Two Motor Engines
- Thread starter Orgiva
- Start date
If using 55021's, then yes, as they are a lower current rating..
You can drive both motors from a single larger decoder. - An XLS for sound for example.
Loco's like the Mallet, were lighter on the front power-bogie, so prototypically, the front would break-away if the regulator was opened enthusiastically.. This can be simulated if each motor has a separate decoder.
You can drive both motors from a single larger decoder. - An XLS for sound for example.
Loco's like the Mallet, were lighter on the front power-bogie, so prototypically, the front would break-away if the regulator was opened enthusiastically.. This can be simulated if each motor has a separate decoder.
stockers
Trains, aircraft, models, walking, beer, travel
Use a Massoth XL decoder, or XLS for sound. This has ample capacity to drive both motors and will perform better than twin decoders.
I ripped out the pair (of admittedly elderly) decoders in my Saxon Mayer and the result was quite noticeably better.
I ripped out the pair (of admittedly elderly) decoders in my Saxon Mayer and the result was quite noticeably better.
You can use a single decoder, any make, as long as it has a decent current rating..
For a two-motor LGB loco, an XL (Massoth) would be adequate.. If it was a Aristocraft Class 66 (say), then a Massoth XXL would be recommended, as these are quite 'hungry' for power.
The 55027 uses a 10pin connector (which you can of course cut off) but it all depends upon the locomotive you are putting in it to whether it would be plug and play or not! LGB model numbers for the locos in question can assist in the provision of assistance, better still, photos of the current internals.
Orgiva
Registered
Update. I've looked at all my engines and have understood the symbology on the underneath. There is a symbol I would like to check though. I have a Mallett with the symbol in the picture on both motors. Is it the same as number 4 in the other picture? Which would mean it already has a decoder fitted.
A second question is, I have 2 engines with symbol number 3. Does this mean that the LGB decoder 55027 is plug and play?
A second question is, I have 2 engines with symbol number 3. Does this mean that the LGB decoder 55027 is plug and play?
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Zerogee
Clencher's Bogleman
Symbol 3 means that the loco will accept an LGB 55020/55021 decoder (or a Massoth L, which is essentially the same except cheaper!) plugged directly into the loco's main board, with no wiring necessary - in fact you normally cut the four track and motor wires off the decoder when you plug it in - a number of pins on the underside of the decoder mate with sockets on the loco board so that the two boards are linked piggy-back.
The newer 55027 decoder, which comes with a 10-wire loom and plug as Mark mentioned above, is only plug-and-play into a loco with symbol 5, not symbol 3.
As to the other symbols, just in case others are wondering, 1 (the embossed "D" in the gearbox bottom plate) simply means the gearbox is a 4-pin type and thus can have a decoder fitted without internal re-wiring of the motor; any gearbox without the raised D will be a 3-pin (or even a much earlier clamshell type) and will thus need some fiddling with before it is decoder-compatible - it's not a difficult job by any means, but just another thing to do.
Symbol 2 means that a decoder (again they were referring to the 55020/55021/Massoth L, but other types can be used) can be fitted using an LGB/Massoth 6-pin interface cable and plug, available as an extra.
Symbol 4 means that the loco is already factory-fitted with a DCC decoder.
Symbol 5 meansa the loco has a 10-way plug for direct installation of an LGB 55027 or any other decoder (eg: Massoth XL/XLS) which is fitted with a 10-pin loom and plug.
Symbol 6, I believe, indicates and interface for the direct plug-in of one of the new LGB MFX multiprotocol decoders, or an equivalent such as the Massoth XLS-M1.
The un-numbered symbol in the photo is a variation of symbol 4, and means the same - a factory-installed decoder.
Note that when installing any decoder into a loco with symbols 2 or 3 (and possibly 5?), there will usually be a bank of dip-switches on the loco board which MUST be flipped to "off" when the decoder is installed - failing to do this can fry decoders, and you really don't want to let the magic smoke out....
Jon.
The newer 55027 decoder, which comes with a 10-wire loom and plug as Mark mentioned above, is only plug-and-play into a loco with symbol 5, not symbol 3.
As to the other symbols, just in case others are wondering, 1 (the embossed "D" in the gearbox bottom plate) simply means the gearbox is a 4-pin type and thus can have a decoder fitted without internal re-wiring of the motor; any gearbox without the raised D will be a 3-pin (or even a much earlier clamshell type) and will thus need some fiddling with before it is decoder-compatible - it's not a difficult job by any means, but just another thing to do.
Symbol 2 means that a decoder (again they were referring to the 55020/55021/Massoth L, but other types can be used) can be fitted using an LGB/Massoth 6-pin interface cable and plug, available as an extra.
Symbol 4 means that the loco is already factory-fitted with a DCC decoder.
Symbol 5 meansa the loco has a 10-way plug for direct installation of an LGB 55027 or any other decoder (eg: Massoth XL/XLS) which is fitted with a 10-pin loom and plug.
Symbol 6, I believe, indicates and interface for the direct plug-in of one of the new LGB MFX multiprotocol decoders, or an equivalent such as the Massoth XLS-M1.
The un-numbered symbol in the photo is a variation of symbol 4, and means the same - a factory-installed decoder.
Note that when installing any decoder into a loco with symbols 2 or 3 (and possibly 5?), there will usually be a bank of dip-switches on the loco board which MUST be flipped to "off" when the decoder is installed - failing to do this can fry decoders, and you really don't want to let the magic smoke out....
Jon.
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