Jump to content
 

Hornby Class 60 Decoder Choices


Shoey

Recommended Posts

Good morning all,

 

Ive got a number of Hornby class 60's (all 8 pin) and just starting to get round to fitting decoders to them but I am wondering which decoders people find best to use in them for smoothness. I have one fitted with Zimo sound and it performs absolutly flawless - from start up into a crawl and even when you stop. It would cost me an absolute fortune to have sound fitted to all of them as i'm sure most would agree so I'm looking for a decoder that performs just as well (if possible). I've tried the Hornby R8249 decoder in them and they all 'judder' at low speeds which when pulling a lengthy rake, nearly shakes the ballast from the wagons! 

 

All help is much appreciated as always.

 

Cheers

 

p.s - I am no bright spark when it comes to electronics :jester:

Link to post
Share on other sites

Good morning all,

 

Ive got a number of Hornby class 60's (all 8 pin) and just starting to get round to fitting decoders to them but I am wondering which decoders people find best to use in them for smoothness. I have one fitted with Zimo sound and it performs absolutly flawless - from start up into a crawl and even when you stop. It would cost me an absolute fortune to have sound fitted to all of them as i'm sure most would agree so I'm looking for a decoder that performs just as well (if possible). I've tried the Hornby R8249 decoder in them and they all 'judder' at low speeds which when pulling a lengthy rake, nearly shakes the ballast from the wagons! 

 

All help is much appreciated as always.

 

Cheers

 

p.s - I am no bright spark when it comes to electronics :jester:

At the risk of being unhelpful, I would buy a Zimo sound decoder once a month! I can’t speak for the Class 60 but I have installed Hatton’s own brand direct fit 8-pin decoder in three Bachmann 08s and they run very sweetly. Bearing postage in mind, if you’re buying anything else from Hatton’s, it might be worth adding a decoder to your order in order to try it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

With the Hornby class 60, I have two with ESU LokSound decoders (one is actually only the chassis, fitted into a class 92 body), and one with a TCS MC2 decoder (non-sound). All run superbly smoothly with these decoders.

I would suggest that if you like the running with Zimo sound, you would also like them without the sound, if you can afford them. Lenz (Standard+ v.2) are also very good, as are ESU LokPilot, and various TCS decoders (T1 or M1/M4 also come to mind). Lenz Standards are very good value for money nowadays, and TCS are in the market area somewhere between the "el-cheapo" and the high-end decoders (Zimo, ESU, Lenz Silver or Gold, for example).

Link to post
Share on other sites

Go for the cheapest available from the Lenz, ESU or Zimo ranges with 1A+ continuous current capability. My pick for some years has been the Lenz Standard, available at budget price, but with high grade performance. There is now competition from the other two makers mentioned at much the same money. All will produce the smooth 'creep' in and out of motion that you have observed from the Zimo sound decoder.

Link to post
Share on other sites

You don't need 1A continuous current with a Hornby Class 60. The motor's stall current is 550mA, typical operating (continuous) current is around 230mA

 

The ZIMO MX600 has all the same smooth running features of your ZIMO sound decoder.

 

£17.50 from Digitrains or any authorised ZIMO dealer.

 

Kind regards,

 

Paul

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for all your replies and help guys! much appreciated :imsohappy:

 

Have gone with Pauliebanger and ordered the ZIMO MX600 as i'm so impressed with the running behaviour of the ZIMO sound decoder I already have.

 

Cheers

Link to post
Share on other sites

Just for anyone interested, here is a video I took of the Hornby class 92 with Hornby class 60 chassis. This has an ESU LokSound fitted - sound not turned on, as it is the running qualities and controllability on show for this topic. I would get exactly the same degree of smoothness from an ESU LokPilot decoder, and would expect very similar performance from the Lenz Standard and the Zimo decoders.

http://vid98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/jslynn/Rail/HornbyClass92_zpsa8cbe3b0.mp4

Link to post
Share on other sites

Just for anyone interested, here is a video I took of the Hornby class 92 with Hornby class 60 chassis. This has an ESU LokSound fitted - sound not turned on, as it is the running qualities and controllability on show for this topic. I would get exactly the same degree of smoothness from an ESU LokPilot decoder, and would expect very similar performance from the Lenz Standard and the Zimo decoders.

 

http://vid98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/jslynn/Rail/HornbyClass92_zpsa8cbe3b0.mp4

 

Agreed, LokPilots can give similar smoothness, but do they suffer from the same Inertia and Momentum odities that Loksounds employ? This would make consisting tricky (but not impossible if you have the time to invest) with Lenz Standard, ZIMO sound decoders or indeed any brand other than another ESU.

 

Why add unnecessary complications when Lenz and ZIMO follow the NMRA standards for CV3 and CV4 which ESU disregard?

 

If you only use ESU this will not be a problem, of course, but you will not be able to get as long a duration of coasting (for instance) as would be possible with decoders which use the NMRA Standard multiplication factor.

 

I'm not knocking ESU decoders, just pointing out that, in this regard, ESU has gone its own way and that this may have implications for the unwary.

 

Kind regards,

 

Paul

Link to post
Share on other sites

Going to Second the idea of more Howes sound chips for them. Although another idea could be Biffo if he does class 60. Best idea save up and slowly get them fitted. Its rewarding when it starts to take shape. 

 

(I actually sold a class 60 to get another fitted with sound). 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Agreed, LokPilots can give similar smoothness, but do they suffer from the same Inertia and Momentum odities that Loksounds employ? This would make consisting tricky (but not impossible if you have the time to invest) with Lenz Standard, ZIMO sound decoders or indeed any brand other than another ESU.

 

Why add unnecessary complications when Lenz and ZIMO follow the NMRA standards for CV3 and CV4 which ESU disregard?

 

If you only use ESU this will not be a problem, of course, but you will not be able to get as long a duration of coasting (for instance) as would be possible with decoders which use the NMRA Standard multiplication factor.

 

I'm not knocking ESU decoders, just pointing out that, in this regard, ESU has gone its own way and that this may have implications for the unwary.

 

Kind regards,

 

Paul

 

That's one of the reasons why I like ESU LokPilots: because I have a fair few ESU LokSounds I wanted something that would behave in a like manner to the sound-fitted examples, allowing for consisting with sound turned off - using sound turned on in a mixed consist is a whole different kettle of fish, because the built-in delays with sound projects (ESU and Zimo) mean they behave differently with sound on than with sound off.

 

Having said that, LokPilots are rather expensive for what they are, where Lenz in particular offer excellent value for money as well as impeccable behaviour. I haven't tried a non-sound Zimo yet, although that is on the cards in the near future, so I'll bow to Paul's vastly superior knowledge of that brand.

Link to post
Share on other sites

That's one of the reasons why I like ESU LokPilots: because I have a fair few ESU LokSounds I wanted something that would behave in a like manner to the sound-fitted examples, allowing for consisting with sound turned off - using sound turned on in a mixed consist is a whole different kettle of fish, because the built-in delays with sound projects (ESU and Zimo) mean they behave differently with sound on than with sound off.

 

 

 

Jeff,

 

I could easily be mistaken here, but I think I remember reading that LokPilots can now have a similar 'start delay' added by CV so that LokSound and LokPilots can be used together in consists with sound playing. If I'm right, you could find that feature very useful.

 

Kind regards,

 

Paul

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...