Hi, welcome to the forum, i have used lokpilot 4.0 to do the conversion. Works fine...

Thank you for the replies. I was not familiar with the 60760 conversion kit. Is it meant to convert the SFCM?

biedmatt,

Tom "HO" is right about the decoders, both the mLD and the ESU are better decoders, I recommended the 60760 decoder from the kit, because it is one of the more cost effective solutions for a basic decoder with directional lighting and it will work well with your 3001 using the motor from the 60903 kit. Which ever way you go, it is also a good idea to change the lights and sockets to provide for ground return to the decoder. You did not mention if you had the decoder from the 60903 or other locomotives to convert but if you do, the then the 60760 kit makes sense, since you can then use the left over motor parts with the 60903 decoder in something like a steam engine with the smoke function or telex for example.

Gordon

Thanks everyone for your input and the welcome.

A typo on my part. I have the 60943 motor conversion that comes without the decoder, hence the request for decoder info. The LokPilot decoders are readily available at Ebay and the price is fair enough. I'll give one a try and report on how I do once it is finished. I am afraid I will like it too much though, I have two dozen other engines with the old 6080 decoder. I would hate to feel the need to update them all.

absolutely right..

By the way, in terms of a topic name, this actual thread that we are in now "Which Decoder", sums it up perfectly

"Helmut Kern's site" ??

Thanks Nev, took a look at that site, not really much help to me and not what I was suggesting.

1: Site design prevents google translate from functioning

2: Only lists Märklin Decoders, but I suggested a cross-reference of all brands because as we are hearing so often, some of the alternative brands seem to be better value for money than the M. equivalent.

3: Appears only to list M. decoders factory fitted - NOTHING do do with conversions which was my whole point (not getting at you Nev) - or have I missed something??

4: I HATE WITH A VENGEANCE, sites that bombard me with this bullshit.... (an insult to my intelligence, I mean who in their right mind would follow such a dumb-arsed link)

Frigging dickheads (the site I mean, not any of you lovely folks)

Maybe not, but the site offers useful information on locos that you want to convert, before you convert them.

Mr. Kern uses several free web space providers.
If you bookmark his Märklin loco page, you can always go there without stupid popups.

If people have problems with their "31234", I google for "märklin hfkern 31234" to find the class of the loco - this way also avoids the stupid popups.
Works for pre-2005 locos only (but locos from 2000 or later can be found in Märklin's product database).

Oh my that's nice.

I am waiting for the Marklin five comm armature kits to show up, so I ordered two ESU conversion kits with the permanent magnet for my 3048 and 3089. It looked like the LFCM kits would not work so I went with the ESU conversion kits. The slow running characteristics and quiet operation is truly remarkable. The toy like running properties the Marklin equipment had is gone. Now to program the addresses and functions. I bought the ESU programmer since this appears to be the start of a large project. I figured I might as well have it from the beginning. Thanks one and all for the help and recommendation to proceed with this upgrade. Can't imagine it getting any better, but I suspect the improved armatures will make them even nicer.

Hi Cookee,

Your first task is to convert the motor from analog to digital. I have posted an attachment on my previous post for locos suitable under the 60904 (60944) conversion kit.
there is also a 60903 (60943) conversion kit table but I can't find it at this moment and another one 60901 (60911) wich has a drum armature.
We've gone through this before, there are 3 main different motors und you can locoate or find the difference within your own loco

1.) motor with small flat(disk) armature
2.) motor with large flat (disk) armature
3.) motor with drum armature

there are several locos which would need some alterations, e.g. 3027, 3048, 3089 and some of the DB BR 212 locos and I think the 3001 (60903/60943) conversion set, I'm not going into details why at this moment.

When you establish which conversion motor set you need, you than can go one step further. as mentioned in my above post, it isn't only the deocoder but your overall requirement, e.g. how many locos you have or thinking of buying, hjow big your layout is and what type of functions you wish for and what is available for what use and what choices have you got.

There are many different options available with different decoder manufacturers and when choosing a particular decoder you have to be able to program them and when it comes to sound decoders you have to ahve a command station whereas you can apply all the sound slot functions.
So it isn't just about which decoder, it has a lot to do with the application you use.

For the connoiseur enthusiasts Zimo decoders are the way to go, for the most popular decoder it is ESU.

ESu offers you:
Multiprotocol decoders with the latest release: V4 M4, it can read most of the systems, e.g. mfx, RailcomPlus, old & new motorola, CS 2 and MS 2. (go to: http://www.esu.eu/en/pro...oksound/loksound-v40-m4/

with ESU decoders you have further options with the type of connections you need
a.) 8 pin wire plug
b.) 21 mtc connections with several adapterplates (extension of functions F3-F4) with a new one coming out soon (F5-F6)

ESU decoders are able for your loco to stop exactly at the signal every time regardless of the speed of your loco, for example if it is 5km/h or 200km/h. (braking module is required=there are cheaper ones than Maerklin on the market))

ESU decoders are fully programmable with the easy help of a Lokprogrammer.

You have a lot of options of programming your decoder or loco for your requirements, e.g. smoke generator adjustments, light adjustments (automatic high beam for instance when loco gets into motion without using an extra function to do so), Telex, Crois or Roco electric uncoupling device, you can adjust the time the uncoupler is activated = seconds.
RailComPlus is a more superior version of your mfx system, you can program all your CV's manually, the loco registers automatically etc etc.
With sound decoders you can download your loco sounds from the ESU website or establish your own sound file.
You have a guarantee and when installing an ESU decoder you don't have to send back the whole loco just the faulty decoder.

You have regular updates for your decoder or when improvements are applied

What I've demonstratesd here, it isn't just the decoder it has a lot to do with applications you intend to use.

Now that you've established the decoder issue what about the command station.

Why would you buy ESU decoders and not go for an ECoS as well.

What about all your old equipment such as the 6021, MS1, boosters, memories, etc etc. they all can be used and connected in an easy way to your ECoS, the EcoS itself has an inbuild booster of 4amp.

You also can now use your 6021 with 3 decoder addresses now, this gives you 12 functions for your sound decoder, attach 3 MS1 directly to your ECoS,
This demonstrates the versatility, choices and easy attachment of old motorola components and the new MS1 system.

My explanation doesn't mean, Maerklin is not working or releasing something better in the future or visa versa and how long this would take is anybody's guess.

regards.,

John