Bachmann 08 and Zimo MX648R Sound decoder

As some of you are aware, not that long ago I purchased Paul Chetter's new 08 sound profile from Digitrains. This comes on the Zimo MX648R decoder to fit the Bachmann 08. With no instructions in the box, I would like to know which way round does the decoder plug fit the socket ??

Here is a pic of the plug in the front of the 08 with the decoder plug beside it.



I'm unsure whether the red and orange wired end should be at the bottom (as shown) or at the top of the socket.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as I don't won't to ruin $220.00 (£104.00) worth of decoder/speaker… :shock:

Cheers, Gary. 

The orange/red wire end of the plug is the end with pin 1. If there is a marking on the socket for pin 1, or an arrow, then that makes it easy.

If there is no marking on the socket, you won't break anything by plugging it in upside down. The locomotive will move in reverse when forward is selected, and vice versa. Lights will not work, although for the Hornby and Bachmann 08/09 shunters, no lights are fitted, so you won't be able to use that as an indicator for correct mounting.

If you are still worried about using the sound decoder, try a 'normal' decoder first, noting which way up the orange/red end is when motion occurs in the correct direction for that selected with the controller.

Send Paul a PM on here??

Cheers
Ron

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately no marking or arrow pointing to point out pin 1, unlike other models. Hence the reason for asking the question.

I have sent Paul an email earlier today, but that would have been 2am in the morning, in UK time ! ;-)

Cheers, Gary.

Hi Gary,

I've answered your email earlier.

I also posted a response on here, agreeing with what Jeff posted, but it has not appeared.

Kind regards,

Paul

Looking at the original photo, it appears that the pickup wires (Red/Black) go to bottom left/top right respectively, which matches the wire connections on the 8 pin plug. Therefore the plug orientation in the photo is correct for the socket, as it would then be red to red, black to black. I have fitted decoders (sound and non-sound) to several models which had no 'pin1' marking, and no other obvious signs of which way round the plug should fit, but, as has been said, no damage will result from inserting the plug the wrong way around, it's just that any lighting, if fitted, won't function.  Basically a case of "Suck it and see" I guess.
              Keith.

I'm not sure about other control systems, but certainly with the Lenz system that I use, if the decoder plug is inserted the wrong way around, on attempting to programme the decoder, "Error 02" appears on the screen. Since programming is carried out using a lower voltage than the usual control voltage, there is no danger of damaging the decoder. On correctly inserting the decoder plug and commencing programming, the standard chip identity of "0003" comes up, and any further alterations to CV's etc can then be carried out. As I understand it, not all alternative systems allow decoder reading, only programming/reprogramming, so in these circumstances it may not be so easy to know if the decoder plug is correctly orientated in the socket. I now have a rolling road that I carry out my programming and running in/testing on, so with the loco body off, if the error code appears, I can quickly reverse the plug and get on with programming.
                      Keith.

I think I should chime in about now, although I should have done so earlier today when I first read Pauls email, but then again, I get notification of the YMRC posts/replies via email as well.

This is what Paul had to say :

Hi Gary,

I can’t recall which way the plug is orientated. For my Hornby Magazine article, I removed it and the mounting lug to make room for the decoder, cube speaker and stay-alive capacitor etc, The track pick up strips and motor wires are easily accessible.

If you wish to retain the plug, you will need to put the speaker in the cab. That’s a pretty good solution, but you will need to create a channel in the top of the ballast weight (remove retaining screw for access) to allow the (purple) speaker wires to pass into the cab. Remember to insulate the speaker terminals/backplate.

If you have no plans to fit lighting, the orientation of the 8 pin socket is not so important. It is designed to be ‘safe’ either way round, that’s why the track pick up pins are diagonally opposite. The decoder and motor will still operate, as will the sound. If any of the lighting pins are in use, they must be the correct way around, but are still electrically safe if you get it wrong – if the lights don’t work, turn the plug around!

There are no such connections to worry about in the Bachmann 08.

Sometimes you will see a dot or a number 1 printed next to one of the connectors in the socket. This denotes pin No1 aka orange wire.

Good luck with your project.

Kind regards,

Paul.

Ok, there you have it. Paul has been very helpful with this matter/concern. He has even given greater help in which direction I should run the speaker wires and extra insulation, which I personally would not have given any thought. As Max stated, Paul is a busy man with creating sound profiles, writing articles on installation of sound decoders and answering any questions put to him. Not to mention how many different locos he has installed sound and trying to remember how he had done them all.

Thanks again to Paul and anyone who had responded to my original question.

Cheers, Gary.

Toto had written before things got confused…

 

Tom, unfortunately if manufacturers do not label the socket with Pin 1, unless the wiring colours are based on the decoders standards, it is a suck & see process. Even Bachmann have been known to reverse wiring. Plugging them in the wrong way will not hurt the decoder



In the early Hornby decoders days, they were blowing up on Heljan locos as Heljan took more current than the Hornby decoder allowed. Even Simon Kohler when he was involved with Hornby, tested Hornby decoders with Heljan and did report in Model Rail Express site, not to use the decoders of the time with Heljan.



To find out what decoders are suitable for locos. many people find out the stall current of the loco


http://www.dccwiki.com/Stall_Current



http://mrdccu.com/curriculum/stall.html





then once the current is known, then one can select the correct decoder by looking into the data associated with the decoder



example http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Literature/Decoders/HO_Scale/DP-Series/DP2XUKBEMFWEB.pdf

---

Got to say I agree with Tom's comment. If it were a Hornby 'cheapie' decoder then suck it and see would be OK but with an expensive sound decoder I too would ask for help.

Cheers
Ron

Since the track (red and black wires) and brush (orange and grey wires) feeds are diagonally opposite each other, all that happens if you get the decoder the wrong way around is you reverse the polarity of the feeds to the brushes.

Unless the socket is wired wrongly (very unlikely!), no harm will come to any decoder. If the socket is wired wrongly, then the decoder is probably going to be history even if it is inserted the correct way round.

Hi Gary,

It's good practice to check with a cheap decoder first. Plus all that RF suppression gear is probably not required, ZIMO I think recommend binning it. You get a lot more space and you know the wiring is correct. Hard wire or use an 8 socket harness.

Nigel

[user=321]SRman[/user] wrote:

If the socket is wired wrongly, then the decoder is probably going to be history even if it is inserted the correct way round.

:shock: GULP ! :shock: 

I think I'll take the advice and throw in a cheaper decoder to be on the safe side.

Cheers, Gary.

So, Gary.  Have you made any progress?

No progress yet Max. I haven't had a chance to get out and pick up a cheap 8 pin decoder. Hopefully on Thursday or Friday afternoon I can pick one up and drop it in to test the correct positioning. Once I have figured this out, I'll plonk in the Zimo Digitrains decoder.

Cheers, Gary.

Is there any way you can trace the wires back to the plug, Gary?

The colour code is straight forward.

RED = right rail

BLACK = left rail

ORANGE = motor (+)

GREY = motor (-)

WHITE = headlight

YELLOW = rear light

GREEN = Aux 1

PURPLE = Aux 2

BLUE = Common (+) for lights

You should be able to match them with the colours on the plug.

Found a helpful tutorial on youtube for fitting a decoder to the 08… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3naKHngmTQ 

I had picked up a cheap Hornby decoder earlier today, so I can test the correct positioning of the plug. But, funny how I found the tutorial after I purchased the decoder ! I'm sure I can use it elsewhere, and yes before anyone says something, I do know what they say about Hornby decoders… :shock:

Cheeers, Gary.