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More DCC questions

I took the plunge and bought the Lenz Compact system and have so far fitted two Lenz decoders, an LE1024 to a Heljan 47 and an LE1035 to a Bachmann Warship and I am impressed by their performance.

I now have the long slog (and not inconsiderable expense!) of buying and fitting decoders for the rest of my 50-odd strong collection of locos. I have some sympathy with the OP on the thread about the cost of decoders.

As many of the locos are rather crude Lima examples with no lights I have been pondering the Mac-coder LE1000 which can be had for under a tenner. I have been advised that Back-EMF decoders get the best out of Lima mechanisms but I have to wonder if it is really worth putting a 20 quid decoder into a Lima loco.

Would using a simple decoder like the LE1000 result in a Lima loco running better, worse or about the same as on straight DC? Also, just how much better do they run with a Back EMF decoder as compared with straight DC?

As always, all opinions and insights are gratefully received.

ROB

PS I would also like to thank Steve Jones for the excellent DCC section on his website,

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A real mine of useful information!

Reply to
Robert Flint
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I find the LE1000 satisfactory for my modest collection of Lima locos (only two) and older Hornby stuff. As to whether they run better or worse than on DC - well, I started with DCC anyway and my initial pre conversion tests don't lead me to believe that they ran that well under DC anyway. All the usual tricks - cleaning and oiling and fettling the pickups and so on - seem to produce an adequately running loco. Very slow running is a bit prone to grumbles but it was on DC as well.

This based on very limited experience, of course.

Guy

Reply to
Just zis Guy, you know?

oil!) an LE1014 (or the Bachmann decoder) is quite adequate for Heljan and Bachmann mechanisms as there are flywheels present.

Reply to
titans

"Robert Flint" wrote

It depends how you want it to perform. The MacCoders in my estimation are pretty poor and will do nothing to enhance the operation of your Lima locos. My suggestion would be to use the Lenz LE1024/1025 series which have the back-emf feature. As the Lima motors are already noisy it is not worth worrying about silent drive decoders.

John.

Reply to
John Turner

John

Thanks for your answer but could you clarify it for me. Are you saying that performance with a MacCoder is better, worse or the same as with straight DC? Also, I'm guessing that performance with an LE1024 is better than straight DC, am I correct?

ROB

Reply to
Robert Flint

I'm not John, nor answering on DCC (though there is some DCC stuff at the bottom), but there is analogue DC and analogue DC.

My models perform radically differently under different DC controllers;

- an old H&M is smooth enough, but lacks low speed control, so I can't make them go at walking pace. I wouldn't subject them to the abuse that "half wave" provides !

- a fairly ancient Gaugemaster hand-held is OK at lower speed, but makes some motors get warm. I don't risk my coreless stuff with that controller.

- my Pentroller gives very good low speed control, and smooth changes to higher speeds. So, before you look to whether a DCC chip is better than analogue, you need to decide which analogue....

btw. You said you have a large fleet. I suggest you have a look at "decoder pro" at

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for setting up a large fleet of decoders. There is gadget called a "sprog"
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which allows the computer to set the programming values of the DCC chipset (necessary because your "Compact" won't support computer programming of the chipsets, even if you bought the computer interface).

- Nigel

Reply to
Nigel Cliffe

"Robert Flint" wrote

I fitted one to a Bachmann 08 and it buzzed really badly although the control was ok. I suspect it will make little difference to a Lima loco, but the beauty of DCC is being able to improve performance by choosing the

*right* decoder.

DC, am I correct?

I've got a Lima 101 dmu with an LE1025A decoder fitted and it has improved slow speed control by 200%.

John.

Reply to
John Turner

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