Peco Streamline is a range of model railway track that many modellers in the UK turn to when they want to take their...
Valid to UK only - excludes oversized items
Peco Streamline is a range of model railway track that many modellers in the UK turn to when they want to take their...
Despite what most places will say, the voltage on the track when using DCC is not 16V. It is not 15V or 12V either....
Microbrushes are very small brushes, made of thin round plastic, not dissimilar to the thickness of a cotton bud with...
A DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) switch allows two completely separate circuits to be controlled by just one switch....
Bo-Bo is a common wheel arrangement for many medium sized diesel and most electric locomotives. It indicates that a...
Surely more is always better, so a 21 pin decoder is bound to be better than an 8 pin decoder? Actually, the answer is not that straightforward.
With more pins, a 21 pin DCC decoder will be able to manage more functions than an 8 pin decoder. Functions can be anything but are usually lights or similar. An 8 pin decoder will be able to control up to 3 functions while a 21 pin decoder can do 6 functions as well as a speaker and stay alive capabilities.
So, if you want sound, you need a 21 pin decoder.
If you do not want sound, an 8 pin decoder is likely to be enough for your needs.
Bear in mind the choice may not even be yours if you do not want to hardwire and solder the decoder: the decision will be made by the socket inside the engine.
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