Farish 4F DCC chip

[Martin Elsworth]

I'm looking for a dcc chip to fit a Farish 4F. Instructions say it is fitted with a 6-pin NEM651 socket. Which chip is suitable?

Edited April 30 by Martin Elsworth
nis-spell

[rogerdee]

If you can afford it go for a well known make like zimo or something in that area. The better the decoder the better you can configure the running of the loco and if you can find a stay alive to fit all the better.

[Martin Elsworth]

I'm confused! Will Any 6-pin decoder work? A well known shop in Sheffield tells me I need a Next18 chip, which I don't think is right.

[TWG]

If the instructions say that a 6 pin decoder is appropriate, it is highly unlikely that any other type is required.  There is a very simple way to find out: see what sort of socket is fitted.  A 6 pin one looks quite different from a Next18.  If they are unfamiliar to you, you will find plenty of pictures on the Internet.

 

Any 6 pin decoder will work.  I second Rogerdee's recommendation that you buy a good quality one.  My favourites are Zimo, Uhlenbrock, and Doehler & Haass, but Lenz, ESU and Train-o-matic are good too.

[woodenhead]

9 minutes ago, TWG said:

If the instructions say that a 6 pin decoder is appropriate, it is highly unlikely that any other type is required.  There is a very simple way to find out: see what sort of socket is fitted.  A 6 pin one looks quite different from a Next18.  If they are unfamiliar to you, you will find plenty of pictures on the Internet.

 

Any 6 pin decoder will work.  I second Rogerdee's recommendation that you buy a good quality one.  My favourites are Zimo, Uhlenbrock, and Doehler & Haass, but Lenz, ESU and Train-o-matic are good too.

Depends on the age of the model.

 

Farish went along this route:

• No DCC readiness
• 6 Pin DCC - older models from around 2010 that were DCC ready, some have since been upgraded again with an Next 18 interface.
• Next18 DCC - these typically come with a speaker as well and will have been produced in the past 4 years.

What is the model number for your 4F that will tell us it's age and DCC status as the 4F has been around some time and has featured both 6 pin DCC and Next18.

 

These two for example are Next 18

Edited April 30 by woodenhead

[D9020 Nimbus]

The old Farish 4Fs would have had no provision for DCC at all. The c.–2010 4Fs have 6 pin decoders. The most recent batch had a sound upgrade and were Next 18 — hence the confusion. If the instructions for your model say it is 6-pin, and the box end says it is 6-pin, then it almost certainly is.

[Martin Elsworth]

Thanks everyone. 6-pin it is and I've found a suitable Zimo chip.