Product Description
DCC Decoder Buddy from the manufacturer:
- The Decoder Buddy was developed for the 8 output decoders.
- This mother board does not include the 21-Pin Decoder.
- This mother board requires soldering.
This printed circuit board is NOT INTENDED FOR USE IN A DC SYSTEM.
However, if the decoder you are using supports DC operation it should work.
The Original Decoder Buddies come with standard 1K resistors onboard.
The mother board includes:
- One 21 Pin Decoder receptacle
- Two pairs of track input pads
- One pair of motor input pads
- One set of stay alive pads, U+, GND. (The white wire from a Power Pack can be soldered onto the Original Decoder Buddy fairly easily)
- Two pairs of speaker pads in parallel by side
- 8 lighting outputs on a separable “small connector board”
- See photos for pin connections chart by decoder brand.
Resistors for use with LED lighting. The “0” ohm resistors accommodate previously installed LEDs with resistors in line and “12-volt LEDs”. It is IMPORTANT to realize that resistors must be used when LEDs are connected to the lighting outputs of the custom “0” Ohm boards!!!
Decoder Buddy V1B Size:
- Width x Length x Height
- 0.67” x 2.20” x 0.35”
- 17 mm x 56 mm x 9 mm
Height may vary slightly depending on decoder.
Minimum measured height is 0.35” by trimming the 21-pin connector pins flush with the top of the decoder‘s 21-pin connector.
Original vs V5 Discussion
Manufacturer’s types of stay alives might well determine whether you want a two or three wire stay alive. The V5 has the capability of easily adding a two wire stay alive. The U+ and the GND pads are positioned close together and work well. The three wire stay alive or Power Pack has a third wire that could be connected to pin-1 on the base of the 21-pin connector. Pin -1 is associated with Aux 10 on a Loksound 5 decoder and used to turn the Power Pack off and on. It is used frequently but not as easy to solder to as a pad. I have a video on my Facebook page of the procedure.
The V5B has a dedicated pad for the white control wire of the Power Pack and is labeled “W”. Now there are six pads in the row of soldering pads on the bottom of the board just under the small light connector board in the picture on the right. They are, right to left; W, U+, GND, A12, A11 and U+. The other difference is that the “W” pad is connected to pin-2 of the 21-pin connector and the Aux 7 function controls the Power Pack on this board. It is the default function assigned to the LokSound 5 decoders.
You can use any 21-pin decoder in any Decoder Buddy.
NOTE: PHOTOS OF ITEM OUTSIDE OF PACKAGE ARE FROM MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE.
