Bachmann factory installed decoder

[dragonsparrowblue77]

I recently purchased a Bachmann GP40 DCC equipped. It works on address 03 marvelously.

Does anyone have info of the brand or spec's of the installed decoder so I can get it off of address 03?

Does it only accept 2 digit addresses. I run it on a Digitrax Loco-net system, and will use that for the programming.

I'm just return to the hobby and am still getting adjusted to the "New Toys" we have at our disposal, and I'm not fully ready to just start messing with things until I have researched enough to feel ok doing it.

Electronics are very finicky ;}

dsb77

[tstage]

dsb77,

Should be a Lenz decoder and handle either 2- or 4-digit addessing.

Tom

[cacole]

Just try changing the address and see what happens -- it can't harm the decoder or locomotive or your command station if it won't accept a long address.

[jxtrrx]

I had problems changing the address on one of the inexpensive Bachmans with a Digitrax Zephyr. Found that the cure was to alligator clip a small lightbulb across the program rails while changinng the address. This added the needed resistance to the circuit. I think the soulution came from one of the guys here. (Not bad little locos for the price!).

[waltersrails]

First welcome back to the hobby. Also was planning on getting the same type on engine for my layout.

[dragonsparrowblue77]

Thanks for the info everyone.
I was worried about the "fry" factor, but if no harm can come, so be it.

Is there print on the bottom of the circuit board? On top I found labeled - H601X-PCB001 rev. C. - if this helps ID it. I haven't found anything when searching for this number.

It is a great engine for being inexpensive. I'm getting a second so I can run longer trains. It had no issues pulling 12 40-60 foot weighted freight / hopper cars up our club's helix with a slope of about 2 percent ( by itself !! ). The second should let me conquer the helix with-out a full throttle run while still loaded with numerous cars.

dsb77

[cacole]

Bachmann's DCC system is made by Lenz, but I doubt that the decoder was.

Those numbers on the decoder mean nothing to anyone but the factory in China where the locomotive was manufactured. I imagine that the factory was told nothing more than the fact that Bachmann wanted a locomotive with a decoder, and that it was then left up the factory to find the cheapest decoder they could.

I have encounted two situations where the color coding and schematic diagrams provided with Bachmann locomotives were not accurate. In the first instance, a G-scale 2-8-0 Consolidation didn't run because three wires had not even been soldered to the circuit board when it was assembled.

I contacted Bachmann about the color coding of the wires, and their response was that the factory in China had provided no schematic diagram or wiring color code at all for that particular locomotive, and it seemed that the factory just used whatever color wire they happened to have a lot of on that particular day.

Last month, I bought a Bachmann G-scale 2-truck Shay. It came with a wiring schematic, but the colors of the wires did not match the schematic at all. Again, Bachmann's response was that the factory just uses whatever they have on hand at the time.

So even Bachmann is not going to be able to offer any help concerning your decoder. They won't even know who made it.

[BRVRR]

The Bachmann Easy DCC decoder equipped locos come with a low end decoder similar to the Lenz LE1000W decoder. At least those I have dealt with have. They sometimes require a little more omph to the programing track on Digitrax systems.
I tried all kinds of things to program the Lenz LE1000W decoders. Digitrax suggested a 1K ohm resistor across the programing track. I soldered a couple of alligator clips to the resistor and clamped it on the programing track. Instant success!
BTW, the decoders in the Bachmann's and the Lenz LE1000W will accept 2 or 4 digit addressing. I have a picture of the resistor rig posted on my website, link is in my signature. Just pu***he How'd You Do That button.