Let me start by saying that BLI stands by their products. I have NEVER had a problem getting support or products fixed.
That said I have 5 BLI Locomotives, 2 Paragon 3 and 3 Paragon 2 locomotives. One of the Paragon 3’s (SD7) went back and forth to Florada from NJ 2x.Once they paid and once I paid for shipping. Then I needed to replace the decoder on another Paragon 3 (Mikado) they sent the decoder and I had to ship the old one back. An EMD1500 Paragon 2 just stopped working so I paid to send it back. BLI replaced the decoded, motor and fixed a clearance problem. Now my Paragon 2 Mikado wont hold programming on the decoder and just sits there with the sound on but after 3 hard resets it takes a couple of CV programs and wont move. BLI is sending a replacement decoder. I need too send teh old one back.
Am I just unlucky? Does anyone else have problems with BLI locomotives?
Again the service rep was very nice, diagnosed the problem and is sending a replacement no charge. Just VERY frustrating.
I don’t have any but it sure seems like I read about a lot of problems with BLI and not just from you. Maybe that’s just because of their share of that market. Because of that, there are none on my wish list.
That’s a shame because BLI makes some mighty nice locomotives. Their steam engines are the best on my roster. Their diesels, particularly their passenger locomotives, are also among my favorites.
I really like them too but it was getting really frustrating The GP20 is coming out this summer so I’m going to try once more. I must say the ones they fixed or replaced decoders have been running fine.
I have four Paragon 2 steamers and my issues have been relatively minor compared to yours. Won’t retain momentum settings other than factory default. That and I’m not a fan of the whistles (including how the chuff sound reduces in volume when the whistle blows). I would definitely purchase more BLI locos, but someday when excess funds permit, all their decoders are getting replaced with something else. In reading about your issues, I can’t help but think you may be having an electrically based issue going on. You aren’t trying to “dual mode” your layout by having both DC & DCC available to it, are you? Assuming no, I can’t help but think it would be worth making sure power is completely dead to the layout when you aren’t operating (i.e. unplugging the power supply from the wall/using a switch to kill power to the outlet/etc). Maybe some sort of electrical spikes are making it all the way to the layout?
One final thing I can say is that I’ve had some really screwy things happen with the Paragon decoders when the wheels on the locomotives got dirty enough. Various sounds like bells/whistles/water fill turning on & off on their own while the engine is running down the tracks. Even had one hiccup happen on the layout once where I had a momentary short (forgot power was on the rails), and when the system reset, all the BLI locomotives started moving on their own. That was exciting for a minute!
I have wondered the same sort of thing. Not sure exactly what sort of electrical problem may be experienced, but there just seems to have been too many BLI failures to be a mere coincidence or a bad run of luck.
Gary, I am not placing the blame on you. It may be something occurring that you are not aware of.
NCE Pro Cab w/Radio 5amp connected to 4 EB1 Circuit breakers one for the dual mainline, one for teh sorting yard, one for the ferry yard one for the programming track. A 5th will added for the reverse loops currently not connected.
ahh, that’s right, same system as mine, an NCE 5 amp PH-Pro wireless command station. So, just the built-in 5 amp booster? Let me study your photo links and get back to you.
I also have the Radio Pro Cab, just without the EB1’s, and has not caused me issues like yours, so it’s probably safe to rule it out. I’m assuming you are using the rocker switch on the power supply to shut it down. I’ve not had mine taken mine apart, so can’t comment on whether it is a positive break, or tied in electronically. Personally, I would try unplugging it when not in use for a while and see if things clear up for you. If the plug is in too difficult of a location to make that workable on a regular basis, perhaps invest in a decent surge protector? A DCC system is basically just a specialized PC, and the age old advice on those is to use surge protectors and consider unplugging them during an electrical storm, regardless if you have them turned off. I know, not quite the same beast, but still… Another one that just occured to me is that in my experience the BLI decoders are more sensitive to shorts that the main NCE breaker (again, I don’t have the EB1’s, so this point may be moot). I use Peco code 100 switches and before I took steps to correct shorting issues at the frogs, my BLI steamers would perform random sounds, interruptions in movement on the occasions they bridged the frog rails and momentarily shorted without tripping the system. Maybe you are having a similar, more frequent occurance like this that is frying the decoders?
You don’t “need” one. I don’t have one even thought I do have 7 other circuit breakers on the layout to control and protect power districts. I am not suggesting that is a problem to have a circuit breaker in front of the programming track. Maybe Randy or one of the other electrical experts can chip in here with their thoughts.