Model Railway Forum

Hi
If using a Hornby plug-In power connector (or even their power track section) you need to Pop open the cover with the aid of a small flat blade screwdriver and ensure their is no capacitor wired across the two connections inside. It is absolutely vital any such capacitors are removed on DCC layouts. If there is a capacitor inside then simple cut its wires where its soldered or connected to the connections and throw the capacitor away. There should be no components inside the connector. Once any Capacitor is removed re clip the cover back on.

On the programming track, I disconnected the wires to the DCC hub, before I tested it on DC. So it was just a straight piece of track with a Hornby connector going to it, with no connection to the DCC system. I’ve done some further testing and my controller isn’t reading the chip. All of my other chips read fine. I’ve tried reprogramming the chip but no cigar.

Chrishans wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:04 am On the programming track, I disconnected the wires to the DCC hub, before I tested it on DC. So it was just a straight piece of track with a Hornby connector going to it, with no connection to the DCC system. I’ve done some further testing and my controller isn’t reading the chip. All of my other chips read fine. I’ve tried reprogramming the chip but no cigar.

I appreciate what your saying, BUT..... If the Hornby track connector is a DC one it will have inside a small capacitor. This capacitor MUST be removed for DCC operation if one is found present. The capacitor being left in place (if one is there) will interfere with the DCC data flow and corrupt the data!! The clip works perfectly on DC whether the capacitor is inside or not!

Below and curtesy of Chrissaf of the Hornby Forum is a pair of images of a DC power clip modified by removing the capacitor to DCC working.

Hmm, I thought that if I removed the chip and disconnected the programming track to the DCC controller, and set it up to DC then that wouldn’t cause any issues, because the chip is no longer in the loco?

I’m new to all this DCC stuff haha

If you have removed the decoders wiring from the pick ups and and also the motor and reconnected it back to DC operation or unplugged the decoder from its socket and replaced it with the DC blanking plug, then it wont matter at all if a capacitor is in the track connector. However, if there is one inside the connector it must be removed before DCC is used.

I wasn't at all clear on what you were doing in post #12. Hence my warning

Have you tried fitting a known good decoder into the unresponsive loco and the suspect decoder into a loco that works on DCC? Perhaps if funds permit a decoder tester would be a good addition to your toolkit.

Hehehe, I think my description was a bit unclear. I suspect the issue lies within the decoder. It’s a Bachmann decoder, I’ve got 3 other Bachmann ones in other locos, all with the same amount of pins and they all work fine.

It seems that there’s a lot of discussions as to which brand is best. What are everyone’s thoughts?

I’m also curious as to how people install decoders in locos with limited space. I installed 8 pin decoders in a Bachmann 4mt, Bachmann B1, Bachmann modified hall. None of which were easy tasks. I’m interested in why they didn’t utilise the space in the tender.

Appreciate all the help guys

My choice Lenz or Zimo. Nothing else comes near IMO for standard non sound decoders. Sound then Zimo or ESU