HampshireHog

Thanks for that. I will go down that path I think.

Hi all. Am I any further forward in knowing what I should do with this loco/decoder. Should I scrap the decoder and start again? Does the wiring look OK? I have only ever used a dirct plug in decoder.

Hi again 96RAF. If you search for Sapphire mini in Google an ad comes up for on the Hattons website although without an image but with the number R8246. Presumably a very old advert.

Hi Rog, tricky to show a picture as it is hard wired and placed in the boiler space with cables going through a small hole in the bulkhead. I will give it a go and also show the wiring of the decoder on the motor. I'm not at all familiar with the wiring so someone might be able to say if it looks OK. Cheers

Thanks 96RAF for your reply. I see from the link you provided that Desktop Station list a Hornby R8246 loco decoder which in some places it says is a Hornby Sapphire chip, possibly the mini version, but I can't find an image of it to compare. It still doesn't solve the issue of not being able to get the loco running but I will try to clean more parts to see if it has too many dirty components.

I have recently bought an old Hornby Terrier of unknown vintage that I expected would be analogue as it was cheap. I thought I would put in a decoder myself. However it does have a decoder in the boiler housing which has no markings on. I have tried reading the manufacturer by putting it on the programme track and reading CV8 but each time it seems to come with a different number - 140 last time 255 now. CV7 now shows 198 but has shown different numbers as well. The trouble is it wont run at all after resetting CV8 to 8 and then using 3 as the loco number and setting up a long or short address doesn't help. It reacts when I try to change basic decoder CVs like 2,3 and 4 etc when it twitches or runs for a few centimetres so it can run. Am I wasting my time with a duff decoder or is there something else I should know? Help!

Unfortunately not quite as simple as that. This is a DCC layout and double slip need to be fully isolated at one end of problem track and the point frog at the other end also needs to be isolated hence the 3 nylon isolating joiners. Still working on it.

I had finished laying a section of my new layout. Probably hurried it a bit. Ran a loco over it and wondered why it stalled after a point. Realised to my horror I had failed to wire up a short section, about 8 inches, between a double slip and a turnout. 3 isolating joiners involved with little room for manipulation, and I would rather not take up a load of track. Any very clever suggestions on how to get out of this fix? Thanks

To Bulleidboy , Yes, that's the one I have ordered thanks. In future I will check the ease of fitting decoders before I buy another loco. Learning all the time.

Hi, thanks guys for your comments about a sound decoder. As a novice (change of name to satisfy rules) I have opted for a TCS direct fit decoder without sound as modifying the loco seemed too much of a challenge. Not arrived yet but will report when fitted.

Hi, I have a Hornby Adams Radial R3334 Loco that is DCC ready. It's beautiful model and I would really like to have sound as I have a shunter with sound already. (I am only building a small end to end layout) Apparently Hornby do not make a sound decoder for this loco. Can anyone recommend one that is 8 pin direct fit? Many thanks