Dummy Car causing short Circuit

[Pedro1707822406]

Hello...I back again :(

I Purchased new Hornby R3944 BR Intercity Class 43 HST Train Pack beginning of summer and only just got round to setting it up.

Problem I'm having is, forgive me I'm new to DCC, is that when I apply the dummy car to track it creates a short circuit. My loco is fine and i have no problems with any other rolling stock, dummy cars or locos at all. I'm using the Elink along with Hornby's Railmaster software. I'm posting here first incase there's a simple fix, something obvious I'm missing? If its a complex issue I will just send back to Hornby see what they have to say. I've added some pictures if any help...thank you in advance for taking time to look.

Its not something silly like needing another decoder in the dummy car or removing the blanking plate is it?

[Fishmanoz]

Seems to me you have a from-new wiring fault, or maybe some solder has run between tracks or pins, or last possibility the DC blanking plate (3rd picture) is pushed too far in and shorting behind.

You don’t have to install a decoder in the dummy car, although you do if you want directional lighting to work, or you want sound from both ends of the train.

Easy to tell if there is anything associated with the blanking plate - remove it and see if the short goes.

But the simple answer - return it to your supplier (not Hornby unless they supplied) for replacement under warranty. Better than playing round and ending with your warranty void.

[jane1707819582]

One thing to eliminate Pedro is that the wheels are all inserted the correct way round .

[Going Spare]

@Jane

Are not both wheels on each wheelset insulated from the axle? If so, their orientation will not matter.

[Pedro1707822406]

Thankyou, now I know I've not missed anything obvious I shall return it. cheers.

[Brew Man]

@ Going Spare

Judging by some of my wagons that I have put new wheels on, the axel seems to be insulated at one end only, so you do have to get them the same way round.

[Going Spare]

To the best of my knowledge, almost all Hornby's replacement rolling stock metal wheelsets produced for around the last 20 years (various packs from R8096 through to R8264) have had both wheels insulated.

The only exceptions are those intended for coaches with interior lighting [Pullmans (pack X9096) & MK1s (X6950)] which do have one wheel live to the axle as the electrical feed is from a wiper bearing on the axle.

Similarly, once the Ringfield motor-era system of non-powered bogie power pick-up being through the chassis block necessitating one wheel being live to the axle had passed, diesel & electric locos and multiple unit bogies have been fitted with double-insulated wheelsets as they incorporate wiper pick-ups bearing on each wheel.