Dont buy Soundtraxx PNP for Bachmann.

[DigitalGriffin]

First off I'm not slamming Soundtraxx. I am very pleased with their products so far. I'm just trying to save people some headaches.

This is just a "Buyer Beware" announcement because Bachmann made some changes.

I recently purchased a Soundtraxx DSD-B280LC plug and play decoder to insert into a Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy Vanderbuilt Tender. Unfortunately it didn't fit at all. The tender was too narrow and the PCB connection in the wrong place.

So I purchased a USRA Long Tender from Bachmann to use for my decoder. None of the diagrams in the instructions matched the internal pcb. Also the socket sits further to the left making the decoder board hang out a little to the side even when reversed. To make things even worse they included a large plastic section beneath the coal load which is molded into the cover making it very very difficult to stuff the board in there. This plastic piece can not be removed as it holds the support peg which holds the cover to the tender.

So basically the DSD-B280LC will most likely not fit an any future Bachmann that uses these tenders.

I wrote Soundtraxx to inform them. Hopefully they will have an answer soon.

~D

[cacole]

Bachmann has been driving SoundTraxx up the wall with all the changes they keep making to their tenders. Between a light mountain and heavy mountain, the DCC socket was turned 90 degrees for no apparent reason. It seems that Bachmann tenders, and probably locomotives too, are coming from several different sources in China, and each different source makes the items differently.