After playing with DCC for 7 years I finally managed to let the smoke out of a decoder, and I have no idea how it happend. By the way it was a DH123 I had in the locomotive since the DH123 was first released so its an old one. think it must have just given up because I found an old DH121 I had laying around plugged it in and we are back to running trains.
Paul
pall I finally managed to let the smoke out of a decoder
I'm not a DCC guy (they lurk at the "electronics AND DCC" forum), but it's plain to see you're familiar with the Prince of Darkness (Joseph Lucas) and his theory of electicity. The DCC devotees will empathize with you no doubt.
Lou
I've heard horror stories on occasion of bad things happening with digitrax decoders. I've never had any of mine go out but most of my decoders are NCE decoders even though I use a digitrax system. The biggest complaint I've heard is that digitrax decoders are real hard on locomotive light bulbs and cause them to burn out.
Still if you weigh the good versus the bad in the on going battle between DC and DCC I still say DCC is the way to go. One further note: This is only my opinion and i'm not here to start flame wars between the two systems.
I was an avid DC guy for years until I gave DCC a try and now I will never go back. I even have a buddy that still kids me after installing a DCC system 5 years ago about the time I used to talk trash about the evils of DCC. Now, I cannot say enough good about DCC even if decoders can and will fry now and then. You did the right thing. Replace it, reprogram, and continue on. Nobody said this is a cheap hobby and purchasing decoders, figuring out electrical problems, and dealing with derailments is all part of the hobby. .chuck
I had the same thing happen yesterday! It was my fault though. Happened during install. I'm not sure what that smoke does in there but once you let it out the loco wont go.
cwclark I've heard horror stories on occasion of bad things happening with digitrax decoders. I've never had any of mine go out but most of my decoders are NCE decoders even though I use a digitrax system. The biggest complaint I've heard is that digitrax decoders are real hard on locomotive light bulbs and cause them to burn out.
I have used Digitrax decoders in all my locos for years. I never had one fail unless it was my fault (see above), nor have I seen any shortening of bulb life. But just in case I'm knocking on wood right now.
I think a lot of complaints about this kind of stuff depends on who you talk to. Digitrax users remember the bad things they hear about NCE and vice versa. I have heard all kinds of nightmare stories about MRC decoders but I have five of them in my kids loco's and they have run for years without a glitch.
I install a lot of Digitrax decoders in N scale locomotives, and the only problem I've had is the wires coming loose at the board. This only happens when I'm doing a particularly delicate installation, such as in a Life Like SW1200, or an Atlas Shay, where there's a lot of back and forth to tweak the clearances around the wires and the drive shafts.
I do wish Digitrax would use the lighter, more flexible wires that TCS uses.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Javelinabut it's plain to see you're familiar with the Prince of Darkness (Joseph Lucas) and his theory of electicity.
So Lou, what British car have you had the pleasure of owning? Me, MGB-GT long since gone and more recently Austin Healey 100.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
simon1966Javelinabut it's plain to see you're familiar with the Prince of Darkness (Joseph Lucas) and his theory of electicity. So Lou, what British car have you had the pleasure of owning? Me, MGB-GT long since gone and more recently Austin Healey 100.
Ah, why the English drink their beer warm...Lucas made refridgertors.....
1968 Triumph GT6 here.
I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.
Well, for the smoke to be let out, there was a short somewhere. After 7 years it could have been a piece of one of the brushes breaking off on the motor, depending on how much run time it has. Or maybe one of the windings failed/is failing. Keep an eye on it, or you might fry the replacement as well.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks Randy, after your coment I stripped my p2k gp30 down and had a good look and found nothing wrong with motor and brushes. all good. no bear or loose wires, truck pick ups all good as well. Just one of those thing I guess. anyway shes back together and running fine apart from the buzz that the old DH121 makes. just have to put up with that untill I order some more decoders.lol.
thanks to everyone for there coments and thoughts.
Paul.