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DCC problem with a Bachmann H-4

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, August 3, 2013 12:53 PM

 I would replace the wire, not just move it out of the way and screw it back together. If it was shorting, that means the insualtion is worn off the wires from the pinching.

        --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • 87 posts
Posted by JohnB. on Saturday, August 3, 2013 11:44 AM

First off I would like to that everyone for there advice. I took the tender body and the boiler off last night. When the tender body came off I noticed to decoder wires were pinched between the body and underframe. When the boiler came off I noticed one of the black wires running the length of the boiler weight was pinched by the screw that holds the boiler on. I will fix these issues first to see if that cures the issue. 

cacole thanks for the heads up about the plastic clips. I thought they were just covers protecting the connections.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Saturday, August 3, 2013 6:20 AM

If one locomotive runs okay but the other one keeps shutting the layout down, there's an electrical short inside the locomotive.

The easiest solution would be to return the defective model to the place of purchase and ask for a replacement.  Barring that, you could try to correct the problem yourself if you know how to solder. 

Bachmann and every other brand of models made in China use small plastic clips to hold the wires to internal circuit boards and decoders, as a way of avoiding Chinese environmental laws about lead-based solder and the need for soldering equipment and trained employees.  This saves a lot of money for the manufacturers (but not us, the consumers).

Remove the tender shell, remove all of the plastic clips, and solder all the connections, making sure that no wires are touching adjacent contacts.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Friday, August 2, 2013 10:03 PM

If the Power Cab is shutting down you have a short in the locomotive some place. Is it possible to have one of the tender trucks rotated 180 degrees?

 

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 893 posts
Posted by PennCentral99 on Friday, August 2, 2013 6:21 PM

If it's a soundtraxx tsunami, that's Error Code 9 and means its picked up an over temperature . Could be a shorted out wire under the shell causing the problem. If another loco runs without problems, it's probably not a track wiring issue

could also be a motor load that exceeds the decoders rating. Anything binding the drive mechanisms that could cause the motor to overload?

Inspired by Addiction

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  • Member since
    February 2012
  • 87 posts
DCC problem with a Bachmann H-4
Posted by JohnB. on Friday, August 2, 2013 5:53 PM

I have several H-4's and I just finished laying track and installing feeder wires. The feeder wires are soldered but the rail joiners are not at this time. I wanted to make sure everything was OK before making the final soldered connections. I have the NCE powercab and when I put one of my H-4's on the track and the headlight blinking on and off 9 times then when out completely, but when I tried to move the engine the system resets itself and does the same thing all over again. I checked all the connections to ensure they were properly seated. I tried one of my other Bachmann H-4's and everything operated beautifully. DO any of you DCC vets have any idea's what might be the issue?

John

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