I sent the decoder back to the dealer that I bought it from. They sent me a replacement which I installed and programmed without issue.
cacole Does this "Lenz Black Box" have an internal circuit breaker to shut power off if a short is detected in the programming track? I think you have a major problem on your hands with Lenz equipment not properly protecting the decoder, or you don't have your programming track totally isolated from the rest of your layout like you think it is. Feeding us little bits and pieces of information about your system and what actually happened is not helping matters, either. For example, you wrote that you saw smoke coming from the decoder; now you say there was no smoke.
Does this "Lenz Black Box" have an internal circuit breaker to shut power off if a short is detected in the programming track?
I think you have a major problem on your hands with Lenz equipment not properly protecting the decoder, or you don't have your programming track totally isolated from the rest of your layout like you think it is.
Feeding us little bits and pieces of information about your system and what actually happened is not helping matters, either. For example, you wrote that you saw smoke coming from the decoder; now you say there was no smoke.
richhotrain cacole Feeding us little bits and pieces of information about your system and what actually happened is not helping matters, either. For example, you wrote that you saw smoke coming from the decoder; now you say there was no smoke. I have to agree that this thread is headed toward a no-decision bout. Aside from the smoke vs. non-smoke issue, the implication remains that a cracked gear fried the decoder. But, no one else seems to think that this is the case. Has the OP verified that the decoder is fried? Rich
cacole Feeding us little bits and pieces of information about your system and what actually happened is not helping matters, either. For example, you wrote that you saw smoke coming from the decoder; now you say there was no smoke.
I have to agree that this thread is headed toward a no-decision bout.
Aside from the smoke vs. non-smoke issue, the implication remains that a cracked gear fried the decoder.
But, no one else seems to think that this is the case.
Has the OP verified that the decoder is fried?
Rich
As for verifying if the decoder is fried or not all I can say is my system would not recognize it and once the short was found and the new decoder installed all was fine again.
I shipped the decoder back to the dealer who will send it back to TCS for repair or replacement.
cn1762 I sent the decoder back to the dealer that I bought it from. They sent me a replacement which I installed and programmed without issue.
Since the replacement decoder works fine, that would seem to eliminate the programming track as a culprit.
Thanks for getting back to us on this issue.
Alton Junction
cn1762...One other thing I hadn't mentioned earlier was that I also use a Lenz Black Box for programming...
Well, that is interesting. I couldn't find much information on the Blackbox programmer, but Tony's Train Exchange does say "Allows programming of high in-rush current sound decoders." If that is the case, I wonder if it could also allow enough current to blow a decoder.
Do you have styrene in your gaps for the programming track? I would also reccommend that you have a dead section (isolated on both ends) between the programming track and the main. If it must absolutely be powered a SPDT switch to swap power on the isolated section between programming track and main would not hurt.
Also I have seen a BLI PRR T-1 smoke its decoder after de-railing, however it was shorting for a full 30 seconds before anyone could get to it. The decoder died because of insufficient power drops to trip the breaker (nearest was about 5 feet away on un-soldered track).
However the best option is to completely separate the programming track from the layout. A portable one might be a good idea if your workbench is not co-located with your layout.