First, for manufacturing, it eliminates
the labor-intensive task of hand soldering wires to the decoder. Instead,
wires are crimped into the socket with a machine. This makes for more
expedient production, which relates to less cost. Even though the
manufacturer has to pay for the plug and socket, that's less expensive
than the labor to solder wires to the decoder board.
Second, it make for better wire integrity.
Most people don't consider this, but I think I can convince you it's
important. Wires soldered to a PC board become weak at the point where
the solder ends. The wires get stiffer, and are more susceptible to
breaking if bent. Unless the wire is secured beyond this weakened
point, they WILL break. I know this because it is our policy to re-connect
any wires that break on any decoder we sell - no charge except a return
shipping fee. While the total number of wire repairs we've done is
very low overall, the breakage rate for soldered wires is at least
5000 times greater than for wires crimped into the JST socket. Considering
we sell at least 100 times more JST-socketed decoders than soldered-wire
decoders, and for every broken JST wire we've had, we've had at least
50 soldered wire repairs, that comes out to about a 1 to 5000 ratio.
Third, for versatility. It allows
the easy interchanging of wire harnesses. This is handy for dealers
as well as users. If you have a decoder with a regular harness, but
need a decoder with an NMRA or Athearn harness, all you have to do
is unplug the harness that came on the decoder and plug another one
in. The fact that several companies use this same connector allows
harnesses to be interchanged. This is important for Throttle Up! (SoundTraxx)
sound decoders. If you're installing a DSD sound decoder in a loco
that has an NMRA socket, all you have to do is get a Train Control
Systems, or other, NMRA plug harness to swap out with the standard
harness that comes on the sound decoder. With that done, all you have
to do for installation is plug it into the loco and connect the speaker.
Fourth, for installation. It can
make decoder testing much easier. If you keep an NMRA harness handy,
you can easily switch harnesses and plug the decoder into the decoder
tester instead of using the spring clips (this is assuming you're
using a Loy's Toys decoder tester to test your decoders). It also
makes testing bulbs and resistors easier if you plug the decoder into
the NMRA socket instead of clipping the wires into the spring clips.
This leaves the spring clips open for easier connection of the bulb
and for changing resistors until the correct one is found.
Lastly, for servicing and upgrading.
Once the wire harness is hard-wired to the locomotive, the decoder
can easily be unplugged for testing or servicing if needed or for
upgrading to a better decoder later on if desired.
Not all decoders come with the JST
connector system. Some HO, but mostly smaller and larger scales, have
wires soldered directly to the decoder. If you want a decoder with
the JST connector, be sure the JST connector is listed as a feature. |
