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

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  • čas přidán 9. 07. 2020
  • 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’
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Komentáře • 38

  • @martinhinsley6198
    @martinhinsley6198 Před 4 lety +1

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

    • @GalgormHall
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

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

  • @onnomulder9775
    @onnomulder9775 Před 4 lety

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

  • @anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204

    Looking good Paul keep up posting your videos up

  • @TimberSurf
    @TimberSurf Před 4 lety +3

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

      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

  • @skel3110
    @skel3110 Před 4 lety

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

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

  • @garydoc
    @garydoc Před 4 lety

    ¡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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety +1

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

  • @medwaypeninsulaMR
    @medwaypeninsulaMR Před 4 lety

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety +1

      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
      @medwaypeninsulaMR Před 4 lety +1

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

  • @ModelTrainOutsider
    @ModelTrainOutsider Před 4 lety

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

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

  • @charlie1872
    @charlie1872 Před 4 lety

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety +1

      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

  • @alexhill9169
    @alexhill9169 Před 4 lety +1

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety +1

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

    • @alexhill9169
      @alexhill9169 Před 4 lety

      @@GalgormHall Ive done it for you haha

  • @Elvenhome
    @Elvenhome Před 4 lety

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

      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

  • @neilrogers1571
    @neilrogers1571 Před 4 lety

    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 CZcams 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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

      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
      @neilrogers1571 Před 4 lety

      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

  • @Bobs1Models
    @Bobs1Models Před 4 lety

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

      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

  • @clivecobbold6815
    @clivecobbold6815 Před 4 lety

    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
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

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

  • @Bassetvids
    @Bassetvids Před 4 lety

    Nice one Paul.. is this loco's engine and bogie's the one's your using for the Irish Loco project?
    Julian.

    • @GalgormHall
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety +1

      Thanks Julian, yes indeed, it’s my donor chassis for the Hunslet. I’m working on it at the minute fitting handrails. Paul

    • @Bassetvids
      @Bassetvids Před 4 lety

      @@GalgormHall will it be in the maroon and light blue livery?

    • @GalgormHall
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety +1

      This one is going to be in the blue livery. If all goes well I’d like to do one in maroon at some point too. Paul

  • @daviemaclean61
    @daviemaclean61 Před 4 lety +1

    WHAT! Reading instructions! ;-) DCC is witchcraft to me I'm afraid!

    • @GalgormHall
      @GalgormHall  Před 4 lety

      And me too Davie, but this at least makes it accessible and with great support from the Concepts team you really can’t go wrong. Paul