paul_huggett Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 HiI have a Hornby DCC Castle Class 4 pin chip that when I placed on the track for the first time in about 5 years after being stored started smoking. I opened the loco up and the DCC Chip was hot to touch and seemed to glow when I placed back onto the track and then one of the wires detatched. The last time I used the loco was on a dcc layout using Hornby E-Link but due to a few issues with railmaster which is making me think of going elsewhere for power controller (another story), I am having to use a dc controller. Any help would be great because I have not been in the hobby for 5+ years cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Welcome to the forum PaulIs the loco not supposed to have an 8-pin decoder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ard Lochan Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 The four pin decoder in the Castle Class was known for its propensity to self destruct, It has now been replaced by a more robust decoder,,,,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 What was the R number of the decoder. I only ask as I have an "early" DCC Ready Castle Class loco and it has an eight-pin socket in it. I was under the apprehension that the 4-pin decoder (R7274) was a fairly recent addition to the Hornby range - for example for the Peckett 0-4-0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 You aren't using an old DC controller by chance? Some of these especially the old H & M ones, don't smooth the DC supply like the new ones do, so you get peaks of voltage, this tends to kill DCC decoders, not always immediately, but eventually. The same happened to me using my old H & M DC supply. If you are using one of the new Hornby PWM DC supplies, then these are usually ok to use with DCC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_huggett Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 Welcome to the forum PaulIs the loco not supposed to have an 8-pin decoder?I have had the engine for nearly 10 years now. It came from the set where you got a DCC Select controller, Castle class, 3 pullman coaches, GWR pannier tank and some wagons. Where can I find the decoders R number? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ard Lochan Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 The original four pin decoder was only available as a spare part number X9659 and was very poor, The replacment is R7274. I have two of these Castle Class and a Shunter, All of these had X9659 all of which failed, Regards, Ard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Hi ArdMany thanks for the update. You learn something new every day. BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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