Lgb 23701 Nolb U1 & 55020 Lighting Voltage

S

Sammler

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I'm about to fit an old LGB 55020 decoder into an LGB 23701 'NOLB' U1 steam loco though I'm not sure if the previous owner might have changed the decoders lighting voltage from 5 volts to 18 volts.

Will the NOLB locomotive automatically reduce the lighting voltage or would the 55020 have to be re-programmed first?

I only have a Lok Maus and 55016 controller so I wouldn't be able to re-programme it myself.

Thanks
 
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I think what you mean is that the Bulbs have been changed to 18v ones. So you should be OK as the higher Voltage ones are for DCC. The worst that could happen if this change of Bulbs HAD not been done is that the Bulbs would have eventually blown.
JonD
 
Sorry, I think I wrote it wrong. I meant the LGB 55020 decoders lighting voltage might have been changed from 5 volts to 18 volts.

I read on another thread that the circuit board in some LGB loco's automatically regulates the voltage though I'm not sure if the NOLB U1 will do this.
 
Sammler said:
I read on another thread that the circuit board in some LGB loco's automatically regulates the voltage though I'm not sure if the NOLB U1 will do this.
Click to expand...

You are correct. Most of the older, and even newer, LGB locomotives have a voltage regulation circuit that controls the output to the light and smoke that is independent of the chip. You should be able to spot this when you fit the replacement chip.

When used on DC/analogue layouts the regulator gave bright lights and good smoke at low running speeds using 5V accessories. The even older locos only had no regulation and higher voltage accessories(ca 18-24V) that meant poor smoke and lights at low speed.

Hence locos were enthusiastically driven by young drivers to get the lights and smoke to work!

PS - The consequence of the voltage regulation circuit in older locos is that they draw significant power when operating the lights and smoke on digital layouts.
 
Doesn't that model have the 'yellow' screw-in bulbs? - If so, they are 18V.
If not, I am thinking of a different model..
 
Try it and see - if the lights are very bright (you will see the difference - dont worry, you will notice it!) then switch them off and get the decoder re programmed or buy some 18V bulbs.
 
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