how do you decide you have a dead decoder?

[victor miranda]

 

I was running a berk on DC ( it has a decoder) and the loco just stopped....

no smoke. no pops.

I have not done any follow up testing because I was not
planning to tinker on it at the time.

I know the usual, look at all the wires and so on.
I just wonder if there are any definite tests.

victor

[davefoxx]

I was running a berk on DC ( it has a decoder) and the loco just stopped....

no smoke. no pops.

I have not done any follow up testing because I was not
planning to tinker on it at the time.

I know the usual, look at all the wires and so on.
I just wonder if there are any definite tests.

victor

Wow, what a timely question.  Unfortunately, I don't have the answer, just the same problem.  I installed a Digitrax DN163a0 into a B30-7 last week.  The locomotive is new- old stock (NOS), so it was likely sitting on a shelf somewhere.  It was reeeeeeal slow to get going until the factory lube warmed up, but it did run.  About fifty (real, not scale) feet down the line, it stopped.  Same as yours, no pop, no smoke.  After I finagled with the decoder and the motor contacts, it starting acting as if it was shorting out when I put it on the rails.  When I put the standard Atlas board back in, the locomotive did run, so the short was not in the locomotive.  When I get time, I will try this decoder in another locomotive.  If it shorts that one out, I'll deem the decoder dead and deal with it accordingly.

Sorry, I can't be of more help,
Dave Foxx

[victor miranda]

Hi Davefoxx,
your post is more help than you know.

I am going to do some testing on the decoder tonight.
the lack of a headlamp makes me very dubious that the decoder is functional.

the thing I'd love to see is the look on the owner's face
as the light dawns when he realizes whose loco it is.

ah well I'll just have to look at it as another opportunity
to practice my decodering skills.

and all I wanted to do was add better pick-ups...
victor

[seusscaboose]

it dawned on me when I read your thread this AM.
the ironic thing is DF replied first... seeing that he blew his decoder on my layout a few nights ago.

[victor miranda]

I set up my PR3 and tried to read it.

Jmri decoder pro says the loco will not acknowlege.

Dead ?

I have decided it is a gonner but, if anyone knows better....
I am listening.

[wm3798]

I'll remove the decoder from the locomotive then hook it to a motor I know works, and light boards I know work, and try to get a read back.  If it reads back outside the body, it's the installation, not the decoder.

I made a simple test rig with some screw contacts so it's easy to hook everything up.



The DPDT allows me to switch the tester over to track power, and check the light circuits, forward and reverse operations.

If it's a light board style decoder, you need to get some alligator clips to catch the contacts.

Lee

[victor miranda]

is that a three pole or a five pole test rig? 

hi Lee,
good idea.  real good idea.
I think I'll make one.

first I need to find some scrap styrene....

victor