Hello,

If I want to change the OEM decoder in a 36420 locomotive, what would be the best option? (Meaning sound)

Thanks!

Hi again,

Loksound or LokPilot?

Hi Danilo,

Have you considered the Marklin sound decoders for this loco? They are a direct replacement for the factory decoder board. The 60948 is the one with diesel sounds, and brings the adaptor board, the decoder itself, and the speaker to fit the space in the chassis.

http://www.maerklin.com/...ch%2Fproduct_search.html

Hi Danilo,

I have looked at the spare parts manual for this loco. It shows as having a 21 pin MTC decoder. So that means you can just plug in a ESU 21 pin MTC loksound decoder. By the way, the premium lokpilot decoders do support breaking modules. I have several that work really well.

The ESU 21 pin MTC LS V4 is #54499 & the LS V4 M4 (mfx) is 64499. Thses are not preloaded with the sound for any loco.
The decoders that are preloaded, most have a 8 pin NEM 652
You can usually request to have a sound loaded from a dealer, other wise you need the lokprogrammer to upload the sound file to the decoder.

As your loco has the appropriate adapter board for the 21 pin MTC, your other option (Probably the cheapest) is to order the either the 60946 or the 60948. These have a preloaded diesel sound. The extra adapters you will not need.
If you order the 60948, you will have a spare interface board for your loco.
The 60946 sound I have heard and is pretty good.
You can check out the standard sounds here, msD standard sounds

Cheers,
Brian.

Hi, Danilo!
The cheapest option IMHO would be the 60968. It comes with the sound for an ER 20, but with a CS2 the Ludmilla sound can be loaded to the decoder (friendly dealers will do that for you if you don't have a CS2). The loco will keep the yellow LEDs. Street price around € 65.

I'm afraid the 60946 cannot be used as the loco probably does not have a 21MTC connector (open it up to verify this in case of a doubt).

The best solution I've tested would be an ESU LokSound decoder (street price around € 90) with a 21MTC board from Schönwitz (retail price about € 30). You will have white LEDs and red rear lights - and for € 5 more you can get cab lights for two cabs. I normally buy two loco boards and a pair of cab lights and install one cab light into each loco.
You will need a LokProgrammer to upload the sound - or find a friendly dealer who does it.

I converted a Ludmilla this way, using a LokSound decoder without mfx. The ESU project for the Ludmilla has 22 functions out of the box - with red rear lights and cab light the loco now has 24 functions. My Central Station 60212 Reloaded can control 24 functions for DCC locos.
I own an ESU LokProgrammer that allows me to upload sounds and configure function mapping easily.

A conversion with 60948/60949 is described here:
https://www.marklin-user...48-60949.aspx#post410841

if your Ludmilla does not have a 21 pin adapater, the best way to upgrade this is with an adapter board from Lussi and a Loksound decoder. I have upgraded many Traxx and ER20 loks with these boards.

Best thing to do is to follow Tom's (H0) advice.

You have 2 options - either the 60968 kit at € 65 or the ESU LokSound decoder with a 21MTC board from Schönwitz at about € 120 - http://modellbau-schoenwitz.de/

Alternatively, you could use the 21 pin adapter board from Lussi (http://luessi.ch/shop/catalog/p...h=2&products_id=2343) plus an ESU LokSound decoder, as suggested by Mark.