It finally happened

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’ve heard a lot of people on here talking about burning up decoders but I’ve never had it happen until last night.

I set up a temporary layout for my grand kids to enjoy during the Christmas holidays. I used Atlas True Track throughout because that’s what I had used on the last layout.

I bought an Rivarossi Allegheny H8 2-6-6-6 and installed a Digitrax DH-123 Decoder in it about six months ago and only ran it only once to check it out. It was one of several I was running last night to check out the layout and check out the locos that I thought the kids would enjoy.

Everything was running fine until the Allegheny derailed crossing through a switch that hadn’t opened all the way.

I’ve had derailments in the past but never had it burn up a decoder.

The decoder was laying on some wires inside the tender. When it burned it melted through one of the wires is was laying on. I replaced the decoder and taped the wires and positioned the new decoder so it wasn’t touching any other wiring.

First time I ever saw one smoke! Oh Well…

I have Tony’s Power Shields Circuit Breakers for the permanent layout.

Here’s a picture of the decoder.

2

Your motor leads came in contact with the power pickups…

Check to make sure that your motor is actually isolated from the frame (just in case it has shifted).

David B

3

Dave,

How can that happen? I’ve never taken the engine apart. Rivarossi put an eight pin plug in the tender. All I did was plug the DH 123 into the plug.

The decocer has the shrink wrap around it to protect it. It was laying on the insulated wires that go to the connector. When it burned it went through one of those wires exposing the wire. I taped it and popped in a new DH 123 only this time I taped the decoder to the top of the tender with double sided tape (servo tape from my R/C days).

I have ran the Allegheny since last night and it is working fine.

4

Sometime MFGs goof up. It is entirely possible the motor came into contact with the rail leads…it doesnt take much.

David B

5

I’ll check it out.

Thanks,

Bill

6

I had a Bachmann decoder in one of their FT’s do that one time when the loco derailed on a live frog turnout. Since that time I’ve converted my three live frog turnouts to insul-frogs and it never happened again.

7

Electronics 101…Rule #1 All electronic devices are made with smoke inside them. If you let the smoke out…they don’t work! Happy Holidays to all! jc5729 John Colley, Port Townsend, WA

8

Sorry to hear the misfortune.

Sometimes they sell you the sizzle to go with the pyrotechnics. lol.