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B unit w/ sound for a non-sound decoder A unit

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  • Member since
    January 2021
  • From: Nampa, Idaho
  • 47 posts
B unit w/ sound for a non-sound decoder A unit
Posted by UPSD40-2_3612 on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 12:35 PM

So I have a DDA40X (62105) from bachmann and I would like to get sound on it but I also like to run a DD35B from my club's set. I could get a peronsal DD35B and put in a sound decoder (SDXH166D) and speed match it, or should I just replace the decoder in the DDA40X and use the other decoder in the DD35B (or run a dummy)?

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 1:20 PM

I'm a bit confused. What decoder is currently in your DDA40X and what decoder is in your club's DD35B? Are you thinking about putting the SDXH166D decoder in the A unit and moving the existing decoder to the DD35B that you haven't yet bought?

If it was me, I would want the sound decoder in the A unit just in case I ever wanted to run it alone. I would also suggest you get decoders from the same manufacturer for both units. I've had difficult in the past speed matching decoders from different manuafacturers.  

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 118 posts
Posted by Texas Zephyr on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 1:24 PM

John-NYBW
I've had difficult in the past speed matching decoders from different manuafacturers. 

I agree.   I got "cheap" one time for a set of three locos.   Had sound in two of them and the third was non-sound.  I've spent countless hours trying to sync the one non-sound decoder with the other two.  Should have just spend the exta $100 and got the third unit with the sound and not had to worry about it.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 1:28 PM

I ended up getting a non-sound LokPilot V to match to LokSound V and they speed matched perfectly. The CV settings are the same for both except of course for those related to sound.  

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • From: Nampa, Idaho
  • 47 posts
Posted by UPSD40-2_3612 on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 2:47 PM

John-NYBW

I'm a bit confused. What decoder is currently in your DDA40X and what decoder is in your club's DD35B?

The club's DD35B is a dummy and it is a dh126

John-NYBW

Are you thinking about putting the SDXH166D decoder in the A unit and moving the existing decoder to the DD35B that you haven't yet bought?

Yes, I also was thinking about leaving the dh126 in the DDA40X but it looks different inside from a standard one (thats what the member I bought it from told me at least). i will need to crack it open soon to inspect it but for right now the electric motor sounds are annoying

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 3:24 PM

Since both are Digitrax, they should speed match well. As I said earlier, I would want the sound decoder in the A unit in case I wanted to run that stand alone. Swapping them should be easy. I think both decoders are 9 pin plug-ins so just unplug the DH126 from your A unit and unplug the SDHX166D from the harness it comes with and plug that into your A unit's harness. You'll have to wire the other harness to your B unit and then plug the DH126 to that. If you don't want to bother swapping the plugs, it just means you'll have to solder the harnesses to both locos. 

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • From: Nampa, Idaho
  • 47 posts
Posted by UPSD40-2_3612 on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 3:28 PM

Ok, thanks for the preference. Yes

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