Joined: 07/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 62 Location: Phuket, Thailand
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Good Morning all,
Heading back to Canada tonight on a little holiday and plan to stop in and see Walter at Eurorail. Gave Walter a call last night and he referred me to the ESU main website yet I cannot really get the answer I am looking for.
I would like to upgrade all of my old analog lok's (flat armature) that use the 60300 type brushes to digital. As it stands Walter only has 6 pin decoders in stock and his next shipment may or may not arrive before we leave Vancouver.
Can I ask what is the the difference between a 6 pin, 8 pin and 21 pin decoders?
Thanks all in advance
Robert.
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Joined: 21/05/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,776 Location: Brisbane, Queensland
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The decoders are all the same, it just depends on how many connections you need.
21 pin decoders are for those locomotives that have a 21 pin MTC connector and are a quick and easy swap in, swap out decoder. 21 pins aren't really needed though but allows for plenty of flexibility and forward compatibility.
8 pin decoders are the most common type. A lot of manufacturers make their digital locomotives with an 8 pin socket, again easy to replace a decoder. Most Roco loks have an 8 pin interface.
6 pin decoders are used in locomotives with less space or that don't need it. I have a fleischmann lok or two that come with a 6 pin socket.
All of these can be made to work with each other by manually connecting wires. They are just 3 different standards to make changing decoders easy.
If upgrading an existing digital lok to sound for example, you would choose the connection type that the locomotive came with.
In your case, if you are upgrading an old analog locomotive you can buy any of the 3 interfaces and hard wire it to the loks outputs.
If you wanted to be able to easily swap decoders, you should also buy for example an 8 pin socket, wire that up and then just plug an 8 pin decoder in. |
modelling era IIIa (1951-1955) Germany |
 1 user liked this useful post by applor
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Joined: 07/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 62 Location: Phuket, Thailand
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Originally Posted by: applor  The decoders are all the same, it just depends on how many connections you need.
21 pin decoders are for those locomotives that have a 21 pin MTC connector and are a quick and easy swap in, swap out decoder. 21 pins aren't really needed though but allows for plenty of flexibility and forward compatibility.
8 pin decoders are the most common type. A lot of manufacturers make their digital locomotives with an 8 pin socket, again easy to replace a decoder. Most Roco loks have an 8 pin interface.
6 pin decoders are used in locomotives with less space or that don't need it. I have a fleischmann lok or two that come with a 6 pin socket.
All of these can be made to work with each other by manually connecting wires. They are just 3 different standards to make changing decoders easy.
If upgrading an existing digital lok to sound for example, you would choose the connection type that the locomotive came with.
In your case, if you are upgrading an old analog locomotive you can buy any of the 3 interfaces and hard wire it to the loks outputs.
If you wanted to be able to easily swap decoders, you should also buy for example an 8 pin socket, wire that up and then just plug an 8 pin decoder in. Thanks for the info, makes the buying decision really easy! Robert.
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Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC) Posts: 14,879 Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
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Rovert,
All depends which loco(s) you like to convert. Forget about the 6 pin decoder.
8 pin plug decoder (you need an 8 pin socket wire harness) is the same as a 21 pin decoder (you need an adapterplate) ,except you only have 1 set of wires, the decoder is pushed into the adapterplate.
you have 3 types of adapterplates: 1.) ESU 51967 = Aux 1 & Aux 2 2.) ESU 51968 = Aux 1, Aux 2, Aux 3, Aux 4. 3.) a new Adapterplate but hasnt come onto the market as yet. ( 6 Aux functions) will be released later in the year.
I have done many conversions and I do it professionally for members, I would not recommend the permanent magnet with the original 3 pole motor, you don't have a slow & smooth starting mode.
regards.,
John
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 1 user liked this useful post by river6109
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Joined: 08/01/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,218 Location: Shady Shores, TX - USA
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Originally Posted by: river6109  Rovert,
I have done many conversions and I do it professionally for members, I would not recommend the permanent magnet with the original 3 pole motor, you don't have a slow & smooth starting mode.
regards.,
John
While not as smooth as the 5 pole motor if you use the 3 pole be sure to set the CV for the number of poles on the rotor, it will help with the smoothness some but the main thing is that it helps set the top end speed and smooths out the speed steps. By default the LocPilot is looking for 5 rotor pulses for each motor rotation so with a 3 pole it will run 5/3 too fast. |
DT Now powered by ECoS II unit#2, RocRail
era - some time in the future when the space time continuum is disrupted and ICE 3 Trains run on the same rails as the Adler and BR18's. |
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