Athearn Genesis Mike with a problem
Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 12:36 pm
I've got an Athearn Mike that has turned into a chip frier - literally.
The problem started with the red power wire coming adrift from its solder tag - so no propulsion. After dismantling the loco I was able to resolder the wire and checked it on DC power where it was quite happy. I then re-installed the TCS decoder and re-set it on the programming track. So far, so good.
I then put it on the main line where it leapt forward, with the controller on speed step 0, and blew the decoder; there's damage to both top and bottom insulating material on the decoder.
Trying it with a brand new NCE decoder on the programming track was a waste of time. My Gaugemaster set wouldn't program the decoder, nor would it read back any CVs. Plug in an Athearn dummy plug and connect it to a DC power supply and everything is fine, but on DCC: nothing.
Do I hard wire a decoder or is there something simple that I've missed?
The problem started with the red power wire coming adrift from its solder tag - so no propulsion. After dismantling the loco I was able to resolder the wire and checked it on DC power where it was quite happy. I then re-installed the TCS decoder and re-set it on the programming track. So far, so good.
I then put it on the main line where it leapt forward, with the controller on speed step 0, and blew the decoder; there's damage to both top and bottom insulating material on the decoder.
Trying it with a brand new NCE decoder on the programming track was a waste of time. My Gaugemaster set wouldn't program the decoder, nor would it read back any CVs. Plug in an Athearn dummy plug and connect it to a DC power supply and everything is fine, but on DCC: nothing.
Do I hard wire a decoder or is there something simple that I've missed?