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DCC decoders and addressing

Overview

This page will show some examples of decoders that I've installed in locomotives and the addressing scheme I'm using.

Addressing scheme

Locomotive address

One of the important criteria for selecting a DCC system for the Dombås layout, was the capability for 4 digit addressing. Most advanced systems will have this capability. With 2 digit addressing that the basic systems are using you will end up with a cheat sheet for locomotives because it is hard to come up with a 2 digit scheme that fits all your locomotives.

The 4 digit addressing scheme that I use uses the last four digits for a locomotive number. For locomotives with a computer number, like used in Germany, I won't use the computer control number. Here are some examples:

Locomotive number	DCC address
Di3.630	3630
El14.2165	2165
101	0101
333 111-3	3111

Note that I use leading zeros in the addresses. For the NCE system this means it is a four digit address.

Consist address

I'm still working on a consist address scheme. Consist addresses are two digit addresses. At this moment I use the last two digits of the leading locomotive. This already caused some confusion. With the NCE system the lead locomotive address can also be used for controlling the consist so when that is done the original consist address is easily forgotten. Right now I have a card that registers all the consist. Fortunately consist are not that common on my layout, usually only a couple of Di3 locomotives haul a freight train.

Decoders

Locomotive	Address	Decoder	Installation	Comments
Märklin #3143 NSB Di3.605	3605	NCE D102EU	Lots of space so no problems.	HAMO (2 rail DC) model for Norway
NMJ #Di3MLS NSB Di3.606	3606	Soundtraxx DSD150 GM/EMD first generation	Made a box for the speaker which is fitted in the roof. The decoder sits in the front of the frame, where to original HAMO diode bridge was located.	Märklin/HAMO model detailed by NMJ. With Sound, unfortunately the original Märklin/HAMO motor makes a lot of noise which interferes with the sound from the decoder.
Heljan #4391 NSB Di3.619	3619	Lenz LE1024	'plug and play'
NMJ #NMJS 3.630 NSB Di3.630	3630	Lenz LE080XS	Replaced printer circuit with new board that has the LE080 mounted on it. The top lights, above the cabs, can be activated by F1 (cab1) and F2 (cab2). See Install DCC decoders in NMJ Superline models for more details.	Brass locomotive.
Roco #43624 NSB Di5.867	5867	Lenz LE521W	Decoder is placed between metal frame and place driver insert. There is a small hole in the frame for the wires which are soldered directly onto the printed circuit board. The resistors and capacitors are removed.
Roco #43624 (2003 edition) NSB Di5.876	5876	Lenz LE1025	See installation of decoder in NSB Di5.
Lima #208063L NSB El13.2140	2140	Zimo MX61/2000		Repowered model with SB-Modelbau drive, see "Repower a Lima El13 with a SB-Modellbau drive".
Lima #208133L NSB El14.2165	2165	Zimo MX61/2000		Repowered model with SB-Modelbau drive.
Roco #43559 NSB El16.2212	2212	Lenz LE1025	Removed part of printed circuit board to make place for decoder. See "Install DCC decoder in Roco El16 " for more details.
NMJ #NMJS 2227 NSB El17.2227	2227	Zimo MX61/2000	Replaced printer circuit with new board that has the Zimo MX61/2000 mounted on it. Used the LM317, like on the original board, for the lights. See Install DCC decoders in NMJ Superline models for more details.	Brass locomotive
Roco #63503 NSB El18.2243	2243	Lenz LE1024	'Plug and play'
Roco #43462 NS 2210	2210	Lenz LE1024	See installation of decoder in NS 2200.