| Author | Messages | |
Jerry McColgan
1st Class Member
Austin, Arkansas
Foreman
Posts:472
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 | | 05/01/2008 10:42 AM |
| I've had a sort of problem for years now. When the LGB Ballenberg locos came out I fell in love with them but the only Ballenberg sound unit I could find was the Dietz X-BZL.
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/JerryMcColgan/Ballenberg.pdf
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/JerryMcColgan/xclusive.pdf
The sound options include more features than were easily accomplished with track magnets and now I am finally ready to try putting a decoder into the loco that hopefully can handle most of the sound functions as well.
Part of the problem is that I would prefer to avoid buying and installing two decoders (to save money especially since I have 2 locos to install the decoders into). The speaker will be in a tender so that should only require two wires to the tender if the decoder is in the loco.
The LGB Ballenberg instructions call for a LGB 55020 decoder which apparently has been replaced by the 55021 Loco Decoder II.
"This model has a direct decoder interface. It can be equipped with an LGB Multi-Train System Decoder (55020). The Decoder Interface Cable (55026) is not required."
I have one 55021 on order but I would prefer not to use it because I don't see how it could handle the Dietz sound system without a 2nd decoder and I would like to keep my costs down.
As an alternative I have ordered both LGB 55026 Loco Decoder III's and Massoth eMOTION XL Loco Decoders. It seems to me that I could use either of these decoders and get most of the functions of the Dietz sound units to work plus run the locos.
The Massoth eMOTION L Decoder seems like it might be a better choice but I am not sure.
Perhaps the biggest issues for me are:
1. how to get the power to the sound unit as well as to the motor
2. it seems that some function outputs feed voltage such as to the lights but what I will be needing will simply be a substitute for reed switches to control bell, whistle etc.
How do I know when a function is going to be putting out voltage as compared to acting as a switch for a circuit? Is this a selectable function or is it just F1 and F2?
Any additional comments or information would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jerry | | | |
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