Potrail2378

Hi, is this the piece I need to isolate?

Hi, GS - it is in an original box, with a plastic molded insert. It does have pickups from the non-driven bogey. Hope that helps.

Hi, I have been gifted a Tri-ang R758 Hymek, but my layout is DCC. Can it be converted to DCC? I've had a quick look inside and there seems to be quite a lot of pickups/copper. Can the motor be isolated from the track? Any help or advice you can give me will be very much appreciated.

Hi, here is a photo of my 'test jig'. Obviously, I only tested the outputs because the grey and orange wires were causing problems. I have just tested each and every lead for any short circuits, and there are none.

Hi, I have two decoders with the same fault. I really don't know how they got damaged. If I may, I will tell you the symptoms, and hopefully someone can help, so I don't damage any more. With the red and black wires connected to the DCC output, I get the following readings on a home made test jig - Grey - Fwd = constant 26v Rev = constant 26v White - Fwd = 21v Rev 26v Blue = positive voltage Green - F1 off = 0v F1 on = 26v Yellow - Fwd = 0v Rev = 26v Orange - Fwd = 26v Rev = 26v Violet - F2 off = 0v F2 on = 26v

Hi, and sorry for the late reply - I never seem to get notifications from the forum. I have soldered a 2,200 microfarad, 16v cap to each decoder via a red and black length of decoder wire. No diodes or resistors fitted. I soldered them to the bridge rectifier of the decoder. Apart from the available room, I should be able to fit a diode/resistor in series.

Hi 96RAF, just to let you know that I connected the pickups from each unit, no problems. However, when I switched the Hornby Select on, I got the 'short circuit' notification. I then switched off the Select, and back on again, then it worked fine. I have fitted 2,200 microfarad, 25v caps to each decoder. But upstairs in the loft, on my layout with the Hornby Elite I have had no problems whatsoever. Could this be something to do with back EMF? I don't really know much about that, it's something that I have read about in the group.

Thanks, 96RAF. I didn't think there would be any issues, but better to ask and be sure.

I have converted my class 142 to DCC, with cab, saloon and directional lights. Each unit has a motor and a decoder (set to the same address), they work well together. Problem is - every so often there is a bit of saloon light flicker. Can I open up the units and connect two wires (one for each rail) to each unit, so that there are eight wheels picking up current for both units, rather than four wheels picking up power for one unit? I can't really see an issue, but would like to confirm there will be no problems. Thanks in advance.

Yes. I meant to say permanently negative polarity in relation to the blue live wire. Would a factory reset help?

Hi 96RAF, the decoder works fine apart from the white wire being permanently live. I can only assume it's a short circuit but nothing is obvious. I'm hoping it's nothing too serious.

Hi, I have a sound decoder - it has an 8 painted on it. The sounds work OK, the loco works OK, the directional lights in 'reverse' work OK. The problem is that the white wire (headlights) is permanently live, whatever the direction. It sounds like a simple short circuit, but nothing is obvious. Could it be something in the circuitry that is beyond my capability? I once heard that doing a factory reset could make you lose the sounds, is that true? Thanks in advance.

Sorry, Hornby elite.

Hi, my pair of class 142 Pacers (which I recently converted) are quite happily running around my layout. They have both got decoders on the same address - this is ideal, as their directional lights both operate together and they can work independently of each other. However both cab lights come on together, not sure if this is quite prototypical or not. If I did give them different addresses, is there a way that directional lights would work with each other, and would the cab lights run independently? Thanks in advance.

Hi, I have bought a class 142 Pacer in Provincial blue livery, and I'm in the process of converting it to DCC. It's the twin motor version. I have already replaced the wiring and pickups, but are the motors reliable, and is it worth just getting new ones? They run ok after a clean up and a couple of drops of oil. If so, is there a part number for the motors? Also, I'm struggling to get the plastic windows off the main body - I'm wanting to put interior lights in, is there a special technique? Thanks in advance.

Hi, If I wanted to do a 'direct comparison' between my TTS Mallard, TTS Flying Scotsman, and TTS Hogwarts Express, with their respective coaches, could I give them all the same address without anything going wrong? Eg, burning out motors, strain on the controller, etc. Thanks in advance.

Hi 96RAF, I have fitted Tower LEDs at 3vDC with a 1Kohm resistor in series for each LED. They are not from a kit, but from what I have made up. Everything was working fine. However, now that I have had time to go up to layout in the loft, where the Elite is, it seems to be working fine, apart from a slow speed jittering which I can easily remidy by altering the CVs. I will have to swap the decoders again to see what happens, but right now, it's OK. I will also have to check the socket and wiring in the loco. I will keep you updated.

Yes, everything worked perfectly fine before I tried the TTS decoder. The Select in the workshop works OK as far as I know. I will have to take the loco upstairs to the loft layout where I have a Hornby Elite. Hopefully I have just broken a wire while swapping decoders.

Hi, around six months ago I converted a Hornby (ex Lima?) class 37 to DCC and fitted directional lights, everything worked perfectly. I treated myself to the R8102 sound decoder, but am having problems with it. All the sounds work OK but it won't move! There is no handbrake release noise. The directional lights come on white at the front and red at the rear, but when I change direction on the Hornby Select, the lights stay the same way and don't change. It's a plug/socket affair so I put the old decoder back in, but now while travelling forward there are no directional lights and in reverse the directional lights work fine. Not sure if I've broken a wire along the way, or if there's a fault with the sound decoder. Any thoughts please? Thanks in advance.

Thanks, lt looks pretty straightforward. I'm just hoping the loco will be heavy enough, and reliable enough.

Hi, I still have a £50 Christmas Amazon voucher from work, and was wondering about getting the Santa express train set, which is conveniently priced at fifty quid. I think it's R1248. Simple question - Can it be converted to DCC? Thanks in advance.

Hi, I was just looking at an old Hornby catalogue from 2016. Did anything ever become of the Hornby R 1199 train set? It has/had a Mallard, a Flying Scotsman, and two rakes of coaches, one for each. They were a TTS fitted set, due to be released in October 2016. Were they ever released? Thanks in advance.

Hi. I have fitted DCC Concepts electrical wipers to the wheels of a rake of four teak coaches, and now have interior lights. This has caused me some 'drag', or friction. My Railroad Mallard and Railroad Scotsman are OK pulling the four coaches, but my Hogwarts Express struggles. My questions are - is there any friction on the factory fitted carriages (I'm assuming there will be), and if so, have I 'opened up' the wipers too much, causing the friction? Thanks in advance.

Hi, I was recently gifted 10 red/white 3vdc tower bi-colour LEDs. They work OK, one voltage direction is white, the other voltage direction is red. I was intending to use them in a converted-to-dcc class 37. Only trouble is that there are only two terminals, but three wires - blue, white and yellow. Is it possible to wire these up so I have bi-directional lights at both ends of the loco? Thanks in advance.

OK, thanks for all your valuable comments and support. Just one further question though - What era would you class the 'Hogwarts Express' as? It's not a trick question, as I have a Hornby Hogwarts Express. I also have four maroon coaches to go with it.