Which Function Decoder Should I Get?

[Willem WDLS]

I am in the process of upgrading some passenger cars with interior lighting. Most cars will get a simple upgrade with a LED strip. No On/Off switch, the lighting is always on both on DC and DCC.

For my Umbau cars, I want some extra things. The main interior lighting should be switchable, the toilet compartment should be switchable, and two red LEDs on each end as well.

My PIKO VT98 railbus will get an ESU XL sound decoder in the motor unit, but I want to add switchable lighting to the trailer as well. I hate fiddling with that stupid cable, so I want them independent.

So I need some kind of function decoder for both the Umbau cars and the VT 98. I was looking at Massoth's "8FL" function decoder, but it seems a little expensive. I found ESU has the "LokPilot Fx V4.0", which is slightly cheaper but seems to be similar to Massoth's 8FL (although ESU's power outputs are rated lower).

Does anyone have experience with either of these two? Can they do what I want them to do? Are they perhaps overkill for my purposes?

Thanks,
Willem

 

[Deleted member 1986]

Edit:

 

[Willem WDLS]

Thanks, Arthur!

Will buy both the 8FL and ESU's LokPilot Fx and see which one works best for me. I could mix the 8FL with the LokSound XL, but generally I avoid mixing brands.

 

[stockers]

Thanks, Arthur!

, but generally I avoid mixing brands.

Probably a good idea, despite them all being 'compatible'!.