Bachmann ez command decoder problems

[Rotorranch]

Did you REMOVE any plugs when you installed your decoder?  The 9 pin dummy plug is a little circuit board at the end of 9 wires.  It has to be REMOVED for the loco to accept a 8 pin decoder.  If you dont remove it, you will blow your decoder.

David B 

Yep, you must remove the dummy plug from the Athearn board when adding a decoder, or it will let the factory installed smoke out of the decoder. Don't ask how I know.

Not sure about your decoder, but many have the wiring harness attached to the decoder with a 9 pin plug that will plug directly to the board.

Rotor

[HackSaw]

Man, i'm pullin my hair out on this.  are there any pictures i can look at so i can know that i am looking at the same thing you guys are talking about. heck, i can't even find the dummy plug..lol.  I think i am really tired and need to sleep..haha..anyway, sorry for the "stupid" questions, but you guys are my only recourse for this kind of stuff.  thanks in advance

[HackSaw]

well, i lined #1 with #1, which is orange and put the decoder in.  it doesn't seem to want to fit very tight.  the pins go in very easy as well as come out easy.  i was afraid that the pins were not making contact with the socket holes......????again, this is the first EVER decoder i have tried to install.  with further testing, i have noticed that part of the decoder that is wrapped in a black rubber like stuff is becoming very warm as the loco runs wild in reverse. when i stop it by hitting the stop button i can feel that it is very warm, not a good thing i'm thinking.

[Stevert]

  Im not familiar with either that exact loco or decoder, but one thing comes to mind:  Are you sure you have the plug oriented correctly in the socket, that is, pin 1 to pin 1? 

  There is usually some kind of indicator such as an arrow, or a silk-screened dot or square, that identifies pin #1.  Sometimes it's nothing more than a diagram in the instructions.  If they use NMRA-standard wire colors, it will be orange to orange.

HTH,
Steve

[HackSaw]

I purchased a bachmannez command 1 amp decoder with NMRA 8 pin plug.  I installed it in my Athearn dash 9 .  The plug seemed to fit into the dcc iquipped plug on the loco.  place it on the track, put power to the controller and the loco goes into reverse.  i have no control over it with speed or direction, all i can do is hit the red stop button and it stops.  I am using the bachmann ez command controller.  any help would be greatly apprecitaed on this. if i have missed any critical points, please ask.  thanks