Broadway Limited AC6000

[railnerd]

That was a very informative video - nice to see a manufacturer explain the problem, identify the components and offer a solution.
However from the electronics side I am really surprised that some components (like voltage regulators) would only fail under DC power. That to me is counter-intuitive to what I know about decoder circuitry. Also, haven't we seen seen, in this thread, some examples of failures in DCC-operated locos?

I agree, my hunch is that someone sourced the wrong regulators at the production line, and they haven't yet heard from folks who are using exclusively DCC.

[stuntman]

No problems programming my 2 locos, reading CVs with JMRI and a Sprog II.

I found the problem.  My DCS200 doesn't play well with these for some reason.     Ended up going through the PR3 programmer only....everything works now.

[LarryN]

Hello folks,

BLI is shipping me a new decoder, so we will see how things work when I re-install it. The video is informative and indeed, I have the bad regulator that "might damage other parts on the board". That was the case. One chip on my board indeed was blown (I shared this with BLI-perhaps it helped them hunt down the problem, perhaps not). I tried to see what the blown chip did by comparing it to the board in a Centipede. No real comparison, but based on pin count, size etc, it might have been a sound amplifier chip. Other chips could have died too, which would explain lack of movement. Probably bad parts at a factory. I had that happen with a bunch of self-powered solderless breadboards I ordered at school. It is indeed funny that this would just affect DC and not DCC systems-seems like a VR chip would lord over all of electronics on the board. I'll attach a picture of the chip that was blown on my board. It was on the underside of the board, under the J1 plug end. I hope this does not hurt BLI-I applaud their efforts to bring quality products to the N scale table, products other manufacturers might not otherwise consider. I think they handled this whole matter quite well.

Larry N

[peteski]

Larry, do you have to return that blown decoder to BLI?

[strummer]

I don't really have a stake in this, as I don't care for the newer engines (in ANY scale) that come with all those "bells and whistles". It just doesn't do anything for me. 
If you check out any of the O scale 3 rail forums, those fellows are seemingly always having problems, not with the motor, or the gearing or whatever, but the sound boards and associated circuitry.
I'm guessing that this is an issue that will continue as we see more and more releases with these sophisticated circuit boards.

Mark in Oregon

[LarryN]

Peteski,

Quote:  "Larry, do you have to return that blown decoder to BLI?"

I offered to do so, and they did not respond. What I might do is get the numbers off the new unit, and try and order and fix the old one myself, just because. I do not relish working with smd chips though...

Larry

[peteski]

Peteski,

I offered to do so, and they did not respond. What I might do is get the numbers off the new unit, and try and order and fix the old one myself, just because. I do not relish working with smd chips though...

Larry

I asked because if you had no need for the decoder I was going to ask you to send it to me so I coudl do a bit of reverse engineering on ot. But it sounds like you have plans for it and are capable of reworking it.  Never mind . . . 

Now I'm wondering what specifically is the component being damaged on the decoders. The video kept saying that the voltage regulators are bad/wrong.  I assumed that those regulators kepf blowing up. But if another component is blowing up then that would imply that those regulators probably are supplying wrong (too high) voltage which is blowing up other chips.

Has anybody else looked at their damaged decoder?  Is there any visible damage, and if yes, is it the same chip that Larry showed?
Also, to anybody who took their model apart: what are the markings on that chip?

BTW Larry, I see that you are manually quoting the posts you reply to. It is much easier (and clearer to read) if you use the "quote" button in the upper right of the post you are replying to. Like I just did. That way the quoted text is clearly separated from the reply.  Unless you are doing it your way for a reason (like to be different), in which case, never mind.

[bobdobbs]

Bad quality video, but the trains are high quality.

[ek2000]

Those are sweet looking tank trains. Athearn has really hit the ball out the part in so far as detailing goes on their tank cars (30K  gallon and this one). There are some complaints on the wheels popping off though.

How does the tank train do around curves? I have 15 inch curves on the outside and 11.25 on the inner portions of my layout (code 83). Do these derail a lot in turnouts and curves when connected?

[kiwi_bnsf]

Bad news... despite my positive review of this loco, I fear that the decoder issue is worse than BLI realise.

Out of the three units owned in my group of train buddies, one fried itself this morning, and it was the only one that had the "good" voltage regulators.

Also, these locos have only ever been run on N scale voltage DCC (absolutely no DC running).

Kudos to BLI for being open about the issues, and extending the warranty on all units.

I hope this issue gets resolved with the new deciders, but I might resort to a Loksound if they don't.

[ek2000]

Has there been any communication from BLI on these issues? And when you say, warranty extension, is it the 2 year warranty?

[peteski]

Has there been any communication from BLI on these issues? And when you say, warranty extension, is it the 2 year warranty?

Yes, on the previous page of this thread. https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=42776.msg544018#msg544018 But it seems a bit inaccurate (since the problem seems to occur in both DC and DCC operated locos).

[ek2000]

Ok thank you. After much thought (and ownership exp of E8, PA and Centipede) I decided against buying the AC6000. Now I feel I made the right call. Too bad, BLIs locos look and sound great, just dont run as well, atleast the diesels.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Are the ones that a frying on DCC still have the DC option enabled? Or is that even able to be turned off on BLI locos? Any time I do an install I turn that open off as I’ve been told by people that it could cause issues if somehow the loco or layout shorts and spikes voltage.

Against my better judgement I did decide to go ahead with a UP variant but am prepared for the worse.

Chris

[bobdobbs]

Those are sweet looking tank trains. Athearn has really hit the ball out the part in so far as detailing goes on their tank cars (30K  gallon and this one). There are some complaints on the wheels popping off though.

How does the tank train do around curves? I have 15 inch curves on the outside and 11.25 on the inner portions of my layout (code 83). Do these derail a lot in turnouts and curves when connected?

They run flawlessly.  But only after I Re-gauged the wheels, loosened any trucks that had too little play (screwed in too tight) and replaced one McHenry coupler.  My tightest curves are about 13" radius so that is as tight as i can vouch for.