P2K 2-8-4 DCC problems

"Steve Magee" wrote

just one right now (I do not have that model!): is there any RMF suppression circuitry, like a capacitor across the motor leads? If so, check if disconnecting them solves that problem

another question: is the motor by chance one of those iron-less types? These do not like pulse-power

/jw

These do not like pulse-power< Not in plastic engines, the cost would be to high. Pulse-power could be the problem however except for the fact the LE1035 is a silent running decoder. Also the TCS decoders are quiet running and so are the new NCE decoders. Often this problem is a capacitor installed for RF radiation problems. Usually cutting this capacitor out will fix the problem.

This is normally what we do for Bachmann loco's - removing chokes and capacitors, have never had to do it with P2K. I shall check, but I don't recall seeing a cap on the PC board.

Thanks for help, guys. Shall see if there is a cap and what happens if we reconfigure the board. But feel free to offer any other suggestions!

Steve Newcastle Oz

Steve, I'm an N scaler so I don't usually have a luxury of plug-n-play decoders, but maybe I can offer some hints.

Since you are a seasoned installer, you could try tracing the motor connections right from the motor, all the way to the DCC plug. The traces on the circiit board should be visible, so you can see if they go anywhere else besides the DCC plug and the motor.

Another option would be to unsolder the existing wires from the motor then hook up temporary jumpers to the motor. Take those wires and hook them up directly to the motor outputs on the decoder (orange and gray). Then hook up the red and black leads from the decoder to the the DCC plug (or directly to the rail pickups) using 2 more temporary jumper wires. Now you have the motor fully isolated from the circuit board. So, you only have 4 connections to the decoder and the loco should run well. If it doesn't, then there is something "funky" with the motor itself ( this is highly unlikely). If it runs Ok, then as you said, there is fomething "fishy" on the circuit board between the motor and decoder. As I said, you should be able to visually follow the traces and see where they go.

BTW, "funky" and "fishy" are highly technical terms.

HTH ! Peteski

Thanks for your observations, Pete. Current thoughts are leaning to an unwanted connection between pins 3 and 7 in the socket - not the plug - in the tender. We will look at this first, then move on. After all, the loco is brand new, so the "return it to the shop" option still very much exists. Shall see if the owner wants to strip the loco further before getting into real trouble shooting.

Your technical terminology is noted. Rates right up there with "tads", "smidgins" and redefined versions of base (and I do mean base) Anglo-Saxon, that often accompany decoder installations here... :)

Steve

The even more important question is - where is mine? Did my wife snag it from UPS to put under the tree? Gene ABV61-1043.001.HCB

"STEAM GENE"

We're not tellin' :-)

Just too bad that the GER doesn't use 2-8-4s.

-- Cheers Roger T.

Answer is Life Like didn't build enough to supply Standard Hobby Supply with their complete order. Despite ordering it in March, my order was not filled. Gene ABV61-1043.001.HCB