BLI MILW S-3

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

How satisfied are you with your S-3. My story. Originally the S-3 kept loosing its programing. Then it fried the original “Paragon 3” decoder. I read on the Forum site that BLI was offering a replacement decoder. I installed it and it lasted two days before it let out a little white smoke. I ripped out the Paragon 3 decoder and installed a Tsunami 2 decoder with current keeper. It lasted about two days before it too burned out. Soundtraxx sent me a replacement, but I hesitate to install it. Just wonder if others have had a similar experience with their MILW S-3. >

Split Reduction- Modeling Milwaukee Road in Southwestern Wisconsin.

2

Two different decoders…same results. Same locomotive. Same rails.

Which one is the culprit?

I wouldn’t fault the locomotive just yet. I assume it takes a ‘normal’ CV2 setting to get underway, say with a value between 1 and 20? If so, the decoder isn’t drawing too much current to fight some internal friction or defect and getting too hot. They have protection for that.

I would find a way to accurately measure the voltage getting to the rails…everywhere.