Decoder identification

[Airbuspilot]

Hi Greg
I rebuilt the loco so no picture sorry, there could be a way of extending the pins with PCB male to female pin connectors (assuming the pins are long enough) but with this model the space between the floor of the cab and the decoder is small and the cab would almost certainly foul the decoder.

The ZIMO decoder has a cover of some sort which is exactly the same size as the LGB equivalent but the actual base is around 5 mm longer. The decoder fouls the two sockets shown below (with the original faulty LGB decoder). I did consider surgery but as I am not the owner I think it would be better to go with a new LGB replacement.

Robin

 

[LGeoB]

I'm not familiar with the Zimo board but I think you can snap off the ends of the pcb outside the two rows of pins. You can see the board is notched to allow you to do this. This is similar to some Massoth decoders. It shouldn't then foul the sockets.

Geoff

 

[Airbuspilot]

Hi Geoff

You are correct, the ZIMO board does have a break off strip and it will certainly fit the base board without fouling the sockets. Thanks for that tip, I hope I can stop the order for the new LGB decoder.

Robin

 

[Greg Elmassian]

On your edge view pictures, you can actually see the "cut" part way throught the board ends to allow the mounting tabs to snap off.

My QSI decoders have the same thing, mounting tab "extensions" for mounting with screws and standoffs, or the extensions snap off when the decoder is secured by the socket and space is at a premium.

Those clever Austrians! (Zimo)

Greg

 

[JimmyB]

On your edge view pictures, you can actually see the "cut" part way throught the board ends to allow the mounting tabs to snap off.

My QSI decoders have the same thing, mounting tab "extensions" for mounting with screws and standoffs, or the extensions snap off when the decoder is secured by the socket and space is at a premium.

Those clever Austrians! (Zimo)

Greg

Greg always "fun" to follow some of the DCC conversations, so on the Zimo board, I assume the "mounting holes" would be removed.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Yep, so in a socket, no mounting holes are needed, so you can just snap off the "extensions" which have mounting holes.

That makes the decoder identical in dimensions to the LGB unit. But the decoder could be mounted standalone if you wanted to use it in a loco that did not have the socket.

These are the QSI decoders that I often use, and you can snap off the mating holes/extensions... you cannot see, but there are also 2 rows of pins, designed to fit the Aristo and Bachmann sockets.