reddragon

There is a decoder in the dummy which works just the lights. The power car has fried 2 decoders so far. Both have the same ID.

I did wonder that, but the chip has a 1.5A rating, 2A max. The command unit didn't detect a short either.

The first DCC chip I fitted was to my Hornby class 395. I fitted it, run it backwards, then forwards, then pressed F0 and it stopped, dead chip! OK, maybe as a newbie I messed up, so I took it to a train repair man at my local model shop. He tested the loco, found no defects and fitted a new chip. After a few runs, again whilst running power car first it stopped dead, lights & power off, but the dummy is fine with lights on. Any ideas?

I have some older Hornby diesel locos where I fitted a second motor so that they could actually pull a decent load. Any advice on what decoder power limits I'd need of issues to consider before I fit a chip? They have directional lighting too.

Thanks everyone, I have chosen to switch to the Roco Z21 set up.

£361.27 on Amazon!

The 5 loops have around 50m of track each, plus sidings and sub branches. I will operate up to 10 trains at once, MUs might include more than one power car. No idea what counts as Large? I have around 130m of track down so far and I'm not half way around yet! Maybe I'll only need 1 booster

As expected, 101 opinions! I get it that I need 1 master, and some power boosters & slave units. I will stick with the Hornby Elite until I outgrow it. If I was to choose a DCC master system, which ones do you consider 'Good', 'great value', 'avoid' and the same for chips (including sub groups of) so that I can make an informed choice. Also, is there a good book to read & learn how to do this? thanks

Everyone seems to claim that their system is 'better', but most look to me anyway to be quite dated. There is probably a need for something more modern across the board on DCC control in my opinion.

I have around 60 locos. half of which I need to replace as they cannot be converted or are not worth it. I will probably stay below 100 locos. I am getting gaugemaster decoders, as they seem to be quite good although I have 4 Hornby ones that work. I have kept the layout fairly simple as in separated sections, but complex track layouts within a section. 3 operators, controlling 2 locos at any one time and I do not want automation.

I have a large layout which I am converting from DC to DCC. I am building 5 separate loops of track about 50m long, plus sidings & depots. So far, I have one pair of tracks connected to a single Hornby Elite, covering about half the loop, 2x 25m sections and plan to add a power & signal booster for the other half, 2x 25m sections to complete 2 of the loops. For the other 3 sections, which are electrically isolated from the first 2, should I use a separate Elite or add several cheaper Select controllers, with signal & power boosters? I also intend to use Railmaster to control points / signals etc. So far I have converted 6 locos, so no power issue yet, but as I gradually convert the railway it will become an issue! Am I on the right path or are there better options? Should I consider trying a different system on other tracks or just stick to my choice?

Thank you, that is exactly what I plan to do with pairs of 2-car units

Hornby Elite and a mix of Hornby & Gaugemaster chips. The pair will be the same motor type

If I run 2 multiple units together, can I give them the same DCC address so that they run as a pair?

I am only going to fit a £3 harness and add a basic DCC chip. I will save sound for something more suited based on advice

Is it possible or easy to fit a DCC chip on a Wrenn class 08. I know the space is tight but I am also worried the Wrenn locos pull a lot of power too

I do not consider learning how to solder a £3 harness into a very good Lima loco a waste of time, money & effort. I can add or remove DCC or sound easily. I will not let the kids drive and new high cost locos, so Lima do the job. I have lots of 'cheap' Lima Locos that were much better than anything else around in the 1980's-90s. Hornby Locos couldn't pull the skin off a custard and Bachmann / Mainline / Airfix locos fell to pieces. Of my old Locos, ALL my Lima work, I have had to use old HST power cars for motors to make my Hornby locos twin motor to pull anything and my Mainline / Airfix / Bachmann I have to use with care. My old Wrenn are excellent but need a lot of servicing to be reliable. So the answer to my original question was Sound in an old Lima is not worth it and will over time buy newer DCC locos

Having just taken apart a few Lima Locos I discovered that: - The oldest (1980's) have a wire to a clip at the trailer end and a short uninsulated wire from the power bogie to motor. These will need power capacitors to be reliable. Later models (1990's) have a second wire to the trailer bogie so should work better but still have an uninsulated motor bogie connector The last models moved on with better connectors and insulated motor bogie wires The 156 I have is a bit of a wreck, that does not run and has no power bogie. The body is OK though I have watched a video on how to do it and have concluded that sound will not be worth it. If I try one, it will be on the basis of moving it later to something quieter.

Thanks for your advice. I have decided to add a harness, so I can change chips later. I am going to start on an older one with a chip + capacitor, as Lima get dirty quickly.

Is it worth adding DCC sound in a Lima diesel? As they are quite noisy, will you actually hear the DCC sound or will it be drowned out the the motor?