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Post by riss2509 on May 27, 2009 21:03:53 GMT -5
Ive got a number of the newer athearn DCC ready engines. Ive noticed there is that standard plug, but also what appears to be an 8 pin plug also? The issue im having is it gets pretty snug in there with the NCE D13 plugged in, and im a cheap guy. Is it possible to remove the 8 pin plug so I can gain that extra little bit of room? The only other option I got is to go with the NCE DASR decoders. Thanks guys!
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nssd70m2
Superintendent
Norfolk Southern Piedmont Division
Posts: 159
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Post by nssd70m2 on Jun 8, 2009 21:49:14 GMT -5
It looks as if it might can be pulled off...but you can melt the solder under the plug and pull it off that way.
-Grayson
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CIOR
Chairman
Posts: 2,046
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Post by CIOR on Jun 19, 2009 23:14:14 GMT -5
I've found several of the Athearn boards have shorts in them. Not found the logic to say the location of the short, but after having 4 engines with this issue, I could no longer buy it was the decoders! So, some leg work, I found I wasn't the only one with the issue that Athearn/Horizon wouldn't deal with.
I started pulling the boards and now just hardwire them in place!
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Post by riss2509 on Jun 20, 2009 8:59:31 GMT -5
Ive gotten lucky. Ive got a pair of te newest of runs of the SD40-2 with the D13SRJ decoder in there and no issues at all. Hopefully here in a week ill try them out on a pair of SD60Ms genesis and see.
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dtinut
Chairman
Modeling the DT&I of the 60's & 70's
Posts: 661
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Post by dtinut on Jun 20, 2009 21:51:24 GMT -5
I've had a couple of the plug n play boards from Athearn NOT work. Engine would run OK on DC with the dummy plug in place, but when pulled and a decoder NCE D13SRJ stuck in did nothing, although I could program it OK.
I tried to find the issue, but after spending a few hours messing with it, just gave in and hard wired the decoder in place. The SD50 I have works A-OK though...
Brian
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CIOR
Chairman
Posts: 2,046
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Post by CIOR on Jul 8, 2009 19:36:02 GMT -5
Newer stuff Stephen. I was taken back at first, the first one I figured was the decoder.
Oddly enough, when the second engine caused issues and I got to doing testing, i found the problem.
I've heard even this past release of RTR still has the issues.
My guess is that Athearn had a few THOUSAND boards made, and they are setting on a stockpile of them now with no choice but to put them out.
I've been told its cheaper to do it that way and then just mail out new ones as needed (instead of replacing the entire lot!) Makes sense from a business/money standpoint.
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Post by wvsecondary on Jul 8, 2009 21:12:08 GMT -5
Have over 25 RTR locos and never had any problem myself. That is an odd on for sure.
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CIOR
Chairman
Posts: 2,046
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Post by CIOR on Jul 11, 2009 22:40:00 GMT -5
I guess I had better get a test track setup from the sounds of that. Are all RTR boards interchangeable? In all honesty, I'd just forgo the boards! LOL. DCC install and be done with it... ;D |
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CIOR
Chairman
Posts: 2,046
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Post by CIOR on Jul 22, 2009 22:40:51 GMT -5
Agree 100% with that.
I'm to the point that I'm putting all Tsunami's in to my stuff, and doing board replacement on them!
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Post by Raeder on Aug 22, 2009 8:50:11 GMT -5
I blew a decoder on a GP60B board this week and when I looked around, I found Athearn is known for having shorts between the frame and the bottom motor clip. I checked my unit and found a short, wrote to Athearn about it, and they told me they only test their boards for DC operation, not DCC!!
So those of us running DCC need to check for continuity between the bottom motor lead and the chassis. A short makes no difference to DC, but a big difference to DCC.
Kevin
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