DCC Ready locos not withstanding, does it matter what decoder model I put in a loco? If I'm soldering connections anyway, can I pick the decoder, or are there certain decoders for specific locos? I realize that people have preferences, and decoders have different features, but do I have to get a Digitrax AH1AQ* or can I get any decoder that has the features I'm looking for? T. * not a real model, used for example
There is nothing "specific" about decoders, per se. Some are made to fit into a certain model, particularly in the smaller scales since frames vary significantly between manufacturers and models. The larger you go, the more generic. Just about any model can have a wired decoder installed. What is more specific is decoder by scale. Larger scales use higher track voltages (got to move that mass which draws more current), and those voltages may destroy decoders designed for the smaller scales.
So, could a track voltage of ~18VAC fry a decoder for HO? I don't have the model in front of me but its a Digitrax 'standard' module. It's the one that my LHS gave me when I told him the loco and that I wanted to add DCC to it. T.
