I would like to start adding command control to my dc engines. Can anyone tell me what I would need, as far as boards, controllers, decoders and any thing else, to add sounds (engine sounds and bell and whistle/horn) and DCC to these engines. Also, can you tell me what I might expect to pay per engine(rough estimate)? Thanks Rick

Rick

Its hard to generalize cost due to different current draw and size requirements for the range of O scale locomotives - but as an example I'm about to put a QSI Magnum sound/power decoder in a Sunset 3rd Rail PRR J1. Current draw is around 1.75 amps, the rating of the decoder is 3A continuous. Tony Train's Exchange web site discounted price for a QSI Magnum is $159.95. You'll need to spend about $8 for a good speaker. I fabricate speaker enclosures from things around the shop.

Some of my high efficiency drive locomotives (Key 2-8-0's, Atlas single motor SW7, Yoder GE44 tonner) draw around 1 amp and can be powered by lower cost HO decoders. The HO Soundtraxx Tsunami intergrated sound and control decoder is $97.58. The HO QSI Revolution comes in just under $99.95.

An alternative for higher amperage O scale locomotves is to piggyback 2 decoders - a high amperage power only decoder (I like the NCE D408SR) with an HO sound decoder like the Soundtraxx DSX series.

Ed Rappe

I like the new G/O Scale decoders from MRC. I've installed one diesel and one steam so far. The steam does not require a cam to actuate the chuff. You can get these on ebay for less than $70 each and they're rated for 5 amps. They come with a speaker and leads for lights so there is literally nothing else to buy.

Like Ed's example, most of my installations use an NCE408 power decoder and a soundtraxx DSX sound decoder. The NCE can be had for around $50 and the DSX around $55-$60. The DSX are discountined so you get them on the secondary market. I do wonder about product support, but I like the sound performance and the combined price is right!

Are there any other good sound decoders that will work well with the NCE408?

CofG
"The Right Way"

Thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback. Rick

O Mag Publisher: I'd like to learn more about the MRC decoders as the price is very nice for a heavy amperage decoder. How does sound quality and functionality compare with the other sound decoders on the market? Are diesel sounds available to match various prototype locomotives - or are they generic?

I tried auto chuff with an old Soundtraxx steam decoders in the past and found it disconcerning when the locomotive moved before or after the chuff sounded at slow speed startup. Has MRC found a way around this?

than
Ed Rappe

Interesting that you mention the MRC decoder and sound packages. While merely HO, Walthers just issued their latest monthly with it's usual selection of prototypically accurate and tasty stuff and I saw that they have a drop in sound and DCC decoder for their GP15-1 for $60.00.

Curious to see what the sound is like from MRC too.

I spotted these decoders a while back for $30:

MRC AD 321 DECODER

It's a 3 amp, but they also have an 8 amp AD 324 (sez G scale) for $45.

quote:

Originally posted by Keystoned Ed:
O Mag Publisher: I'd like to learn more about the MRC decoders as the price is very nice for a heavy amperage decoder. How does sound quality and functionality compare with the other sound decoders on the market? Are diesel sounds available to match various prototype locomotives - or are they generic?

I tried auto chuff with an old Soundtraxx steam decoders in the past and found it disconcerning when the locomotive moved before or after the chuff sounded at slow speed startup. Has MRC found a way around this?

than
Ed Rappe

Ed,
I can only compare the MRC G/O Universal Steam decoder to a NCE/Soudtraxx lash up I have in another model. I don't care for the Soundtraxx auxiliary sounds and hooking up the cam trigger was a bear. The MRC steam decoder has 33 whistles and 8 bells and multiple steam sounds, including one articulated sound. I did not find the chuff to be out of synch with the loco movement.

The one diesel unit I have installed is an SD45/MP15. I picked the MP15 sound and installed it in a red Caboose GP9. Since I have no idea what a GP9 should sound like, it suits me just fine.

The other MRC diesel decoder has ALCO/SD60/SD70/F sounds.

As for sound quality, they both sound great to me, but that's very subjective. The one caution I would note is that the pin-out diagram has the headlight/backup light wires reversed.

Joe G.

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Delbridge:
I spotted these decoders a while back for $30:

MRC AD 321 DECODER

It's a 3 amp, but they also have an 8 amp AD 324 (sez G scale) for $45.

Bob,
i do not reccoment the AD321 decoder as it is older technology...The AD324 is a big decoder that most likely will not fit in O scale locos and the diesel sounds were generic.
There is the #0001822 S gauge diesel sound decoder rated at 3 amps with 4 prime mover sounds, [AlCo 244/ SD60 / SD70/ Early EMD 567B]
Then as Joe stated we make 3 5 Amp O/G decoders- 2 diesel versions, [#0001817 and # 0001818] and 1 steam version, [# 0001819].
you can download the instructions for all these decoders to read the specs from www.modelrectifier.com

Hi All,
Someone, I don't remember who, told me that the MRC decoders were not compliant with NMRA recommendations. I can't comment on the veracity of this but maybe one of you can.
Just passing on what I heard.
Cheers,
Ed

MRC decoders follow all NMRA R.P.'s and specs and are compliant.
they were never sent to the nmra for certification to get the football

Frank,
Thanks for the info! It's hard to tell the size just by pictures.

I'd just like to see O scale manufacturers put forth the effort that they have done with the Ho side. The least we should expect is DCC ready, even in 3-rail.

The test using GSI Revolution (HO) integrated sound decoders in a pair of Overland E8s was highly successful today. They handled a very heavy 12 car passenger train up the curving 2% grade with ease. The throttle control was outstanding and the sound of notching EMD 567's was right on - I'm hooked!! I ordered enough decoders late this afternoon to equip the balance of my horizontal drive diesels. I particularly like having the ability to download diesel specific sound files. The Standard Railroad of the World sure didn't standardize on its first generation diesel orders, and though I'm not a diesel sound expert, its important to me that the EMD. ALco, FM, and Baldwin units on the roster have distinctive sound characteristics.


Ed Rappe

Hi Ed,

Do you mean QSI Revolution (HO) intergrated sound decoders?

Steve

Ed,
what were the current draws on the decoders? I'll assume you have 1 decoder in each engine. I have a pair of NJCB E8's to be redone and painted and am curious how the HO decoder handled the amperage.

Yes Steve - I used the QSI Revolution (HO) decoders - one in each A unit. In my pre-DCC days I re-powered my Overland E8s with higher torque Pittman 9314 double shaft can motors. I wasn't pleased with the performance of the original 8xxx series motors that came with the units - particularly when starting a heavy train on a grade. In each unit a single motor drives all 6 axels through a pair of end towers (above the floor drive). The drive train sits low in the body, enabling the models to have fully detailed cabs. The QSI Revolution drives the motor, the lights, and a 1.77" Hi-Base speaker. The continuous current draw for the two Overland E8's (under load) is around 3 amps. The "official" rating on a QSI Revolution is 1.3A continuous. Unofficially I was told they were good for 2A. – but the manufacturer didn’t want to have modelers pressing the envelope and frying the decoders. Given the feedback from someone whose day job is DCC decoders and the 1.5A draw on each of my units I thought they were worth a try.
So far I'm very pleased with the results. I’ll be running the E8’s on the point of The General during a neighborhood model RR club open house and we’ll see how they perform over several hours of operation. If issues crop up I'll share them with the group.


Chris - I don't know anything about the NJCB E8 drives, but understand early Pittman can motors were less efficient than newer models. The one thing I wouldn't do is attempt to drive a typical O scale diesel with a Tsunami HO decoder. Their max continuous current rating is quite a bit lower than the QSI Revolution. I am going to try putting a Tsunami in an AtlasO SW7 - that drive is highly efficient and extraordinarily smooth running.

Ed Rappe

Ed Rappe, thanks for asking the question about the MRC decoders. I had not heard good things about them but have never seen them for myself. What's one man's junk is often another man's treasure.

Do you think that the HO QSI Revolution decoder you speak of could handle a Weaver FA unit with the Weaver/P&D drive in it?

This hi-base speaker you mentioned, is that a QSI speaker or some other make and model? Thanks.

Phill

The short answer is I don't know.... Brian Scace has far more experience with those drives than I and perhaps he can offer some advice. I do have a friend who tried a Soundtraxx DSD (integrated sound and power) decoder and fried it in a horizontal drive Weaver RS3. Around that time I started using Soundtraxx DSX (sound & lights) ecoders piggybacked with more robust power decoders such as the rugged NCE D408SR. With the new mainline in and wired for DCC, I had to get off the dime and equip the bulk of my roster with decoders. I waited for higher amperage Tsunami decoders for 5 years and heard nothing but "maybe next year" from their sales people. This lead me to the recent trial installations of the QSI Magnum and Revolution decoders.

The HiBase speakers are in Tony's Train Exchange product line - they sound better to me than earlier (cheaper) speakers I've installed.


Ed Rappe

Thanks a lot for the info Ed. When I get a chance I'll try taking some current readings on a Weaver drive.

Phil,
you'll be interested to know I tested one of my Weaver horiz. drive RS3's both before and after DCC. On my test track, which you've seen, I had upwards of 1.2 amps on DC running a light engine. The same engine after DCC install pulled about .8 amp running light. I was pleasantly surprised that running under DCC drew less current.

Thanks Chris. Any chance you tested it with a healthy consist?

The specs on continuous and stall current for the QSI Revolution "HO" decoders have been updated on the QSI Solutions web site. The old continuous rating was 1.3 amps. The new continuous rating is 2 amps. The old stall current was 2amps, the new rating for stall current is 4 AMPS. Based on the performance of these decoders in my Overland E8's (and the new higher amperage ratings), I'm going forward with installing of these decoders in my Overland ABA freight RF16 freight sharks (powered by horizontal drive dual flywheel Pittman 9314 motors). If that install is as successful in the RF16's as it was in the E8's, the QSI Revolution will be my standard decoder for single motor diesels.

If I run into any problems I'll share them with the Forum.

Ed Rappe