SteveWoodward
Member
I'm gotten somewhat comfortable with decoder installations, but I've got one loco that's giving me fits. It's an Athearn Blue Box GP38-2 that a while back installed a Digitrax DH163D in. I isolated the motor and soldered all the connections, and the loco ran fine. Its sat for about a year, and when I tried to run it I got nothing. Attempts to read any CVs resulted in a no data message on my Zephyr.
I took it apart, verified that the motor was still isolated, then popped in another DH163D. Nothing.
I hooked up test leads from my Zephyr, and when I make contact with the red and black wires the loco runs. If I put it on the track it will pick up on the "red" side, but not through the frame. In other words I have to run a jumper to the black wire, which is soldered to the metal tab that was originally used for the headlight.
If I remove one truck and touch the test lead to the frame bolster...nothing.
It's not shorting out, it's just not conducting through the frame.
I hope I've explained that clearly enough, I may shoot a quick video to demonstrate the problem.
Any thoughts?
I took it apart, verified that the motor was still isolated, then popped in another DH163D. Nothing.
I hooked up test leads from my Zephyr, and when I make contact with the red and black wires the loco runs. If I put it on the track it will pick up on the "red" side, but not through the frame. In other words I have to run a jumper to the black wire, which is soldered to the metal tab that was originally used for the headlight.
If I remove one truck and touch the test lead to the frame bolster...nothing.
It's not shorting out, it's just not conducting through the frame.
I hope I've explained that clearly enough, I may shoot a quick video to demonstrate the problem.
Any thoughts?