Has anyone used MRC decoders?
I have come into a box of different ones.
The 8 amp models have relays.
Are these old models?
AD320 2.5 amp, 2 function
AD321 3 amp,4 function
AD322. 8 amp with diesel sound,4 function
AD324 8 amp, 4 function
David
David - I have a number of the AD322’s that I have hacked over the last few years - there are some notes on that decoder on my web page at:
http://www.trainelectronics.com/MRC_DCC/
Hope that helps!
dave
I will take a look. Thanks
I have found a lot of reviews on the www and it seems these decoders are bottom feeders.
Most people were not happy with them.
Maybe I will hook one up and try for myself.
David
I believe this series had 21 volt ratings, I use them on my 24 volt DCC system and they work, but are old technology and make motors sing.
For the price I paid for them, they are great.
Dan,
I hooked up an AD-320 to a USA trains motor block and led’s for lights and f1, f2.
Seems to be ok. No motor noise.
Are you able to read back cv’s? I am having no luck with my Massoth 1210z.
I plan on putting this into an LGB 2-4-0 in place of a lgb 55021.
David
I have a bunch of the 322’s and about 5 have blown up, looks like the regulator, I got them for $10 each so considered them disposable.
Greg
I can read back on my Zimo system.
Is CV 29 set to 2 for 28/128 speed steps and your system at 28 or 128?
If one is 28 steps and the other is 14 speed steps, read backs will be flaky at best.
I can read the decoder with sound but not the decoder without.
Some the lights work on 14 steps but not 28.
More trouble than they are worth especially since they are going probably going
To fail in short order. I will install one in the lgb 2-4-0 for my friend (his choice) and
See how long it lasts. He is running mts so 14 steps is good for him.
He has a MRC system that he does not use, maybe I will get it from him and see how it handles
The MRC decoders.
David
The LGB system is 21 volts if I remember correctly, so the MRC decoder should be OK.
I have a MTS I system with an engine running the MRC AD324 and no problems with a year of running.
The problems with the MRC units do not appear to be solely voltage related, I have had several just “lock up” and then usually some component smokes, often the regulator or the output transistor.
Dave: wow, you really did play a bit with these… what did you use the one you showed for, it was clear it was not DCC, but some motor control and some sound… like an animation thing?
Greg
Greg Elmassian said:
The problems with the MRC units do not appear to be solely voltage related, I have had several just “lock up” and then usually some component smokes, often the regulator or the output transistor.
Dave: wow, you really did play a bit with these… what did you use the one you showed for, it was clear it was not DCC, but some motor control and some sound… like an animation thing?
Greg
Greg - I used them for a Christmas Trolley layout on the front porch of the house - ran two of them (swapped them out every-other-day) for 32 days - I added my own PIC controller and used the relay and power transistor and sound on the board -
The program had the units going back and forth for up to 16 hours every day - the track power was 18 volts AC, rectified inside of the trolley.
Sort of a poor man’s DCC! It worked very, very well.
dave
The MRC decoder hard wired to an lgb interface In place of
the lgb 55021 would run the motor ( little noise) but not the lights.
I have spent enough time on this so, back to plan “A” use the correct
Lgb 55021 decoders. Works fine now.
David