The little plastic thing on my digitrax throttle that keeps it plugged in broke off. How do you replace the plug?
Your need an RJ12 available in any electronic store. To install it you must use a good quality crimper. An easy job.
Jack W.
Those little tabs are notorius for breaking off. Eventually the cord will get short enough that you have to send it to digitrax for replacement. I attached a six wire inline phone connector to the back of my throttles and made extension cords so the short cable stays plugged in and safe with the extension cord being removable. I picked up a good crimper at allelectronics.com for $14. I just bought 100 of the plugs for $8 from CMH electronics.
I have the same plug on my NCE throttles and have never had a problem.
Apparently NCE uses a quality plug and not a cheap clone.
Remember, you get what you pay for.
bt
Now the Digitrax bashing starts by comparing the quality of their RJ's. Come on. It all comes down to the handling. I have replace the plug on my 4 Digitrax throttles three or four times since the first was purchased in 1996. That's 4 times not 4 on each throttle. However, I have some fellow club members that constantly need replacements.
At the rate I have to replace mine, my great great grandchildren will have to worry about the cord getting too short. And yes all but one are radio throttles with the short cords.
Martin Myers
bend tower I have the same plug on my NCE throttles and have never had a problem. Apparently NCE uses a quality plug and not a cheap clone. Remember, you get what you pay for. bt
This is meant as a joke, you can't be serious. or are you?
Actually, to be correct, bt - the cable plugs into the NCE throttles rather than the plug being hardwired to the throttle so it isn't exactly the same. For me it makes more design sense to have the plug on the cable rather than on the throttle. However, if you are careful, a broken plug should be a rarity in either case.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
first plug I have had broke since 1996 never replaced one.
Actually I would like the cable with a plug at each end. a socket on the throttle like NCE. However, to use the thing I'm still going to be carrying around a throttle and a cable so it can be plugged into the fascia jacks. I guess the other end would stay plugged into the throttle so it would look similar to those we have now. That leaves the jack "out there" susceptible to damage. Snag it or step on it the tang may be broken. Leave the throttle hang from its plug the connection to the jack could be damaged. All comes down to the care and type of use it's given.
Which way is better? I imagine the designer of each thought their idea was best. Only the user can vote with their wallet.
Somewhere I have a collection of RJ11, RJ12, and RJ45 cables that are missing those locking tabs. But, as somebody said, on flat cables it takes only a few seconds to replace the entire plug. It happens, although I have not had a problem on the throttles.
One thing if you are going to replace the plug, make sure it is an RJ12 plug. The most common telephone-type plug is RJ11, which usually has only 4 of the 6 contacts (some have only 2). I think the last package I bought somewhere was labeled "6 conductor RJ11," which translates to RJ12.
Some RJ45 cables have flexible boots on the plugs to protect the tabs. The boots work, but also effectively make it much more difficult to unplug the cable.
- Mark
That is one reason I went with the Duplex Throttles as I don't have to plug in anymore!
While some state they do - they really don't! That sure lessens the wear and tear on the plug.
Most of my Throttles have been in operation for years and most have the tab broke off.
I never figured I needed the tab anyway (unless you are running the wired Throttles)!
With the Radio units - I just push the plug into the UP5 Plug Panels and punch the buttons and acquire the engine and go.
Never figured I needed the plug to be held in place as I was not moving around to dislodge the plug from the UP5s socket.
Maybe I am lucky but I wasn't going to waste the time replacing the plug on my Radio units as they were unplugged 99% of the time and knowing the little tab would just break off again anyway!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
What by retsignalmtr said.
I LOVE Allelectronics.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Dave,
You forgot,the??
Cheers,
Frank
OK, combine it with what jalajoie said.
Whats the best crimper for the RJ12 plugs?
Visit allelectronics.com. The crimper they sell is all metal. it will cut, strip the wire and crimp on the modular plug. It is around $14. You can also get the plugs at 10 for $3 and the six wire telephone cable, 50 ft for $4 or so. I recommend them.
Just be sure you get the right plugs. There are two types, one for stranded wire, the other for solid wire. It makes a difference.
The plugs allelectronics has are for the 28 AWG stranded 6 wire flat telephone cable.