Building A OO Gauge Model Railway: DCC Concepts Zen 12 Decoder - Is It Any Good?

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I needed a new decoder but before I bought one David sent me over a DCC Concepts one to try it out. Here’s how I got on.
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Title music by ‘Longzijun’
Title artwork by ‘Charlie MacGowan’

Опубликовано:

9 июл 2020

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Комментарии : 38

@martinhinsley6198 4 года назад

How utterly honest you are Paul with this vid..Brill stuff.. nice and clear. Well done.

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

Thank you Martin. I know very little about DCC so hopefully you got something out of it. Paul

@onnomulder9775 4 года назад

Great review of a stunning decoder!!! Thanks for sharing Paul. Cheers Onno.

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

Thanks for watching Onno. Paul

@TimberSurf 4 года назад

Zen Black really have equaled the top contenders (Lenz Gold, ESU etc) with ABC and other features they are great value! As with any top end decoders, you can adjust the start voltage and speed curves and get far better slow running than, even what, you have already seen with it!

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

Thanks Tim, I’m really impressed with this decoder as it stands. Just having that little booklet gives me more confidence to fiddle with settings for even better running. Paul

@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204 4 года назад

Looking good Paul keep up posting your videos up

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

Thank you. Paul

@garydoc 4 года назад

¡Hola buenos días Paul! How timely a video. Just received my new loco - class 66, from Hattons, with DCC fitted. However, like you and, despite my knowledge of electronics, I consider myself uneducated in matters DCC. Two other locos require chipping and, I will definitely be contacting DCC Concepts. Will have to catch up soon. In the meantime, keep well and, stay safe. Un saludo. Gary

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

I’m glad it was of use Gary, from one DCC novice to another. 😆 Paul

@skel3110 4 года назад

Very interesting Paul, I have not used these before but I do like the amount of information you get (compared to say the Imperium which has next to nothing) and the wires for a stay alive plus the usual top end decoder ability to adjust speed curves so I am tempted to spend a little extra and get these. Cheers Steve

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

It does appear to offer quite a bit for the money. I’m certainly won over. Paul

@ModelTrainOutsider 4 года назад

Nice review Paul! These definitely seem to be catching on as a top quality decoder. Time will tell if they hold up, but they are definitely coming across great on first testings! Cheers.

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

Thanks Anthony. I’ve no idea what it all means but I’m glad you got something out of it. Paul

@medwaypeninsulaMR 4 года назад

Hi Paul - I am a big fan of the Zen decoders as another function is that you can choose the loco profile so if you have heavy freight you change 1 CV and it changes the other CVs to give you the correct acceleration/ deceleration etc . And at a reasonable price too. Cheers Kev

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

I’ve still so much to learn with the decoders Kev, but that function can only enhance the control even more. Thanks for that. Paul

@medwaypeninsulaMR 4 года назад

I am the same Paul but John Warner of Piccadilly did an excellent video on CVs 😀

@Elvenhome 4 года назад

Fascinating. The difference between the two decoders was amazing. I had also wondered if there really was a difference, The new 6 pin Bachman decoders are made by Zimo and seem very good, including active braking and slow acceleration, but I will have a look at the DCC concepts decoders in the light of your experience. Stephen

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

It was pure fluke that I discovered the difference down to the fact I couldn’t get life in to the loco. Until now I would have assumed it was loco issues over decoders but I’ve learnt something. Paul

@alexhill9169 4 года назад

Thats a nice decoder that, not a bad price either. I've always gone for zimo £20 decoders, when I was doing N gauge and now in 00, they have fine motor control like this. You have backed up what Everard Junction said, cheap decoders have their place, but they dont do what you need when you need it, if your just wizzing locos round a loop wack a cheap decoder in it, if your after a fine motor control get something with a little bit more to it, like this or any other great number of decoders. Alex

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

Couldn’t agree more Alex, if only I was that concise in my video. 😆 Paul

@alexhill9169 4 года назад

@@GalgormHall Ive done it for you haha

@charlie1872 4 года назад

Looks like you were up late producing this video unless your digital controller was incorrect . I have not made the quantum leap into DCC and nit sure if I will given the cost for each conversion and I am assuming it would be upwards of £50 per loco. A few years back I bought a Hornby DCcC controller and a chip as they were on sale at Hattons but didn’t do anything with them. While I am fairly sharp with tech stuff you just proved how frustrating it can be but you nailed and the control is amazing. Fantastic looking. Another feather in your cap and another great video.👍

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

Thank you Charlie. I really can’t take any credit for this. If it hadn’t been for Richard at DCC Concepts I’d have been completely stumped on this. Paul

@neilrogers1571 3 года назад

Paul if you get a NCE USB card you can connect to a laptop or PC then download JMRI, which is a free download, don't rush it one step at a time, open decoder pro what this gives you is a much easier interface with your chip re setup and programing. Plenty of information on the web site and loads of RU-vid tutorials. As I said before, this is a huge powerful free group of apps, just take it one step at a time and you will find you will not know how you looked after your decoders before. Neil

@GalgormHall 3 года назад

Thanks for that Neil. Unfortunately I don’t use a laptop or PC. I’ve also never been able to get my head round JMRI when other modellers discuss it. 😆 Paul

@neilrogers1571 3 года назад

Paul that's normal with JMRI that is why I said you need to take it take it one step at a time. But you can't beat it with setting up your engines. My club also use it for operating sessions producing all the paper work you would need for that. I am just starting to get involved with remote operations where you don't even have to be on the same continent but JMRI is used for a lot of the control. I plan to use it to control all my point motors as well as block detection when I get there. Neil

@clivecobbold6815 4 года назад

Hi great video mate I am a dc man but a every interesting video mate I have to maney locomotives dmu emu to go dcc but every interesting video mate stay safe and well mate goodbye for now clive

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

It would be a mammoth task to convert Clive. Thanks for your feedback though. Paul

@Bobs1Models 4 года назад

Paul if you are willing to spend the time reprogramming the cheap decoders I have found that you can get them to run as well as the expensive ones. It takes some time but these decoders basicly use the same chips they just need some TLC Good video though.

@GalgormHall 4 года назад

Thanks Bob. I’ve no doubt someone knowledgeable in the field can wring the best out of the cheaper decoders and they do have their place. Paul