ICE 111 conversion to digital

Chris Wright

Chris Wright

Rev-Up
Hi everyone, Newbie here and new to the scale. Coming from Z and N in DCC I just took delivery of an ICE 111 set and wish to convert it to DCC on a Z21 system. On looking at the unit, it is a box with wheels and gears so as I do not wish to run it with lights just motor control only, which decoder is recommended? Before I open up the motor/gearbox/wheel set, anything I should be aware of or take note during the alterations please?
 
If you are *sure* you just want motor control.. No sound, no lights, and no second motor-block.. .. .. Then it is dead easy!
Any small (by G-scale standards) motor decoder will do.
There are four pins on the end of the motor-block.. The outer two are track-power, the inner two are the motor.

Choose your decoder, four connections, and off you go..

Enjoy!
 
I thought as much. Thanks. However, I see these massive decoders about Piko, ESU and so on and in HO I run the power at 18volts through Locsound ESU decoders for all the Veissmann stuff to work so would the HO lokpilot decoders cope or should I really go for the dedicated G scale ones?
 
Chris Wright said:
I thought as much. Thanks. However, I see these massive decoders about Piko, ESU and so on and in HO I run the power at 18volts through Locsound ESU decoders for all the Veissmann stuff to work so would the HO lokpilot decoders cope or should I really go for the dedicated G scale ones?
Click to expand...

LGB / Buhler (the maker of the motor is Buhler) are very good, and will only take a small amount of current when running.. It is more the fact a 'G-scale' Central station can (typically) supple several amps all day, and the stall-current of an average 'G-scale' loco can easily be 3Amps-plus..
If you are happy a Lokpilot will cope with (say) an Amp continuously, and a couple of Amps on stall, then go ahead. - I am not familiar with the Lokpilot decoder range.. I am sure someone will pop-up in a minute who is!
 
PhilP I do not have one of those but all my LGB motor blocks are normally outside motor connection inside track connection. As I said I do not have an ICE set to confirm.
 
For some of my small locos I've used so called "high power" decoders intended for HO and they've been fine (decoders from Zimo, TC Electronic etc.) The important thing is stall current as has been mentioned, and also ensure the decoder is rated for high enough voltage. You may only run your line at 18 volts (as do I with my NCE equipment) but if you take your toys to another line running LGB or Massoth at 24V you want to be sure your decoders won't fry!

For my ICE I think I ended up using a Massoth XL as it was already in my box of bits.
 
It seems the Massoth XL is the one to go for as it will also control the second motor unit if I feel it needs it to pull six coaches. Many thanks everyone.
 
itsmcgee said:
PhilP I do not have one of those but all my LGB motor blocks are normally outside motor connection inside track connection. As I said I do not have an ICE set to confirm.
Click to expand...

WHOOPS! - My bad!!!

Chris, the connections are motor outer pair, and track inner pair..
(senior moment) :(:rolleyes::D:D
 
itsmcgee said:
PhilP I do not have one of those but all my LGB motor blocks are normally outside motor connection inside track connection. As I said I do not have an ICE set to confirm.
Click to expand...


Yes, I can confirm that - outer pins are motor, inner pins are track - standard for LGB motor blocks. The terminals are labelled with abbreviations for the wire colours (in German), so the motor terminals are ge (gelb = yellow) and gr (grun = green), the track power terminals are ws (weiss = white) and br (braun = brown). If connecting an LGB or Massoth decoder then the four wire colours will match the markings.

Jon.

Edit: PhilP posted as I was typing this, so sorry for any duplication of answers!
 
I would use a Zimo M632 decoder for an ICE train. 1.6 Amp continuous output and 2.5 Amp stall is plenty for a four wheel LGB block. They can cope with DCC voltages up to 35V and are wired for stay alive capacitors. A 6800 mf capacitor will improve running for less than a pound and a minute to coneect up.
Also they cost a litttle under £40 instead of a little over £50 for an Xl decoder.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom