DCC Mobile Decoders

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What is DCC?

Getting Started with DCC

A Starter System

Mobile Decoders

Command Buses

How DCC Systems Work

Making Your Own DCC Components

Decoder Installation

 

Decoders are in many respects the most important part of a DCC system. Without a decoder small enough to fit into each loco, the DCC system would be of little use. Each locomotive needs one; in most cases the decoders for the fleet of locos will amount to the largest single cost of ownership for DCC. The fact that Z and N gause locos can have deocers installed is a testament to the effort which has been put into miniaturising the necessary electronics.

There are a large number of decoders available - an even larger number of your net is cost to include those not currently imported into the UK - but they all do a similar job. Principally, deocders take the DCC signals from the rails and provide drive to the DC motor in the locomotive. Most decoders also provide "accessory" outputs to power other functions eg lights, whistles, uncouplers, windscreen wipers depending on imagination and modelling skill.

Decoders differ significantly in three principal functional areas: size, current rating, number of accessory outputs. There are other detail differences but most modern decoders accept the commonly used 2& 4 digit addressing and 28 or 128 speed steps.

The table below attempts to list the key specification parameters for the decoders commonly available in the UK. There are others availble from these manufacturers designed to fit into specific models. If you are using these models then they are an obvious choice; however all those models are of US prototypes.

Decoder

Size (mm)

Curr- ent Rating

Speed Steps

Addr- essing

DC oper- ation

Accessory Outputs

Progr- amming Modes

Advanced Consisting

Extra Features

Digitrax DZ121

9.2 x14.6 x4.1

1A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

 

2

Paged, Ops

Y

Transponding, back EMF speed control

Digitrax DN140

9.2 x 25.4 x 4.6

1A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

Y

4

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

 

Digitrax DH121

17 x 26.7 x 6.4

1.5A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

Y

2

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

 

Digitrax DH140

17 x 26.7 x 6.4

1.5A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

Y

4

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

 

Digitrax DH83FX

16.8 x 30.5 x 6.4

2A

14, 28, 128

 

 

5

Direct, Paged, Ops

 

 

Digitrax DG380

23.9 x 36.9 x 7.6

3.5A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

 

8

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

 

Digitrax DG580

23.9 x 55.4 x 7.6

5A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

 

8

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

 

MRC AD310

31.5 x 16.9 x 5.8

1A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MRC AD320

55.5 x 23.8 x 8

2.5A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MRC AD330

23 x 8.5 x 4.5

0.8A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenz LE077XF

13.4 x 9.9 x 3.3

0.5A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

Y

2

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

 

Lenz LE103XF / LE104XF

40.5 x 17 x 3.3

1A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

Y

2

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

LE104XF similar, with 8 pin NMRA plug

Lenz LE105XF

40.5 x 17 x 3.3

?

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

Y

4

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

 

Lenz LE080XS

32 x 17 x 3.3

0.8A

14, 28, 128

2, 4 digit

Y

4

Direct, Paged, Ops

Y

 

Lenz LE030

35.5 x 11.5 x 3.3

0.7A

14, 28

2, 4 digit

Y

2

Direct, Paged, limited Ops

Y

back EMF speed control

Lenz LE040

16 x 14.5 x 4.5

0.7A

14, 28

2, 4 digit

Y

2

Direct, Paged, limited Ops

Y

back EMF speed control

Lenz LE110/111

26.5 x 17 x 6.5

1A

14, 28

2, 4 digit

Y

4

Direct, Paged, limited Ops

Y

 

Lenz LE130/131

26.5 x 17 x 6.5

1A

14, 28

2, 4 digit

Y

4

Direct, Paged, limited Ops

Y

 

Lenz LE135

28.4 x 21 x 5.5

1.3A

14, 28

2, 4 digit

Y

3

Direct, Paged, limited Ops

Y

back EMF speed control

Lenz LE230

70 x 30 x 12

2.5A

14, 28

2, 4 digit

Y

8

Direct, Paged, limited Ops

Y

back EMF speed control

ZTC 202

25 x 16 x 7.5

1.5A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZTC203

24 x 16 x 7.5

2A

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

ZTC205

75 x 35 x 11

5A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZTC206

75 x 35 x 30

8A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZTC211

27 x 12 x 5.5

1A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZTC213

9.5 x 18 x 4.5

1A

14, 28

 

 

2

 

Y

 

ZTC214

27 x 12 x 7.5

1.4A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZTC223

29 x 19 x 7.5

2.2A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZTC304T

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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