LGB 2065 CONVERTING TO DCC

MTheStrong

MTheStrong

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I have an LGB 2065 set which I would like to convert to DCC. Both rail cars are powered. Has anyone converted one and what is the best way to proceed? and what chips should be used?
 

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I converted a set a long time ago.... used an eMotion XLS in one and an eMotion XL in the other (it was pre LS).

I put the decoders kust below the roof and used the 4 rails for track and motor power. Replaced the interior lighting with LEDs and had some fun with the front lights.

Current plan is to replace the XLS & XL with an LS and probably an L decoder when I get round to it.
 
Are you wanting sound, Martin? If so, I'd reckon a Massoth LS in one unit and an L in the other. You could alternatively use an XLS in one car only and feed the trailer car by cables from the same decoder, but I think that might be over-complicated and would also mean you couldn't run them separately - with the L/LS combo you could, albeit obviously with only one having sound.....

I have an older-type single car unit of these to do myself (the all-red Wismar type), and I've been giving a bit of thought to how to wire the lights..... we'll have to get together and compare notes on it I think! ;)

Jon.

Edit: Muns posted as I was typing, good to see we both have pretty much the same ideas.....
 
Zerogee said:
Are you wanting sound, Martin? If so, I'd reckon a Massoth LS in one unit and an L in the other. You could alternatively use an XLS in one car only and feed the trailer car by cables from the same decoder, but I think that might be over-complicated and would also mean you couldn't run them separately - with the L/LS combo you could, albeit obviously with only one having sound.....

I have an older-type single car unit of these to do myself (the all-red Wismar type), and I've been giving a bit of thought to how to wire the lights..... we'll have to get together and compare notes on it I think! ;)

Jon.

Edit: Muns posted as I was typing, good to see we both have pretty much the same ideas.....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I have a small problem to resolve and that is whether or not to keep the 2 railcars together effectively as one unit or to have the flexibility to run each separately and to combine on occasions. If treated as 2 separate units it could add interest to running them. So for example the combined unit arrives in a station then separates and each railcar then is able to head to separate locations. They then return to the original station, combine and head to another and so on. By the way I already have the latest twin railcar which comes with chip installed but has only one power car.
 
The problem to resolve is how to configure the chips for the 2 railcars. The 2065 is essentially 2 powered single cars so each car requires its own decoder. Configuring the decoder for each car to run individually should not be too difficult although as Muns has pointed out he had some challenges. I assume that this is because the front white lamp and rear red lamp are on together when travelling in one direction. The problem comes when you run the 2 cars together, how do you switch off the rear red light of the front car and the front white light of the rear car? This leaves the front white lighton of the forward facing car and only the red rear light of the second car.

At the moment I cannot decide whether or not to fit sound units to the 2 cars. I appreciate that each car will have its own address.

Any advice would be much appreciated
 
This is a complicated one, Martin.... I'll have to think on it, but it will be very interesting to see what anyone else comes up with! ;)

With separate decoders on different addresses, you'd have to run them as a consist anyway when you ran the pair together.... for a permanently-coupled pair, I'd suggest the SAME address even if on two decoders. Still doesn't get over the complex lighting question either way, though....

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
This is a complicated one, Martin.... I'll have to think on it, but it will be very interesting to see what anyone else comes up with! ;)

With separate decoders on different addresses, you'd have to run them as a consist anyway when you ran the pair together.... for a permanently-coupled pair, I'd suggest the SAME address even if on two decoders. Still doesn't get over the complex lighting question either way, though....

Jon.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jon,

Its always good to have something to challenge the brain. I think that sorting out the lighting for each car should in principle be as follows:

Connect front white and rear red together and install on decoder as "Front" Light. Connect front red and rear white together and install on decoder as "Rear" light.

Hope I have got the logic correct
 
MTheStrong said:
Thanks Jon,

Its always good to have something to challenge the brain. I think that sorting out the lighting for each car should in principle be as follows:

Connect front white and rear red together and install on decoder as "Front" Light. Connect front red and rear white together and install on decoder as "Rear" light.

Hope I have got the logic correct
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the way for each car separately, I'd worked out a diagram a while back for the green/white/brown looms that go to each end lighting unit, which does just that. The difficulty is then switching it over to the system you want when the two cars are coupled.....

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
Yes, that's the way for each car separately, I'd worked out a diagram a while back for the green/white/brown looms that go to each end lighting unit, which does just that. The difficulty is then switching it over to the system you want when the two cars are coupled.....

Jon.
Click to expand...

I have a feeling that it is going to be too difficult for when the 2 cars are connected unless I use the Function pads on each decoder. It would mean have to select the appropriate Function on each car!!!!!!
 
MTheStrong said:
I have a feeling that it is going to be too difficult for when the 2 cars are connected unless I use the Function pads on each decoder. It would mean have to select the appropriate Function on each car!!!!!!
Click to expand...

I suppose you could always "cheat", and just have a little DPDT switch hidden somewhere on each car that simply cut the lights off at one end when you wanted to run them coupled... not really in the spirit of DCC, of course, but might be a lot easier! ;)

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
I suppose you could always "cheat", and just have a little DPDT switch hidden somewhere on each car that simply cut the lights off at one end when you wanted to run them coupled... not really in the spirit of DCC, of course, but might be a lot easier! ;)

Jon.
Click to expand...

True, however I would like to explore the full potential of DCC. So the possible scenario for each car would be to ignore connecting the lights to the front and rear pins on the decoder and instead and connect to 4 Function pads - so for example:

F1 Front White
F2 Rear Red
F3 Front Red
F4 Rear White

So Press F1 and F2 in single car operation. F1 for leading car in 2 car mode and F2 on second car. It means that both decoders would have different addresses but the Function keys would be assigned identically.

Will have to think some more about the practicalities of this.
 
Set the same function key on each decoder to switch off/on the light outputs for 2-car running..
You can still set CV values for if these should be on for forward/reverse running when a single car.
 
My set only had lights at one end of each car!
 
I have just received an email from Herr Dietz he recommends the following decoders:

Dietz DLE 2M (EUR59) and Sound Micro X3 (EUR59)

Here is a link to his website: http://www.dietz-modellbahntechnik.de/

The cost for fitting the decoders is EUR50 per railcar which seems to be excellent value for money.
 
I got a 3 Car set up from Ebay.DE some years back 2 Powered one Trailer. Thought I had a bargain till I found that the Motors were so out of synke that running was just awful. So when I chipoed up the set, I took out one Motor and ALL the Gearing in the Now 2 Trailers. Left the Pickups and coupled the lot via 2 Pin Plugs. Runs a Treat with Sound and 12 Wheels Picking up Juice. Not so good up Steep Hills. But Banking a 3 car Railcar is fun!
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
I got a 3 Car set up from Ebay.DE some years back 2 Powered one Trailer. Thought I had a bargain till I found that the Motors were so out of synke that running was just awful. So when I chipoed up the set, I took out one Motor and ALL the Gearing in the Now 2 Trailers. Left the Pickups and coupled the lot via 2 Pin Plugs. Runs a Treat with Sound and 12 Wheels Picking up Juice. Not so good up Steep Hills. But Banking a 3 car Railcar is fun!
JonD
Click to expand...
Thanks Jon, I must confess that was an option that I have considered.However I quite like the idea of running the 2 rail cars as both one unit and as 2 individual ones. I will raise your point about the motors being out of sync with Herr Dietz and see what can be done.
 
Hello Martin,

If the motors run at different speeds then since you intend to have two decoders the speed curve in each needs to be adjusted to make them run at the same speed at each speed step.

I am a fan of the Dietz Micro X3 and I intend to investigate the Dietz DLE 2M now it has been recommended. I usually use the X3 with a Lenz Gold Maxi.

Regards
Cliff
 
Cliff George said:
Hello Martin,

If the motors run a different speeds then since you intend to have two decoders the speed curve in each needs to be adjusted to make them run at the same speed at each speed step.

I am a fan of the Dietz Micro X3 and I intend to investigate the Dietz DLE 2M now it has been recommended. I usually use the X3 with a Lenz Gold Maxi.

Regards
Cliff
Click to expand...

It was the good reports I have heard and read, particularly from friends in Germany, that drew my attention to the Micro X3. I think on balance, especially given the apparent complexity of the wiring of the lights of the railcars, that I will get Herr Dietz to install them.
 
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