The Auto-SW I mentioned takes the thought out of it, as the program track is dosconnected from the system until you enter a program mode other than program on the main. With the 'standard' wiring of the Auto-SW, the program track is either dead, or in program mode, it never sees full track power. The manual and some supplemental information on the NCE site shows a way to use it for a drive on/drive off program track, but now you are back to the program track having full track power at some times.
I don;t use NCE, but I haven't had a live program track on any of my layouts since switching to DCC. Usually it's a spare section of flex track connected to the program outputs. or in the past 4-5 years, I have a dedicated program unit with track, a PR3, and a Lokprogrammer so decoders being programmed aren't even on the layout in any way. As a bonus this program track has coupler height gauges as well as markings for car weights based on length. If I could build the scale right into the whole works I would.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
My programming track is separate. It's just simpler. And safer.
The issue with a programming track connected to the rest of the layout is that you need more than just the one set of gaps to be safe. You really need a double set of gaps, with the track in between dead when the programming track is being used. That way, if you forget that you MUST not bridge the gap to full power rail, you end up on dead rail, instead it being live. Tends to keep the smoke inside better that way.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I started working at my local hobby shop part time a number of months ago, mostly doing shipping, repairs, etc.
In the time I have been there, the factory installed Tsunami decoders are hands down the most returned decoders as defective. Aside from those, there has been two TCS decoders and one Loksound. Judging by the burnt component on the Loksound, the user inadvertantly touched the two speaker wires together as the audio amp was burnt.
In a positive light, all decoders have been replaced by the manufacturer as warrantee replacements free of charge.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
In looking at the Digitrax form for warranty repair concerning the DH126 I had trouble with the other day, Digitrax specifically instructs users NOT to return the decoder to the retailer, but to return directly to them. So I have a feeling that a retail store isn't going to get a good picture of all returns, as the normal decoder suppliers seem to be set up with various goofproof, no worries, or whatever warranty protection.
My estimate of the defect situation, having read and reflected on the posts here, is that social media (such as a forum) tends to exaggerate the success of participants -- people don't want to set themselves up to seem like losers in any context. Thus I tend to take estimates of less than 1% defect rate here with a grain of salt.
I would estimate I've installed maybe 30 decoders, leaving aside factory-ready sound locos. Of those, I believe I've had what appear to be verifiable product defects in at least 5. Not solder errors, not squashing the decoder, but what appear pretty plainly to be function output failures.
What seems to be solid opinion here suggests NCE DA-SRs are the biggest problem, and this may be where my numbers are exaggerated. But DA-SRs aren't the only problem, and correspondence with Digitrax suggests that, whatever the cause, their repair and warranty support guy is busy.
I this case it kind of is, since he's installing decoders in bulk for customers. The shop is buying them and selling them to customers. If they are bad, they are bad, if not, they're not. That's different from customers just buying decoders and then going off to install themselves. In that case, there may not be accurate if the customer sends it right back to the manufacturer.
rrinker I this case it kind of is, since he's installing decoders in bulk for customers. The shop is buying them and selling them to customers. If they are bad, they are bad, if not, they're not. That's different from customers just buying decoders and then going off to install themselves. In that case, there may not be accurate if the customer sends it right back to the manufacturer. --Randy
I'm not sure which case you're talking about -- if it's Mark R above, he says he's doing shipping and repairs, and he speaks of looking at a soldering error by a customer. I don't think he's saying he does bulk installs, at least if this is Mark R's post you're referring to. I still think decoder manufacturers prefer the decoder be returned to them for warranty, and a retailer isn't going to see all the returns (if any, in fact).
JOHN BRUCE III rrinker I this case it kind of is, since he's installing decoders in bulk for customers. The shop is buying them and selling them to customers. If they are bad, they are bad, if not, they're not. That's different from customers just buying decoders and then going off to install themselves. In that case, there may not be accurate if the customer sends it right back to the manufacturer. --Randy I'm not sure which case you're talking about -- if it's Mark R above, he says he's doing shipping and repairs, and he speaks of looking at a soldering error by a customer. I don't think he's saying he does bulk installs, at least if this is Mark R's post you're referring to. I still think decoder manufacturers prefer the decoder be returned to them for warranty, and a retailer isn't going to see all the returns (if any, in fact).
IF Randy IS referring to my post, I'm referring to factory installed decoders that are coming back in defective.
I also have my own business where I install decoders. I use TCS for non-sound and Loksound for sound decoders and have never had a single one returned defective.
JOHN BRUCE IIIMy estimate of the defect situation, having read and reflected on the posts here, is that social media (such as a forum) tends to exaggerate the success of participants -- people don't want to set themselves up to seem like losers in any context. Thus I tend to take estimates of less than 1% defect rate here with a grain of salt.
It seems to me that it is far more likely that someone who has had a failure will post on these forums. Your original post is a prime example.