FYI.
A fellow in a DCC forum mentions that he has a new batch of TCS lighting decoders with two wires swapped. The green and blue wires were soldered in the incorrect places.
The blue (common +) is suppose to be on the outer edge however the factory had the green wire in this position and the blue wire where the green was suppose to go. Apparently the green wire is not used so there was no damage.
He thinks they are new stock.
Rich
There’s nothing on the TCS web site about this problem. Has your source notified them? They should offer free replacements.
The fellow is a regular contributor to a Yahoo DCC Group and publishes a lot of excellent DCC projects, sound, motor control, speaker comparisons, animation using decoders, etc. He recently purchased the decoders and TCS apparently is not saying anything yet.
No idea on how many decoders went out like that or how aware the company is. This fellow has contacted the company.
I did the, FYI, for users to check out this decoder if they buy one.
The users was quite confused as to why the same decoder he has been using would not program.
TCS is a very good company so I know they will address the issue.
I had a similar issue a couple years ago with a SoundTraxx Micro. One function would not work. No voltage on the wire. Found a poor solder connection on the decoder after cutting back the shrink a little. There is not connector for this decoder. Optivisor and fine tip soldering iron and ok after that fix.
Rich
Rich.
If I remember correctly the FL4 uses the same 6 pin JST harness as the MC2 did. It has been a few years since I wired one of them into my gravel plant to run the lights for the load out tracks and work lamps. Did they make the new ones hard wired?
Pete
Sorry.
I can see on the web site it is a hardwired decoder now. I am sure mine is a plug in like the FL2 but with more wires.
Pete
The person who discovered this has contacted TCS and they will take care of the issue and pay all shipping cost,
Rich