8 pin chip for R2548 Grange class loco

[Martin-370425]

I have recently purchased a DCC Ready R2548 BR 4-6-0 Grange Class

[Frankton Grange loco] and bought a Rails 8 pin stay alive decoder. Unfortunately although the decoder is very small it wont fit in the loco. Because of the very limited space the decoder must be the same size as the "blanking plate"or smaller. Can anybody out there advise what make of decoder should be used

[Fishmanoz]

Then what size is the blanking plate and is it direct plug or on a harness?

[LTSR_NSE]

Welcome to the forum Martin. Is the DCC socket in loco or tender? Could you post a photo, so we can see the space you need to fit decoder into?

(Be aware posts containing photos will require approving by a moderator - so don’t worry that it won’t immediately appear.)

[Going Spare]

According to Service Sheet 279C, the 8-pin decoder socket sits longitudinally in the loco boiler atop a weight positioned in front of the motor, presumably leaving the smokebox area to accommodate the harnessed decoder.

[96RAF]

As the socket is longitudinal to the chassis a direct plug decoder will never fit, so it has to be a harnessed type., but if it is this one then it might https://railsofsheffield.com/products/rails-connect-ros-8d-rails-connect-decoder-8-pin-direct-4-function-nano-decoder

Looking at the service sheet quoted it would be a fairly easy job to remove the loco socket to the tender and incorporate the later 4-pin plug / socket in lieu of the troublesome powered springy prongs drawbar.

Whilst you have the soldering iron out you can consign ‘ferrite man’ to the bin (that collection of electrical bits on top of the motor).

Edit - to add link to possible decoder.

[Going Spare]

Is the Rails stay-alive decoder a direct-plug type? If so, is there an equivalent on a harness? There must be adequate room in the smokebox to accommodate a standard Hornby decoder.