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" A CONTACT PROBLEM INSIDE MY LOCO"

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: The Villages, Fl
  • 59 posts
Posted by bavrail on Thursday, August 9, 2018 10:59 AM

I agree on the solder blobs. That seems to be a common problem. 

I've also run into one where the motor tabs on the decoder were too short to keep the lower motor contact in place securely. I had to solder the lower motor contact to the decoder tab. (The motor tabs on the original light board were much longer than the ones on the decoder). 

WS

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 7:05 AM

 And intermittant contact is a fairly common issue it seems on newer N scale locoos - the slot int he frame where the circuit board goes is wider than the decoder circuit board is thick, so the parts of the board that are supposed to touch the frame to get the track power into the decoder do not make solid contact. Adding small blobs of solder on those pads is a common solution. 

                          --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
    July 2008
  • 1,206 posts
Posted by mfm37 on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 9:30 PM

Blinking lights indicate a short circuit. Did you install the included kapton tape on the frame per the instructions?

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 3:08 PM

TrainsRMe1
DN1631C

According to the Digitrax site, these are for Intermountain locos.  Kato makes both models you have but the recommended decoder is a DN1631K1C

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: west of Portland Oreg.( the city of Roses
  • 599 posts
" A CONTACT PROBLEM INSIDE MY LOCO"
Posted by TrainsRMe1 on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 2:51 PM

Hey ALL,                                                                                                                I just installed a decoder in my SD 70Ace and AC4400 and the problem now is that the lights would flicker BUT, there wouldn't be any movement!  well actually in the SD 70Ace the lights would be on steady, but NO MOVEMENT, in the AC4400 I would have to (get this)with the shell off I would have to press on the sides of the contact points on the decoder to get electircal  contact to the motor,  I'm hoping it's just real dirty contatcs, because the decoders are new, the decoder is made by DIGITRAX, AND IT'S A DGTDN1631C Nscale,                                               Thanks ALL,                                                                                                             Have a continuedCool great Summer

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