Hi, I have a question. I got a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 with DCC on board (blue box). When I was to break it in it made a really horrific growling sound and was jerking and behaved very bad. It was strange considering that the other Spectrums I have ran fine from the start.
I thought that it could be a motor/driveline issue but decided to replace the decoder with a LokPilot from ESU, VOILA!! ran like a dream directly, but why?
If anyone knows, please explain.
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
The factory decoders are low end and can be a problem. This is a well know issue I see in other DCC forums.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
The DCC on board typically have the worse decoders known to man I have not seen this problem with Spectrum's as they are higher up on the expense/quality chain so to speak. They make 2-8-0 in both Spectrum and the lower end models I'm not sure what the blue box ones are as I haven't purchased a spectrum in a while. You did the smart thing by replacing it with a high quality decoder but believe it or not there was nothing wrong with the old one it's just the way they are. My kids have a GP38 DCC on board $39.00 specials that we call the coffee grinder express.
Thanks for the clarification, so it´s a bit like MRC quality then?
This is the spanking new Spectrums in the new boxes, and comparing it with my old 2-8-0, the 10 year old one is much nicer in all aspects. Not least the headlight, it was a nice bulb in the older and in this one it´s some ugly yellow LED (REALLY ugly!!).
I think it´s a bit strange that the sound equipped locos have the very good Tsunami and the DCC onboard have these crappy decoders then.
The DCC onboard decoders are a very low end Lenz item which I don;t think Lenz even sells themselves anymore. The big problem is no high frquency drive, hence the 'buzzing' noises. I have no idea why Bachmann uses such a thing, other than perhaps price - but they sell them seperately at a price which is WAY too high for what it is, a far superior NCE decoder costs a lot less.
There is an issue you might run into fitting a better decoder - Bachmann locos usually have a small capacitor across the motor terminals and a pair of choke coils in series with each motor lead, supposedly to keep down RF emissions. These also interfere with high frquency drives from better decoders. Usually it's enough to cut off the capacitor (it's paralle to the motor, so no problems cutting it off), althoug sometimes it also helps to cut out the chokes and jumper them with wires (they are in series with the motor so cutting them out requires replacing them with a jumper). These extra components are a common cause of poor running with even a top quality decoder connected. There are even certain DC power systems that result in poor runnign with these components in place.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
GraffenThanks for the clarification, so it´s a bit like MRC quality then?This is the spanking new Spectrums in the new boxes, and comparing it with my old 2-8-0, the 10 year old one is much nicer in all aspects. Not least the headlight, it was a nice bulb in the older and in this one it´s some ugly yellow LED (REALLY ugly!!). I think it´s a bit strange that the sound equipped locos have the very good Tsunami and the DCC onboard have these crappy decoders then.
I'm with you on those yellow LEDs or yellow glows as I have heard them called I removed one form the only locomotive I own that had one and it was a Spectrum 4-8-4 J class. One thing I have learned about Spectrum's is you have to know which one your buying. A lot of stores particularly the internet stores come at you with these great prices that blow away all the competition but the problem is they aren't selling you current run locomotives. As with most manufactures the newer versions have improvements made and glitch's worked out etc. I have seen it more times then not when you see them sold a lot cheaper then the normal selling price there's a good reason.
Your right in assuming that the more expensive spectrum should have had the better decoder in it but who knows what happen that day in China at the factory? They have always been real good about repairing or replacing anything I've ever had a problem with.
As far as MRC decoders vs poor quality Bachmann decoders, I'll go with the Bachmann every time. they maybe noisy but at least they work. We're going to swap ours out one of these days with a TCS
Hi!
I feel your pain...........
I won an ATSF Spectrum 2-8-0 w/DCC on Ebay (low bid, did not really expect to win) and got it yesterday. I had been forewarned (in an earlier post of mine) that the decoder was not the best, and ordered a few NCE D14SRP decoders for my now 4 Spectrum locos.
Out of the box, the loco had a very high starting point, and made more noise than it should. Also, the lightweight tender derailed at the front truck - which was probably due to the light weigh & stiff connecting wires.
The new decoders should get here today, and I will immediately replace it.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
The front tender truck derails on my loco as well. I also thought it was the stiff wires and light weight that was the culprit, I solved it as I did on my other 2-8-0 with lots of lead-shots.
It got better but wasn´t perfect. I then made as I have done on my other steamers with the same loco/tender drawbar connection; I took a piece of small rubber tube and slipped it on to the pin effectively locking the drawbar so it can´t slide down and lift the tender.
Does anyone have a picture (or know where to look) of what should be cut and bridged on the circuit-board?
I picked up a Spectrum 4-4-0 with the stock decoder a couple years ago and finally replaced the decoder with a Micro- Tsunami sound decoder. Very tight fit. I did the same with the Spectrum 4-6-0 low driver loco.
Both had fairly dim LED headlights with the original PC board. I did some measuring and found out the series resistor values were about 3,000 ohms. A 1,000 ohm resistor is a much better value which allows about 10 ma current with the 12 volts DC from the decoder which is half the 20ma maximum for most LED's.
Bachmann usually goes with a much higher series resistor value. Maybe that is changing.
The new Spectrum locos are going to have the Tsunami decoders from the factory. Maybe they do now. Have not checked lately. Do not know if they will be available as DCC Ready. The Spectrum tenders have been available DCC Ready but there are wiring issues.
One thing to check too is that the Spectrum engines have a prototypical apron between the cab and the front of the tender. You need to be sure to first put the apron all the way up, then put the engine on the track, then reach in (preferably with a small screwdriver etc.) and put the apron down on top of the front of the tender deck. Otherwise, it's very easy for the apron to get stuck under the lip at the front of the tender and lift the front truck up off the track.