bocaj Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Hi Everyone,I'm going to be getting some models made by a different manufacture who mainly uses 21-Pin DCC Decoder Sockets and I'm going to need a 21-Pin Decoder. I'm wondering if I can use the Hornby R8245 Saphire Decoder one these models, or can you just use these on models which don't have DCC Decoder Sockets in?Please Help,Jacob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58001 Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Jacob,The Sapphire decoder is a superior chip (compared to Hornby's standard 8-pin chip) with extra features and a greater power capacity. It has on the chip a 21-pin interface which can be plugged directly into DCC ready locomotives with the 21-pin socket. It is supplied with a lead with a 21-pin plug at one end that connects into the decoder and an 8-pin plug at the other end that can be connected into Hornby's traditional 8-pin socket found it its and other manufacturers' DCC ready locomotives.The Hornby Sapphire is no more adapted to non DCC ready locomotives than any other chip. However, it does have a higher power rating that makes it more appropriate for older and larger locomotives that draw more current for which the smaller 8-pin chip may not be sufficient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaj Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 Hi 58001,Thanks for your reply. That's good that it can just be used a usual DCC Decoder, and also as a 8-pin one as well! Thanks for the help,Jacob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeky Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Is this why "the other manufacturer" has alot of locos with 21pin sockets, because of the power demands? They don't have sound or anything so I was wondering why they needed them. At the end of the day, you have lights, sound and a motor. What else is there to operate? What on earth are all those wires used for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 The extra pins are for other features, such as brushless DC motors that require sensors,the fitting of sound decoders, four aux outputs, train bus etc. Remember that the pins are on the loco and not on the decoder, so that a 21 pin sound decoder will fit in the same place as a 21 pin non sound decoder. It's a standard interface.I think NMRA RP-9.1.1 is the latest standard. http://www.nmra.org/standards/DCC/standards_rps/RP-9.1.1%20200801.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaj Posted November 25, 2011 Author Share Posted November 25, 2011 Beeky said:Is this why "the other manufacturer" has alot of locos with 21pin sockets, because of the power demands? They don't have sound or anything so I was wondering why they needed them. At the end of the day, you have lights, sound and a motor. What else is there to operate? What on earth are all those wires used for?I think the more pins the decoder has, the more functions it has. The 21-Pin Decoder allows you to perform alot more than the standered 8-pin 4 function Decoder I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregd99 Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 poliss' answer is concise and correct.the question comes, of course, whether you need those functions. The sapphire has a lot more internal capability such as flickering lights, auto running, speed curve adjustment. these capabilities don't need any extra pins. they are "just" code in the micro controller and are accessed and controlled by the usual dcc comms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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