MRC decoder melt downs...colateral damages?

[Jacktal]

I have a simple question...when those MRC decoder fry,do they heat to the point of melting surrounding plastics or do they burn so fast that temperature doesn't have time to rise?I'd hate to have to replace the tender on my Big Boy (Athearn's N).The decoder itself is bad enough.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I don't have any experience on the N decoders but on the HO decoders they would just burn out without effecting the structure around them, save for the foul smell of the smoke.

[mfm37]

A fellow on the NDCC Yahoo list melted the tender on his Challenger when the MRC decoder shorted. I remeber a photo being posted. Athearn relaced it and he installed a Loksound or Tsunami. Can't remember which.

I think Atearn made a huge mistake not offering the Challenger and Big Boy without decoders.

 Martin

[Jacktal]

So far so good...this engine has cost me mega $$$ and I had to wait seven weeks to get through my LHS and then turns out to be likely a lemmon.Guess what...I wanted it real bad.OK it is a beauty and has run like silk the few minutes I've tried it out so far but I know for an almost certain fact that I'll have to toss another hundred plus bucks into it to enjoy it.The pleasing part is that it will be even better but still...it makes one question a manufacturer's ethics in offering such a poorly developped product.Even if they do replace the defective products,the inconvenient of returning the item,at buyer's expense by the way,and the delays,etc...have no reasonable justification.Just a thought.........

[selector]

The archives of this forum (and several others) iare peppered with posts complaining about the MRC sound decoders.  I seriously, and strongly, urge you to return the engine to Athearn and get it checked out.  There is no way that your decoder should run so hot that you have to withdraw your finger quickly.  That is just wrong.

Make them put it right, or you'll eventually have to eat the expense of either a tender shell, possibly several times.  Either that or cut your losses now and ensure the safety of your prized engine by having a micro-Tsunami installed.

[cacole]

If a tender was melted, I think there was an electrical short in the trucks or internal wiring and not the decoder.  Most decoders burn out very quickly and do not get hot enough to melt the surrounding plastic before they are destroyed and cut off the power.  I have had serious damage occur to a tender, though, because there was a short in the wheels.

[mfm37]

I thought the same as well until I saw the photos of the tender. No damage at all to the trucks.Just a cooked decoder and the top of the tender sunken in. Wish I could find the link to the photos.

A fellow club member has a Challenger and a Big Boy. The Challenger has been back 3 times, the Big Boy twice. He's decided to make and pay for any additional repairs himself. The Challenger has been in the mail for more days than it's been on the layout.