Fitting LGB 55028 into Mallet 23851 loco

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Apologies if this has been covered but been unable to find.

I have a 23851 loco (6 pin decoder adaptor on board for DCC) and have picked up a LGB 55028 decoder.

I can get a 10 pin adaptor to fit the decoder, but have been unable to find anywhere that does a 6 pin to 10 pin adaptor - guessing going to have to connect wires together.

I am being blind or has someone done a guide on getting this done? I’m assuming the MFX function (why got this - will be LGB and ESU decoders now on) will still operate over the 6 pin interface?

As said apologies if my search skills have been lacking,

Alex
 
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Apologies if this has been covered but been unable to find.

I have a 23851 loco (6 pin decoder adaptor on board for DCC) and have picked up a LGB 55028 decoder.

I can get a 10 pin adaptor to fit the decoder, but have been unable to find anywhere that does a 6 pin to 10 pin adaptor - guessing going to have to connect wires together.

I am being blind or has someone done a guide on getting this done? I’m assuming the MFX function (why got this - will be LGB and ESU decoders now on) will still operate over the 6 pin interface?

As said apologies if my search skills have been lacking,

Alex
Alex - I think you mean LGB 55027 Locomotive Decoder with a 10-Pin connector cable......your LGB 23851 has a 6-pin DCC Interface Connector, not the 28-pin decoder DCC Interface used with an LGB 55028 decoder. And your LGB 23851 Mallet nor the LGB 55027 or LGB 55028 decoders do not have mfx/M4 technology.......just standard DCC. You'll need to install an LGB 55029 mfx/dcc sound decoder or ESU 5XL DCC sound decoder if you want to operate using the Marklin mfx or ESU M4 technologies instead of DCC. You don't say what command station you're operating, but if it's an ESU CabControl or ECOS, they have the Railcom/Plus feature if you use ESU decoders. Marklin CS3/Plus' mfx technology has the similar automatic registration.

The LGB 55027 DCC Decoder with its 10-Pin Connector Cable has very old LGB MTS (DCC) technology and features.........get rid of it and install an ESU 5XL which has great sound features. But you'll need an ESU LokProgrammer to properly set up ESU decoders. But if you want to use the 55027 in the meantime with its 10-pin interface, just compare the wiring diagram of the two DCC Interfaces of the 6-Pin and 10-pin......then solder the applicable wires from the 10-Pin Interface Cable to a Massoth 6-Pin Interface Cable...........you won't use four of the wires you can cut off the 10-Pin Connector. If you need the wiring schema for both DCC Interface Cables, let me know and I'll post them.
 
55027:

LGB_55027a.jpg
 
Alex - I think you mean LGB 55027 Locomotive Decoder with a 10-Pin connector cable......your LGB 23851 has a 6-pin DCC Interface Connector, not the 28-pin decoder DCC Interface used with an LGB 55028 decoder. And your LGB 23851 Mallet nor the LGB 55027 or LGB 55028 decoders do not have mfx/M4 technology.......just standard DCC. You'll need to install an LGB 55029 mfx/dcc sound decoder or ESU 5XL DCC sound decoder if you want to operate using the Marklin mfx or ESU M4 technologies instead of DCC. You don't say what command station you're operating, but if it's an ESU CabControl or ECOS, they have the Railcom/Plus feature if you use ESU decoders. Marklin CS3/Plus' mfx technology has the similar automatic registration.

The LGB 55027 DCC Decoder with its 10-Pin Connector Cable has very old LGB MTS (DCC) technology and features.........get rid of it and install an ESU 5XL which has great sound features. But you'll need an ESU LokProgrammer to properly set up ESU decoders. But if you want to use the 55027 in the meantime with its 10-pin interface, just compare the wiring diagram of the two DCC Interfaces of the 6-Pin and 10-pin......then solder the applicable wires from the 10-Pin Interface Cable to a Massoth 6-Pin Interface Cable...........you won't use four of the wires you can cut off the 10-Pin Connector. If you need the wiring schema for both DCC Interface Cables, let me know and I'll post them.
Alex - I appologize for misunderstanding your posting and providing incorrect advice to you. I thought you had gotten the LGB 55027 DCC decoder, not the LGB 55028 mfx/dcc decoder. And I was wrong, the LGB 55028 does have the mfx technology. Marklin produced the LGB 55028 decoders in 2014 so it's older technology......I'm surprised you were able to find one new. I do see in the LGB 55028 User Guide that it has the mfx technology. I have not used that decoder before since I do "clean installs" on DCC conversions, which I still recommend you consider in the future for many reasons. Also, many hobbyists want sound in their conversions to DCC and the LGB 55028 is a function-only decoder (motor, lights, etc), no sound. If you want to use your locomotive's 6-Pin DCC Interface and want to use a sound decoder with mfx/M4 technology, I'd suggest you instead use either the ESU 5XL DCC/M4 Sound Decoder (M4 is ESU's term for mfx) or the LGB 55029 mfx/DCC Sound Decoder.

This week I did my first DCC sound conversion into an LGB locomotive with the 10-Pin DCC Interface Connector, an LGB 22490 Amtrak Genesis Diesel locomotive using an ESU 5XL sound decoder and a Massoth 10-Pin DCC Interface Cable. I only do "clean installs' by removing all the old factory circuit board(s), but in this case, the only reason I used the DCC Interface was to avoid having to wire all the LED lights with resistors for directly connecting to the 5XL. The only incandescent light is the Cab Light which I did change to an LED and wire directly to the 5XL. But after the conversion I was no longer able to use my ESU LokProgrammer to make any changes to the decoder. I had to remove the decoder and place it back on my DCC Test Stand Motor Block to make further changes, then reinstall it back on the locomotive's DCC Interface. At least both my Massoth and ESU CabControl command stations' programming track could Read and Write the CVs on the decoder installed to the DCC Interface.

As for The Shed's comments, we all make mistakes occasionally, as I did. And dispite his three accusatory comments, the only technical mistatement I made was that the LGB 55028 decoders are not mfx-capable. I'm glad he pointed out that one mistake, but his vile, insulting comments are beyond the pale, and violate the "Be Nice" Forum ground rules for proper decorum. The objective should be to assist fellow hobbyists, and also to continue to learn from each other, not respond like a bull dog.
 
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One must always be careful when one proffers oneself as an expert.

I've taken my hits also and I do not run a business selling LGB.

Greg
Greg - That's an interesting comment "One must always be careful when one proffers oneself as an expert." Quite frankly, I've never posted or touted I'm an expert in anything. I do share my experience as a repair specialist of LGB-only locomotives, and sell and install only a limited number of DCC brand decoders. And there are a lot of retail sellers of LGB locomotives that know very little about the technical aspects of them like I've learned being an LGB hobbyist myself for 35 years........but I don't tout nor profess to be an expert. All I know is from my experience that I do share with other hobbyist that are seeking advice or assistance on this Forum. And there is so much to continually learn about the DCC and other advanced operating technologies......as you know electrical components don't always behave as advertised especially when interfacing with other brand components.

Conversely, I do consider you to be an expert in electronics since you're a degreed electrical engineer, and I value your knowledge and experience you contribute on this and other large scale Forums. Keep up the good work!
 
I'm not an expert in very many things, and as an electrical engineer, I learn new stuff daily from my top hardware guy.

I do strive to get the right answer, and the very detailed understanding, which is usually misinterpreted as "Greg has to be right"....

But I have a big mouth that is as big as my passion to learn new stuff, and the intricacies of how stuff works. Hazards of the game ha hs!

(OK Pete and Jimmy take your best shots ha ha)

Greg
 
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