QUOTE (Thunder @ 3 Aug 2008, 19:25)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Oh dear what have i done?, i got my grubby mitts on 2 x MC2 decoders, & 2 X smoke generators, and fitted one of the smoke and decoder units to one loco, it ran well for five mins, then stopped dead, on investigation, it seems like the decoder has burnt out? theres a scortch mark on its covering.
The loco i used is an old Airfix N& tank loco, it was fitted with an older lenz decoder, but no smoke generator, and ran well enough, i fitted the new smoke unit and decoder, checking it as i went along, done a short bench test, which gave plenty of smoke and good loco contol, put the loco body back on, and set it off for a test run pulling 12 wagons, it was running for about 5/7 mins, then stopped dead, investigation shows a burn/scortch mark on decioder covering.
so what has caused it? faulty decoder? motor in loco drawing to much current? loco motor not suitable for this decoder (to old)? HELP !!!
I still have the other decoder i purchased, but im reluctant to swop them with out knowing the cause, they both have the goof proof warranty, but i would like to know whats happened, any ideas?
Regards John (Thunder)
***John, its impossible to know what caused it without seeing the install and decoder, but it won't be a faulty decoder - burns only happen from shorts or overload. If it ran for that long I think it may simply be that the load from that particular smoke unit was too high.
check your motor current draw - remembering that decoder ratings are always for motor + functions as a total, not just motor.
it MAY need the larger TCS T-1 for the N2 as it has a higher power rating.
Check really thoroughly for insulation of all relevant points and make sure all solder joints are insulated. Install the second one but connect both the white and yellow to one lead, blue to the other. remap the functions so one button turns both functions on.
As to goof proof warranty, use it - that is what it is there for and you did the basic install right after all....
regards
Richard
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