RMweb Gold pheaton Posted January 30, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 30, 2014 All,Have had yet another loksound V4 start to fail on me last night, the same way the last one failed (ironically in the same manufacturer of model as well) 1 of the yellow caps appears to have started to burn out, i can tell this because it has started to discolour. Both V4s used the same 1.5watt 4 ohm speaker (same type not exactly the same) and both were fitted to Heljan models Class 58 and Class 33, returning them to the vendor isnt really an option as they were both bought second hand, and both were fine on installation... Odd this two are both from a batch which for some reason ESU decided to heat shrink.... Am i overdriving the chip by using it in a Heljan or has anyone else had this problem?Thanks Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corax67 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Even though Heljan have a bit of a reputation for heavier than average current draw, the v4 has a listed continuous load of 1.1A so you shouldn't be overdriving it unless you are absolutely thrashing the loco's with long wagon rakes behind them. Have you had a check under the DCC sockets to ensure none of the pins are shorting out against the chassis? If you are unwilling to return to the vendor then I would recommend contacting ESU customer service to see if they would undertake remedial work on your behalf - they may even be prepared to exchange the units for you for blank units and then you would have to have them reblown as appropriate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
murphyfp Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 From other posts I think this component failure is a known problem to SWD/ESU Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold pheaton Posted February 1, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2014 Interesting you mention that Murphyfp, as i notice on the Hornby issued V4s they use different rated components.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Graff Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 The scientific method should be applied to this..... You have had two ESU V4 decoders fail in the same type of locomotive from the same mfg? Then you should try a similar decoder in a different locomotive! I have had some locomotives that literally eat decoders, and there was no solution. I always run my dexoders in my ESU decoder tester before installing to see if there is some built in problem with it before adding another unknown in the form of a locomotive. Empirical science is the way to go! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold pheaton Posted February 1, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2014 Hi M-Graf... Correct, I have 47 other loksounds all in other locomotives operating with no problem, I also have 2 other loksounds operating in the same MFG of locomotive....with no problem, I personally think this might be a problem with a batch of LOKSOUNDS rather then an issue with the locomotive. And its not the same type of locomotive either, 1 is a class 58 one is a class 33 only the manufacturer is a common here....and since I have decoders running in the same MFG of locomotives with no issue im led to think its an issue with the loksounds themselves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliepetty Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Hi M-Graf... Correct, I have 47 other loksounds all in other locomotives operating with no problem, I also have 2 other loksounds operating in the same MFG of locomotive....with no problem, I personally think this might be a problem with a batch of LOKSOUNDS rather then an issue with the locomotive. And its not the same type of locomotive either, 1 is a class 58 one is a class 33 only the manufacturer is a common here....and since I have decoders running in the same MFG of locomotives with no issue im led to think its an issue with the loksounds themselves. Hi there, we sell hundreds and hardly get any back, some times the come in runs, IE 3 of 4 in a month, then nothing for ages, Just like buses!! Send it back to where you purchased it from, any more ESU issues, let me know: Charlie@dckits.co.uk Home of Legomanbiffo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.