Decoder Buddy V8

The Decoder Buddy V8 was developed to address the migration of LEDs from the shell to the frame of the locomotive, to provide a stay alive that works with all DCC decoders and give people the ability to use all decoders to their maximum potential.  The ease of upgrade and the reliability of soldered joints along with the departure from the rigidity of plug in lighting connectors makes this a very good candidate for upgrades and conversions.

This mother board does not include the 21-Pin Decoder.


This mother board does include a Power Bridge III with 0.5f effective capacitance.

This motherboard and small connector 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.  A 21-pin output DC adapter board is available.

The V8 comes with 1K resistors onboard.  1K resistors will protect the LEDs and provide a long life from the LEDs.  Dimmer light output can be achieved with the decoder.

I can substitute / supply custom specified resistors for function outputs.  These may be requested by the email link in contact.

The motherboard includes:
• Power Bridge III on the board
• Three versions are available; onboard, remote, and no capacitor
• One 21 Pin Decoder receptacle
• Two pairs of track input pads
• One pair of motor input pads
• Two sets of speaker pads
• Speakers can be wired in series or parallel on the motherboard
• 8 lighting outputs on a separable “small connector board” (included)
• Aux outputs are replicated on the motherboard and the small connector board with respect to the position of LEDs
• All outputs have resistors to protect LEDs

Onboard resistors are for use with LED lighting only. I can custom make “0” ohm resistor boards that 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!!!

I neither condone or recommend incandescent bulbs.  Decoder Buddys can be set up for incandescent bulbs by an installer or an individual if absolutely necessary.

Mini vs V1B vs V5B vs V8 Discussion

Just a few thoughts on the functionality of the Decoder Buddy Mini vs V1B Decoder Buddy vs the V5B Decoder Buddy vs the V8 Decoder Buddy.  I try to envision your thoughts from mine.  All the Decoder Buddys have well labeled and well documented solder pads in convenient locations for ease of installation, success! The pads include motor, speaker, all two and three wire stay alives, track and lighting connection pads. The differences between the Decoder Buddys are size, type of decoder connection, number of lighting outputs, standard resistor values (2.2K and 1K) installed onboard and inclusion of a Power Bridge III stay alive onboard.

The Decoder Buddy Mini has 4 lighting outputs and no small connector board for separating lights in the shell of the locomotive, and a 21-pin decoder connector. It is small, fits in a lot of locomotives and it is comfortable in more than just tenders. It comes with standard resistors and also with “0” ohm resistors. This allows the mini to be used with your supplied 1-watt resistors and incandescent bulbs, or prewired LEDs with inline resistors. It is a good choice for people who want a simple straightforward installation, one or two lights, maybe sound, maybe not. The Mini has also found a use in lighting or sound only applications when a 21-pin decoder is offered without motor functions.

The V1B has 8 matched Aux outputs for lights on a detachable small connector board, pads for a stay alive and room to solder easily.  The top two lighting functions are duplicated on the motherboard for frame mounted lights. I would be very tempted to use V1Bs with decoders that don’t have any more than eight lighting functions.

The V5B has 12 matched Aux outputs for lights on a detachable small connector board, pads for a stay alive and room to solder easily. The top two lighting functions are duplicated on the motherboard for frame mounted lights.

The V8 has 12 matched Aux outputs for lights, 8 on a detachable small connector board, and the rest are distributed on the motherboard. Light outputs are duplicated on the motherboard and the small connector board for wiring convenience. A Power Bridge III stay alive is incorporated on the motherboard. It will work with ESU decoders WITHOUT sound file or programming problems as well as ALL OTHER manufacturers’ decoders.

The Decoder Buddy Minis have two pads, A6 and A10, that can control logic functions. A6 and A10. These are mainly for use of the control wire of a Power Bridge I, Power Bridge II and ESU Power Pack when used with an ESU decoder.

The V1B and the V5B have 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. For the V1B they are, right to left; W, U+, GND, A5, A6 and U+.  For the V5B they are, right to left; W, U+, GND, A12, A11 and U+.   The Aux 7 function controls the Power Bridge I, Power Bridge II and ESU Power Packs via the “W” pad on these boards.  It may be the default function assigned to the LokSound 5 decoders. The W pad will not light a LED.

 

You can use any 21-pin decoder in any Decoder Buddy.  You get to make the choice! Fortunately, all the Decoder Buddys have been accepted by both installers and modelers. They are being used in models of the blue box era to the latest releases from all the major manufacturers.  

Hope this helps your decision….

Decoder Buddy V8 Size

Width x Length x Height
0.65”  x  3.11”   x   0.335”
16.5 mm x 78.77 mm x 8.5 mm

Height may vary slightly depending on decoder.

Minimum measured height is 0.335” by trimming the 21-pin connector pins flush with the top of the decoder‘s 21-pin connector.

 

Light Test Board

With the abundance of lighting functions and wanting to see and check them before I placed the shell on the frame, I decided I needed a way to see what was happening!  I went to work and prototyped a small connector board with LEDs so I could put the frame on the test track and test the motor, speaker and lighting functions before assembling the locomotive.  The Light Test Board is also a good diagnostic tool to see if the decoder and motherboard are behaving properly!

The Light Test Board works with the 8 output V1By, the 12 output V5B and the new V8.

Decoder Buddy solder pads for different manufacturer's 21 pin decoders

I’ve been getting a number of questions about the nomenclature on the pads of the small connector board. It is a little confusing at first. Here is a table that should straighten out the pad labels.

The first column has the pinouts from the 21-pin connector. The second column has the pad labels on the original Decoder Buddy’s small connector board. The third column has the pad labels on the V5 Decoder Buddy’s small connector board. The rest of the columns are the output labels of the different manufacturers 21-pin decoders. This chart should clear up any questions or confusion. If not, feel free to contact me