“Modern LGB DCC” on DC

[tundracamper]

I am looking at some relatively modern LGB Moguls and Mallets, all with MTS and sound boards. I fully understand that running these on DC I will lose any ability to control sounds, except via track magnets. Will the chuff sound work without having to use a DCC controller to turn it on? One review of a modern mogul says the chuff of the mogul doesn’t come on automatically with DC. That doesn’t make sense to me. I realize these engines will probably run slower than regular DC engines, but that’s OK as long as I still get bells and whistles with the magnets and the regular chuff sounds.

Also, can the CVs be modified with a DCC programmer for 4 chuffs/rev and then run that way on DC? I know the 65001 can do that but not sure about locos with built-in sound.

TIA!

 

[Zerogee]

The very newest Marklin-LGB locos with MFX decoders can be problematic on DC - in particular, many seem to be supplied with the sound options disabled for DC. However if they are slightly older models that have MTS decoders, then the sound should work just fine on DC.

Jon.

 

[tundracamper]

The very newest Marklin-LGB locos with MFX decoders can be problematic on DC - in particular, many seem to be supplied with the sound options disabled for DC. However if they are slightly older models that have MTS decoders, then the sound should work just fine on DC.

Jon.

Thanks. These would be 2009 or older. That old enough?

 

[PhilP]

Thanks. These would be 2009 or older. That old enough?

Should be..

PhilP.

 

[Zerogee]

Reckon so!

Jon.

 

[Gizzy]

Unless your locos have a battery back up, you will only have sounds when moving, and not whilst standing still.

That is the reason I eventually went DCC as the silence when stopped just didn't seem right to me....

 

[Zerogee]

Unless your locos have a battery back up, you will only have sounds when moving, and not whilst standing still.

That is the reason I eventually went DCC as the silence when stopped just didn't seem right to me....

That's mostly true, but there is just a VERY tiny "sweet spot" where the decoder is getting just enough voltage to wake the decoder up and start the standing sounds, but not quite enough for it to start the loco moving... it can be tricky to find (us blokes often have that sort of problem, don't we? ) and a lot depends on having a controller with enough sensitivity on the control knob....

Jon.

 

[dunnyrail]

The Maerklin takeover of LGB occurred in 2007 but I think it was a good few years after that when the current garbage of “DCC” took over.

 

[Gizzy]

That's mostly true, but there is just a VERY tiny "sweet spot" where the decoder is getting just enough voltage to wake the decoder up and start the standing sounds, but not quite enough for it to start the loco moving... it can be tricky to find (us blokes often have that sort of problem, don't we? ) and a lot depends on having a controller with enough sensitivity on the control knob....

Jon.

Yes,

I could sometimes find that sweet spot but then other times I couldn't.

So I brought your old MTS 2 kit, which I still have.

Although I have now upgraded to Massoth 1200Z on my outdoor line....

 

[Zerogee]

The Maerklin takeover of LGB occurred in 2007 but I think it was a good few years after that when the current garbage of “DCC” took over.

Yes, they continued with their MTS system for quite a few years before introducing the current MFX...

Jon.

 

[tundracamper]

This is quite useful info as I came across a 28192 DSP&P set from a dealer that I couldn’t pass up. I do have a spare 65011 energy storage unit sitting around. If that will help, are there obvious connections on the board for it - I presume in the tender? I did decide to run my other moguls sound off 9V batteries. And, I have read of someone adding a battery to power the sound when the engine is not running. I would not mind doing that, but would need where to figure out where that power runs. Suggestions?