Just wanted to moan a little bit about installing a DCC / Sound controller into my GG1 and watch it zip round the layout. Everything worked fine - sound - lights - motor - then KAPUT!!!
The decoder was was rated for 1.0 amps and the loco was "apparently" 0.35 amps.
Checked the wiring and everything was good - even my soldering (surprise there) but the whole thing just died. No smoke or dramatic demise - just stopped working.
I'm now looking to buy a Bachmann Sound value GG1 as it appears that doing your own thing does not work out as expected.
I saw a few GG1's for sale around $175 - is that a good price? Anyone know where I can pick one up cheaper.
Should have taken the advice of AntonioFP45 in my other thread http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/251263.aspx and bought the Bachmann DCC / Sound version right off the bat.
Chris.
Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.
Sit back and enjoy your track...
Hi Chris:
Have you tried to do a reset on the decoder? If you didn't let the smoke out it may come back to life. It could be something as simple as the decoder losing its address. If you tell us what decoder you installed then we can give you the specific reset process.
You also have the option of sending the decoder back to the mfr. to have them test it and repair it if needed.
Don't give up so quick!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
So, the loco was running fine, then KAPUT? As in, it just stopped running? Did it derail? Was there any indication of a short?
No smoke, no smell of fried electronics?
Did you hard wire it? Plug and play?
What kind of decoder is it?
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich, Dave,
I feel like a dummy - I reset the CV and it works like a charm. I love this site. The right advice at the right time.
I did hard wire it. I used a cheap MRC decoder with a horn I liked and its working fine now.
I have been doing model railroading for 3-4 years now and can still learn something new here everyday.
Thanks for the support guys.
Excellent news, Chris.
Just out of curiosity, at what point did it go KAPUT?
Did it derail on a turnout or something similar to that?
Just curious why it required a reset.
Rich,
As I had just installed the decoder it had no shell on so I guess my sticky fingers must have caused some issue or a short as I picked the loco up.
I removed all my turnouts (too much hassle). So basically, I have 3 main lines and 1 branch line (but no turnout to get to it - its a separate track setup).
On another note as I am feeling happy now the GG1 is fixed I think I will ramble on a bit about my layout.
I run 2 Broadway Limited PRR T1's (one is as delivered - the best one I think and the other is the style that went into production) they run on 2 of the mainlines with Bachmann Spectrum Heavyweight coaches. On the other line I have a Intermountain ES44AC with some freight cars. And the little branch line has a PRR F7A five stripe with some PRR scene master cars that I converted to lighted coaches by using life-like Amtrak coach pickups (from the truck) and put LED's in the coaches with a resistor to give the proper lighting level.
So I guess everyone knows now I am a big PRR fan
So you basically have 3 continuous loops running around your layput? That would make for easy maintenance.
Southgate So you basically have 3 continuous loops running around your layput? That would make for easy maintenance.
Unless, of course, you are a LION, in which case all bets are off.
Fried Boards with a side of eggs.
Want any Oatmeal with that, the pot is full.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
LOCO_GUY So I guess everyone knows now I am a big PRR fan
As a NYC fan and modeler, Chris...I'll pretend I didn't see this last sentence.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage LOCO_GUY So I guess everyone knows now I am a big PRR fan As a NYC fan and modeler, Chris...I'll pretend I didn't see this last sentence. Tom
[quote user="LOCO_GUY"
[/quote]
Check the Favorite Spot for the GG1. I saw a couple there. I saw a PRR for $162. I have bought from them in the past.
Never run a newly wired DCC loco with any wires exposed. Others have tried that and smoked a decoder. Only run a loco with all wires ready for the shell to be installed and not capable of being pinched when the shell is installed.
Our inner child is impatient at times.
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.
<Never run a newly wired DCC loco with any wires exposed. Others have tried that and smoked a decoder. Only run a loco with all wires ready for the shell to be installed and not capable of being pinched when the shell is installed.
Rich>
(Seems the "Add quote" feature isn't working today. ) I like to test my decoder installs before attaching the shell but I always like to do it on the programming track to avoid issues.
I always have used the program track.
One time I inadvertently swapped the orange and red wires for a Tsunami install. My inner child was in a hurry. The Power Cab warned me of an issue. Swapped the wires and the decoder worked just fine.
Thanks guys for the interesting replies and visuals (Broadway lion).
ROAR!
Southgate, I do have 3 continous lines running around a 25x12 layout (and 1 little branch line nestled in between them). Since I started using ATF on the track I don't need to maintain it really - it just keeps going. Less fiddling time - more run time.
Please lets not get into a ATF or not discussion - it works for me and I am "well pleased". Since I cannot get to about 40% of my track to clean it anyhow. The layout is too large for me to reach it without 8 foot arms
Tom, I still have an NYC F-M erie-built Proto 1000 with the lightening stripe. I keep it because my wife says it looks "cool".
The MRC decoders are quirky. Is that a word? I have 8 or 9 MRCs that I bought several years ago. They do lose their address from time to time for no apparent reason. Sometimes a momentary short or power dropout does it. The other night an MRC in a D9 gave me trouble. The horn blew, and nothing else. No movement. No bell or engine sounds. Just the horn. I did a reset and it was fine again. To be fair, I have never fried an MRC, and they all are still working at full volume!
That said, I now mostly buy LokSound or Tsunamis. I bought the MRCs years ago, when sound first came out.
BroadwayLion Southgate So you basically have 3 continuous loops running around your layput? That would make for easy maintenance. Unless, of course, you are a LION, in which case all bets are off. Fried Boards with a side of eggs. Want any Oatmeal with that, the pot is full. ROAR
That looks like the kitchen at the Possum Lodge.
I've got a Bachman GG1 with sound.
"Gigi" is one fine engine. She runs very smooth and quiet. I did have to replace the couplers, as they were cheap plastic and failed almost immediately, but I stock Kadees anyway.
There is almost no motor sound. I'm not sure how much sound they did make, but according to the pamphlet they did have a reputation for being "widowmakers" because track crews could not hear them approaching.
Trainworld has them for $189 with sound.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi guys,
Just a quick update - I DID BUY ONE - yeay!
I got a Bachmann DCC Sound Value 5 stripe tuscan red PRR GG1 for $115.99 with free shipping.
Sold by omnimodels on ebay. Nice deal - lowest price I have seen on this. I couldn't resist at that price - a decoder alone would have cost that much. It's only a sound value model - but seeing as this loco didn't make much engine noise I don't see a downside.
I was going to say, search eBay for one of the Broadway Limited GG1's. They should be around the price of the bachmann oine, and are die cast metal and have nice sound, what little there is with an electric loco - bell, horn, blowers, mostly. Yup, just looked, there are two sitting there at $150 with no bids yet. Great runners.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy,
Never thought of BLI for a GG1 - I have 2 BLI T1's. The "as delivered" vesion was a disaster - spent more time being repaired than on my layout. The other T1 runs exceptionally well - go figure. From what I can see its the same drivetrain with a different bit of plastic on top.
So I'll take a chance with the Bachmann SV GG1 and see how it goes.