Decoder types – current, functions, termination, price and size.    Under Construction

 

List of decoders, a U.S. site but great info, last updated April 09.

 

Decoders are getting smaller, more features and cheaper. While I have fitted many D13SR generic decoders, with the smaller size N12SR this may be mounted in the loco and this will enable the units to be separated as in the case of the Austrains 36, I am in the process of fitting a N12SR between the front bogie and the body. For the little extra effort and a little more cost, this will be worth it for easier handling especially if owner is member of a club..  

 

NotesSoldered - For a really neat installation. The decoders have wires soldered to the board. These can be unsoldered or lengthened for the lights etc.

            Harness – Flat socket on decoder with wiring harness that has to be soldered to motor and track pick ups. Makes for an easier changeover if necessary.

            DCC Plug – Loco wiring from pick ups, motor connections etc are terminated with a DCC Socket that will connected to a decoder with a DCC Ready Plug.

            Fully insulated – Decoder is encapsulated in heat shrink and is fully insulated. Easy to fit, don’t have worry about insulating.

 

Brand & number

Amps &  (Ppeak)

Functions at mAs

Term-ination

Fully in-sulated

A$

Size mm LxWxH

Down-

load

Notes

NCE        Web site   Sold by  The Model Railroad Craftsman, 02 9831 8217

D13SR

1.3

3 at 40mA

Solder

no

$23

42 x 16 x 3.2

 

Universal silent running HO, 10 pack $200

D13SRJ

1.3

 

 

no

 

 

yes

9 pin socket on decoder with a harness

D13SRP

1.3

 

 

no

 

 

 

8 pin NMRA DCC Ready plug

N12SR

1.0 (1.3)

3 at 40mA

Solder

yes

$34

18 x 8.6 x 3.2

 

Very small HO & N, Silent, mounted between wheels

D14SR

1.3

4 at 40mA

P n P

no

$35

23 x 16 x 3.2

yes

Trainorama 44 & Austrains 442 & NR DCC Ready plug

Z14SR

1.0 (1.3)

4 at 40 mAs

NMRA 8

 

$41

14x 8.5 x 3

yes

 

P2KSR

1.3 (2.0)

5 at 40 mAs

NMRA  8

 

 

 

yes

 

DA-SR

1.3 (2.0)

4 at 40 mAs

Sold pad

 

 

72 x 17 x 3.5

yes

Direct replacement for Altas, Athern Genesis & Kato

D18SR

1.3 (2.0)

8 at 100 mA

Plug/Sold

no

$40

38 x 16

yes

8 pin plug motor/Hlights. Solder pads Outputs 3 - 8

 

LENZ             Web site    Sold by DCC Concepts  08 9455 6421

Silver MP

1.0 (1.8)

4 @ 100 mA

Plug

 

 

23 x 16.6 x 2.9

yes

Back EMF

Silver Mini

0.5 (0.8)

2 at 100 mA

Wires

 

 

11 x 9 x 2.8

yes

Very small, Back EMF

Gold JST

1.0 (1.8)

4 at 200 mA

Wires

no

$65

23 x 16.5 x 6.5

yes

Back EMF with USP Power 1 interface

Gold Mini

0.5 (0.8)

2 at 100 mA

Wires

no

$65

11 x 9 x 2.8

yes

Very small  Back EMF with USP Power 1 interface

 

TCS        Web site    Sold by The Model Railroad Craftsman,, 02 9831 8217 DCC Concepts 08 9455 6421 and Casula Hobbies 02 9602 8640

TI

1.3

2 at 100mA

harness

yes

$30

26 x 17 x 6.3

yes

Cheap, med size, quiet, dither adj. dim & harness

M1

1.0 (2.0)

2 at 100mA

solder

yes

$43

15 x 9 x .3.3

yes

VERY Small, Dither Ideal mount between wheels

MC2

1.0 (2.0)

2 at 100mA

solder

yes

$43

18 x 11 x 5

yes

Very small. quiet drive, dither, adj. dimming

M4

1.0 (2.0)

4 at 100mA

solder

yes

$46

15 x 9 x 3.3

yes

Very small, quiet drive, Dither, adj. dimming

MC4

1.0 (2.0)

4 at 100mA

harness

yes

$46

18 x 10.5 x 5

yes

As above slightly larger with harness

MC6

1.0 (2.0)

6 at 100mA

harness

yes

$52

.71” x .41” x .2”

yes

6 function Micro decoder

A6X

1.3(2.0)

6 at 200mA

P n p

no

 

2.9” x .7” x .15

yes

“Drop in” Athern Genesis,  1.5 volt lamps no res req 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIGITRAX   Web site      Sold by Christmas Every Day   07 5537 5511

DH163D

1.5 (2.0)

6 at 500mA

harness

yes

 

27 x 17 x 6.3

yes

Torque compensation (bemf) super sonic

DH163LO

1.5 (2.0)

6 at 500mA

P n P

 

$50

27 x 17 x 6.3

yes

Current Regulator 1.5 volt lamps, no resistors req’d

DZ123

1.0 (2.0)

2 at 500mA

wired

 

 

14 x 9.2 x 3.3

yes

HO, N & Z scale very small

DZ143PS

1.2 (2.0)

4 at 500mA

DCC plug

 

 

14 x 9.2 x 3.3

yes

HO, N & Z scale very small

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sound Decoders

Soundtraxx   Web site    Sold by The Model Railroad Craftsman,, 02 9831 8217

Tsunami

1.0 A Stall

 

 

 

$200

43 x 17.3 x 6.4

 

Steam ONLY external speaker capacitor 6 inch leads.

Tsu’ Micro

.75 A Stall

 

 

 

$210

25.4 x 13 x 6.0

yes

Half the length & no external capacitor, easy to fit

DSD100LC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 kHz motor control – Hum noise - some mechanisms

DSD090LC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 kHz motor control – Hum noise - some mechanisms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DSX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are SOUND ONLY decoders (no motor control)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ESU – Loksound  U. S. Web site Sold by DCC Concepts 08 9455 6421  The Model Railroad Craftsman, 02 9831 8217

 

These decoders have the capability of adding/changing the sound files, upgrading the software (if bugs are found) by using the A$265 ESU  Lokprogrammer. This means you can add your own NSW, Aust etc audio recording by converting them to .wav files, to make your own sound decoder. There are many sounds at the ESU web site. Adding a NSW 44 horn audio recording to an Alco decoder gave fantastic results for the 44.

Note: You DON”T need a Lokprogrammer to change the decoder’s CV values. This is done the same as for any other decoder – your DCC system.

  

Loksound

 

4 @ 250mAs

 

 

$195

35 x 15.5 x 6.5

 

Included 100 ohm speaker, no speaker capacitor

Lok Micro

 

 

 

 

 

28 x 10 x 5

 

 

Select  

New 10/09

6 @ 250mAs

Plug 

 

 ?

36 x 15.5 x ?

See

Info 

Uses 4 or 8 Ohm Speakers, 4 Prime mover sounds, 14 Whistles/horns, the BEST Back EMF motor control etc