Spectrum 0-6-0 Saddle Tank DCC repair

[cgripp256]

I have a 3 year old (out of warranty) Spectrum 0-6-0 saddle tank (item # 81812) that the DCC board short circuited on a couple of years back.  I relegated it to the repair drawer but never got around to doing it until now.  I am pondering replacing the bachmann board with a 3rd party board.  Has anyone done this and could provide some advice or recommendations?  My other alternative is to send it in to Bachmann for $35 for the factory repair and just go with that.

My main debate is if it is worth the extra $ for the 3rd party board.  I can't find any real specs on the DCC board used in this little loco and have no idea if for instance it is using back EMF or not, etc.

Any help would be appreciated.

[WoundedBear]

Not sure which PCB you're talking about. The 0-6-0T Spectrum has one of these decoders hardwired into it.

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=264_274&products_id=1825

The PCB board is NOT a decoder.

Sid

[cgripp256]

I'm referring to the DCC decoder.  Forgive my faux pas of using "board" when referring to the decoder.  I'm no EE but I am pretty sure the decoder is in fact a PCB as well but that is neither here nor there.

Based on the parts diagram, the factory DECODER is an H818X#DCC01.  I have opened the loco up in the past and it looks decidedly different than the E-Z Command® 1 Amp Locomotive Decoder with Wire Harness of which I have a few laying around for DC to DCC conversions.

I imagine because of the size restriction of fitting a decoder in this model they had to use a different one but I can't find any info on it other than the part #.  Unless of course you are saying it is the same decoder just in a different form factor.

[WoundedBear]

I've been looking for photos of mine when I opened it up to paint it. Can't find them.

Bachmann only has one basic decoder that they used in the non-sound units. No matter what it "looks" like.....that is it and the instructions are here.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/images/44913_Decoder_IS.pdf

Sid

[richiy]

My 0-6-0T had a PC board on it with the shrink wrapped decoder wires soldered to it.
The PC board had the capacitors and two Green inductors and I believe a resistor or two. Been some years. Some think the inductors are resistors.
No idea on how this PC board would short circuit. I recall at least one capacitor across the motor leads but extremely rare the a 0.1 ufd capacitor would ever short.

The PC board has numbers that correspond to the NMRA DCC wiring code.
Google NMRA DCC wiring code and you will see the relationship.
The diagram below shows this very clearly. No need to be an EE.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/HO_0-6-0_Saddle_Tank_Switcher_DCC_Ready.pdf

Below is a suggestion.

http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Bachmann/0-6-0_Saddle_Tank/Bachman_0_6_0_Saddle_Tank.htm

Do you remember how this loco failed? The decoders are reliable but CV's can be messed up with say, derailing. When a decoder stops responding, just do a decoder reset but no idea on what happened some time ago.

richiy

[richiy]

I just looked up H818X#DCC01. That is a PC board. There are no IC's on it. Those locos also came DCC ready with two metal clips on the PC board to run on a DC layout.
The TCS link shows them.

Rich

[WoundedBear]

Without tearing mine completely apart again........I can tell the decoder is shrink wrapped and tucked in at the rear of the cab. The part number the OP gave is for a decoder it seems.......so it would have to be the one I linked to. There is no other factory choice.
Sid

[richiy]

Since the OP does not mention a shrink wrapped device, only the PC board, I wonder if he tried to run it on a DCC layout.

richiy

[WoundedBear]

Rich...........

According to this diagram, the part number you listed is for the decoder.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/81811.pdf

Sid

[genetk44]

I did this type of install using a small digitrax decoder years ago..... http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Bachmann/0-6-0_Saddle_Tank/Bachman_0_6_0_Saddle_Tank.htm

[cgripp256]

Since the OP does not mention a shrink wrapped device, only the PC board, I wonder if he tried to run it on a DCC layout.

richiy

It is a DCC loco. So yes. It ran on a DCC track.

[cgripp256]

I've been looking for photos of mine when I opened it up to paint it. Can't find them.

Bachmann only has one basic decoder that they used in the non-sound units. No matter what it "looks" like.....that is it and the instructions are here.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/images/44913_Decoder_IS.pdf

Sid

Thanks. This is useful. I am still assuming that the decoder is the same as this.

[richiy]

Rich...........

According to this diagram, the part number you listed is for the decoder.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/81811.pdf

Sid

Ok. My mistake.

HB18XPCB01 is what I saw side ways on the document.

Still easy to unsolder and solder a new decoder. Curious to what the details were when it would not operate. I pulled the decoder years ago and installed a DZ125. Great running loco.

Rich

[cgripp256]

Rich...........

According to this diagram, the part number you listed is for the decoder.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/81811.pdf

Sid

Ok. My mistake.

HB18XPCB01 is what I saw side ways on the document.

Still easy to unsolder and solder a new decoder. Curious to what the details were when it would not operate. I pulled the decoder years ago and installed a DZ125. Great running loco.

Rich

I don't recall the that exact situation but the decoder started smoking.