So far it's a good day. I've learned 2 things.
Springfield PA
HamltnblueHey Jeff, you go a little crazy in your sig? What is the translation of the black box?
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Hey Jeff, you go a little crazy in your sig? What is the translation of the black box?
I've had nothing but trouble from MRC's decoders. The ones I had were non-sound. Two burned out within a day after installation. A third that I received in a box of stuff obtained in a trade (the decoder was a bonus) actually lasted for a week before releasing it's magic smoke. I no longer have anything to do with them.
If you don't need sound in the RS3, the TCS T1 plugs right in.
A bigger problem is the complete inconsistent quality of the RS3's. They still use the truck bolster and frame as one side of the pickup circuit just like the old blue box locos. The first one I got was absolutely horrible - one a single piece of flex track hooked to my DCC system with a foot of #18 wire it stuttered and stalled, the lights blinking the whole time. Cleaning wheels and track did nothing. I soldered wires tot he side of the track pickups that didn't already have a wire, and this helped but still did not fully cure the problem. Someone else mentioned that the slots in the plastic part of the trucks were not deep enough and did not allow the bronze bushings to contact the metal sideframe piece. My next step was to take the trucks apart and file the slots a little deaper. I set that aside as I was able to get another random roadname RS3 for $15 on ebay, new in box. This one ran fine - so I just swapped my Reading shell on that chassis. After I do the undecorated Atlas RS3s I have, I still have an MDC kit with the P2K chassis - which seems to run better than the Athearn. I would then still have a decodrate shell (hmm, don't even rememebr which is is) and the not so good Athearn chassis - I can either fix the chassis and strip the paint and make yet another Reading one or just keep it for spare parts. 5 is probably enough although the RS3 happens to be my favorite loco. 6 might be better..
So some of the issues might not be the decoder. It could be the poor quality control on the loco itself with less than stellar power pickups. I know there have been tons of posts about high failure rates on the MRC decoders, but then I have to wonder what Ken is doing differently - he has a HUGE layout and runs heavy duty op sessions and I knwo he wouldn't put up with locos just dying all over the place because of blown decoders. I've considered one of the RS3 decoders just to try it out for myself. I'd do the Alco switcher but mine are P2K, not Atlas, plus the wrong engine sound would definitely be noticeable to me.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I sent the decoder back in one piece to where I bought it! Maybe the new one will work. I did a Atlas S4 with a MRC and it works fine,so far. Are they going to die on me after awhile? What is a good decoder for a Athearn RS3? I am planning on a 4 x16 layout with only 3 locos (maybe 4!)
Greg
I agree with smashing them over sending them back. If you send it back they'll only "repair" it only to sent it to some other poor soul to burn out again.
Greg,
I had the same problem with the same decoder in the same locomotive believe it or not. CNJ coastguard paint scheme. The easy fix is remove the decoder(s) if you've installed the second one, place them both on the floor and smash the living day lights out of them with your foot.sweep them up and put them in a clear plastic bag and keep them some where near your computer so the next time you get the urge to buy something cheap like I did you'll think twice. Oh yeah and replace them with the new Digitrax sdn144ps for $49 sound decoders. Unless your LHS or whom ever you purchased them form is going to make good on them MRC is going to give you a ration of BS telling you there is nothing wrong with the decoders and it has to be your locomotive.
(Note): Some early Athearn Genesis loco's had bad power trucks that Athearn will replace for free if you give them a call but I seriously doubt that issue would cause the decoders to fry.
Good Luck. You should post and tell paul he was right about the 50% failure rate
Hope it works out in the end. Let us know.
I had a 2nd decoder for my other RS3 and tried that and it worked fine! The mail order place I got the bad one is going to take it back and send me a new one. Hope it works!
Hi Hawk.
Are these the decoders you were talking about in the other post? Shame you have to find out about MRC this way. Problem with MRC is you'll keep getting junk back. Looking at the pic from the other thread I'd check all of the places where the board might be contacting the frame to make sure nothing is out of order and touching something it's not supposed to.
Hi, I have 2 MRC sound decoders made to go into the Athearn RS3 HO scale. I have 2 RS3's. I installed the 1st decoder and it worked for 1 sec then overloaded. I tried the second one and it works fine. Why would the first one overload? Do I have a bad decoder? How is MRC on warranties?