ESU SwitchPilot 3 Plus Accessory Decoder

I believe I found a perfect accessory decoder in ESU SwitchPilot 3 Plus item #51831.

This may be a bold statement, considering excellent alternatives from other manufacturers, but this decoder truly does everything and it costs less. 


Accessory decoders operate on turnout motors and uncouplers (M83); they can also operate signals, turn the lights and motors on and off (M84).

There are accessory decoders from Marklin (60832 and 60842), Roco (10836) and others.

Marklin 60832 can handle 4 turnouts at a cost of $15 per motor and it is strictly M83 pulse decoder.

Marklin 60842 is a M84 decoder to operate signals, lights, etc.

Roco 10836 can operate up to 8 turnouts at a cost of $10 per motor.


So, what makes ESU SwitchPilot 3 Plus 51831such an amazing alternative?

ESU 51831 SwitchPilot 3 Plus

Here are the highlights of ESU SwitchPilot 3 Plus 51831:


- Combines both M83 and M84 protocols.

- 8 outputs to control 8 of turnout motors, signals, lights, motors, uncouplers - any combination there of.

- Accepts external 18v power supply

- Can be easily configured using 4 line OLED display and on board buttons - no need for command stations and such.

- Any output can be set to either M83 or M84 mode

- Price per turnout is under $8 !!!