 2, 2018 11:12 AM

I'm feeling a little rusty with my DCC recall and MRC was my least used system when I operated on layouts, but I don't see why you can't give it the same address and control it the way you suggest. Of course, if your E7 consist starts smoking, well...I did I meantion I was a little rusty?

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, February 2, 2018 4:44 PM

What's so different about your other installations, other than this one won't connect to a motor? No reason why your MRC wouldn't work with a Digitrax decoder, especailly as you have others and they work fine. That's the beauty of DCC, all decoders work with all systems. I don't run ANY Digitrax decoders on my Digitrax system - don't like them.

                                   --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Friday, February 2, 2018 4:55 PM

Thanks Guys, I put one on order.
 
 
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
  
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

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