Not too long ago I bought 4 of the above decoders. 2 to go in Atlas Genset locos 1 for my MTH SD70ACe DCC ready loco and the last one for a spare.
The two Genset loco are running smooth and quiet although one of them is a bit fast on the low end, I will eventually get rid of the large Caps that don't seem to be useful and that should improve the slow speed performance. But so far no problem and I forgot about these locos.
The third one went in a MTH SD70ACe. That loco did not run very well from the outset, It would stop and restart randomly on the layout for no apparent reasons. My though was breaking in was required along with some oiling. Yesterday, I took that loco to the club to oil it and install Kadee couplers. When I tried to run it it started to stop and go without any reason but it finally took off for a while. After about 30 feet it sopped dead on its track and stood still blinking its light and shorting the layout. Disappointing to say the least, I removed it from the layout and took it home for further investigation.
This morning I installed the 4Th N14IP decoder I have on hand and sure enough the same thing happened the loco would move a few inches and stop, restart move a few inches and stop again. This time I was testing without the shell on so I touched the decoder and it was very hot to the touch. Needless to say it was removed before it would burn like the first decoder.
I happen to have on hand a very old Lenz LE104XF decoder, installed into the MTH and the loco runs smooth without a glitch. I figure the problem must be with the NCE N14IP decoder and not the loco, anyway I hope. I will also take a close look at my 2 Genset locos to see if the decoders run with reasonable heat.
Does someone had the same experience with these small decoders, is it a bad batch, I have many of them installed and I am a bit worry.
I will contact NCE next Monday but until then I would like to hear from you, if at all possible.
Jack W.
Don't use those but there is a good NCE group that I belong to since I use the Power Cab. There are many members there.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NCE-DCC/
I did some searching for this decoder and did not see anything negative.
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.
Thanks Rich, I will also post on that list.
You should contact NCE on it for sure. They might have a bad batch of one of the components. I would also try removing the capacitors just to be sure.
Springfield PA
Stupid question, but have you checked the max amp rating on the MTH?
The N14IP is 1.3Amp. I doubt the MTH goes over this. But you never know. I have heard they do require a lot of voltage to get moving.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Yes I did and it draw 0.3 Amp continuously. I did not check the stall current but the N14IP is rated at 2 stall. I figure I am pretty safe.
The same loco now runs well with a Lenz that is only rated at 1 Amp continuous.
I also tested with a Digitrax DH165LO and the same problem encountered with the NCE decoder was also showing. I have on hand some NCE D15SRP that I will test later on.
For now out of 4 decoders 3 are failing and one if doing fine. The common denominator with the failing decoders is that they have the 8 pins socket built in. The Lenz which is rated at 1 Amp continuous is doing fine and is equiped with an 8 pin and wire harness.
I don't think this is the problem, or could it be, I hope someone with better knowledge of electronic than me would chip in.
I may eventually replace the light board with an NCE DA-SR that would be the end of it.
Make sure the decoder is not touching bare metal anywhere on the PC board that is in the locos -- it could be an intermittent short caused by decoder traces touching metal. Put a piece of Kapton or electrical tape between the decoder and the loco's circuit board and see if the performance improves.
Thanks cacole, yes the decoder was well insulated with electrical tape from the get go.
I did more testing with an NCE D15SRP decoder and this one works perfectly no overheating or stopping randomly at very slow or fast speed. I conclude that there is no problem with the NCE N14IP decoder. Rather it is the MTH light board that don't like decoders with integrate 8 pins plug.
Out of five decoders the 3 with integrated plug overhead and the 2 with wire harness work flawlessly, go figure.
I wish I could understand what is going on.
Perhaps the pins on the IP decoders push too far in and touch the circuit board under the socket, or else they don;t go in far enough and make erratic contact.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Jack.
Randy has a great point. I heard of that before. The pins on the integrated chip going too far and grounding at the frame or top of the motor. Another time a club member used an integrated chip and forced the shell on bending the board that it was plugged into and grounding it out on the frame. Sometimes there needs to be a riser or spacer to raise the decoder a bit. If it is not plugged in securely then resistance will heat up the decoder. Personally I am not a big fan of integrated decoders. They do have a purpose for some applications but I find a wired or 9 pin JST decoder more flexible in tight little diesel shells. You can save a lot of room when you strip out all the junk the loco builders put in. LEDs and resistors are a lot smaller then all the diodes, caps, and boards the companies use.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Thanks Pete and Randy, what you are saying makes lot of sense. I will use a TCS T6X for a permanent installation and I believe it will work OK.