Bachmann 36553 and Hornby Q1

[Butler Henderson]

Have a pair of Hornby Q1s, one has a Lenz decoder in it (Standard or Silver) and runs superbly; the other has a Bachmann 36553 in it and is somewhat rough. Any suggestions on any CV changes to the 36553?

[Brian]

Suggestion... Bin the Bachmann and replace with Lenz Standard + , you won't regret doing this!

[Ron Ron Ron]

The 36-553 is quite an old ESU decoder based on a motor drive from several generations ago, whereas the Lenz Standard Plus is a much more up-to-date decoder.

Having said that, the 35-553 works quite well with many D&E models, but has a reputation for needing adjustment to work anywhere near smoothly with many steam loco models.

 

 

The Bachmann 36-553 and its 21-pin version, the 36-554, was a rebranded ESU LokPilot Basic V1.0.

As the budget offering in ESU's line-up, that decoder was based on an older motor drive, from a previous generation of early ESU decoders.

Having kept it in their range for far too long, ESU finally dropped the Basic V1.0 about a year and a half ago. The Bachmann branded versions of that decoder were similarly dropped.

 

ESU have now introduced a more up to date and advanced budget decoder, the LokPilot Standard.

This has a similar motor drive to ESU's more expensive, full fat LokPilot and LokSound decoders.

Bachmann have recently introduced the 8-pin version of this decoder into their range rebranded as the 36-566.

 

Over the last couple of years, Bachmann have also been sourcing some of their decoders from SoundTraxx and possibly another source, but this may be coming to an end soon.

In a video released yesterday (15/09/15) Bachmann say that all future decoders in their range will be RailCom Plus fitted, which implies they will be exclusively selling ESU, or possibly Lenz decoders under the Bachmann branding.

 

 

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