I've just bought the 'Oxford Rail" Adams Radial loco and find that the DCC socket is across the bunker, rather tight for space, so none of the harness type decoders will fit, only the direct plug-in type, such as the TCS DP2X-UK with the pins across the middle rather than at one edge. It seems that no-one has these in stock, at least not anyone I can find. Kernow (from where I bought the loco), Hattons, Rails, Digitrains etc either don't list, or are out of stock of this decoder, so I wondered if anyone else has had a similar problem and found an alternative decoder. Normally I prefer Lenz (I use Lenz DCC control), but I'll consider anything that will fit! Any idea's fella's? Keith. PS. Before Tom gives me a dig, loco photo(s) to follow shortly!!!
You could try DCC Supplies or Coastal DCC. Now ....... Those photo's ..... I'm not sure of the exact decoder you mean but if you can post a picture somehow, I'll join in the hunt. Toto
Hi Tom. Afraid I can't find a pic of the actual decoder, best way I can describe it is that the type I need is almost the same size as the DC 8 pin plug you remove to fit the DCC decoder, ie, very small, and it fits across the width of the loco rather than the length as most decoders do. I happened to have a Lais direct plug-in decoder to hand, but although this fits and works ok with just the chassis, it won't allow the body to be refitted as it fits along the length and is therefore too long.The TCS decoder is only 22mm long, 18mm wide and 4.5mm deep, the 8 pins are across the middle of the decoder, it fits crosswise as opposed to lengthwise and there is very little space in the bunker to accomodate it. Normally I don't have a problem in removing the socket and wiring a decoder in directly (as I had to do with my Bachmann E4), but there isn't even space to do that with this loco, hence the need for a particular type of decoder. It's unlikely that this model will be a candidate for DCC sound conversion except by an expert in microsurgery! Keith
Managed to find the TCS DP2X-UK in stock at Coastal (thanks for that suggestion Tom). They also had the Lenz Silver direct decoder which I would have preferred, but it appeared from the illustration that the pins were orientated the wrong way, so it would be too long to fit in the space available. I see from another forum that there have been problems with the DP2X failing in service, at least it has the "goof proof" warranty! I've already run in the loco on my rolling road, so when I get the decoder, it's just a few minutes to plug it in, set, and be up and running. Photo(s) hopefully tomorrow and thanks again Tom. Keith.
