I want to know if a decoder is fried or not. Can I hook up the red and black (power) leads to a programming track, assign it an address, and then have the address read back - and if it does, can I conclude that the decoder is at least not (totally) fried? This is a used decodeer with a note that says 'it was still working".
Yes you can. Put a 100 ohm, 1/2 watt resistor on the motor leads for a load or you might not get a read.
Originally I used a bipolar red green LED with a 1k resistor in series with the LED but wanted a motor with a flywheel on it.
I made a decoder tester with an old can motor, two LED's, two 1k resistors to do exactly that.
How I started.
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. For now I will use a resistor for the motor load but I'm liking the circuit with the motor in it, too - maybe for later!
If you don't want to build your own, both TCS and ESU offer ones that have most all of the common connection types, plus terminals for wires, and feature motors and speakers for testing even sound decoders.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Nothing to brag about but it works for me. I have been experimenting with electronics for many years and had a well stocked junk box.
Magic marker stripes on the flywheel to give me some idea of motor action. Not the same as a motor attached to a gear box but good enough.
Some people add more options for different type connectors, speakers, lights, etc.\ The decoder was an old SoundTraxx DSD-090 which require a cap in one speaker lead. Rich
Some people add more options for different type connectors, speakers, lights, etc.\
The decoder was an old SoundTraxx DSD-090 which require a cap in one speaker lead.