Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: WoundedBear on March 29, 2007, 12:59:10 PM

Title: Decoder burnout?
Post by: WoundedBear on March 29, 2007, 12:59:10 PM
There I was....hapilly running my HO Shay and Climax.......consisted on address 6 of my EZC.....everything running fine......3% grade and 6 cars......all looks good.

On a straight run the Shay quit. Lights out, fire box LED dead, everything. Climax still running on addy 6.

Re-address Climax back to 2....no trouble...hit 6....no response from Shay.....try default addy 3.....nada.

Hooked up DC power.....Shay has lights but doesn't move. This Shay BTW is less than a week old....mailed warranty card yesterday. Both units have Bachmann decoders that I installed, and up until this moment hadn't given me any trouble.

Any how.....Shay on DC doesn't move.....check Climax on DC......off she goes just fine.....put Shay back on track....light but no movement.....thought stuck brush.....gave her a flick on the side of the boiler with my finger and off she goes.

Ten minutes of running on DC and this thing is acting fine.......try DCC again....nada.

Tear open tender.....replace decoder with another Bachmann....off we go.....all is fine.

Did I blow a decoder or has it just lost it's "memory"? Is there any way to save it or is it trash? EZC doesn't seem to have a "reset to default" feature.

Sid
Title: Re: Decoder burnout?
Post by: SteamGene on March 29, 2007, 01:32:12 PM
You should be able to get a replacement decoder I think. 
Gene
Title: Re: Decoder burnout?
Post by: Seasaltchap on March 29, 2007, 01:52:29 PM

Agreed: I was surprised the other day to be told that the TCS "No-Quibble" guaranty was being adopted by other decoder makers.
Title: Re: Decoder burnout?
Post by: WoundedBear on March 30, 2007, 06:15:55 PM
I called Bachmann's 1-800 line today......got put through to a gentleman in parts....Tim? Jim?...man I'm bad with names......anyhow, he listened to my tale and without a blink, he offered to send a new decoder. Doesn't want the old one back...nothing.

Perfect!!

If this is an example of Bachmann's customer service, then I think I chose a good product. Hat's off to you!!

Sid
Title: Re: Decoder burnout?
Post by: Hunt on March 31, 2007, 11:59:44 PM
QuoteDid I blow a decoder or has it just lost it's "memory"? Is there any way to save it or is it trash?
Sid
To find out ---- start with a CV reset to their factory set value. To reset the CVs on a Bachmann decoder, write a value of 8 to CV8 using a unit capable of programming the decoder's CVs.