rorz101uk Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Hi all I hear that gaugemaster have stopped repairing their older DCC controllers, although my controller isn’t broken, my booster has failed. It leave me a bit of a problem as I need the booster as my for my depot layout, there was no alternative given to me. Is this due to the new system that’s coming out? my next question is there anywhere that I could take my booster to get it repair, with cost ramping up in the sector, it getting/got very expensive 🤦🏻♂️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Have Gaugemaster definitely told you the booster will not be accepted for repair? If not, get on the phone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rorz101uk Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 Yep, I contacted them last week, i thought they had to try to get in repaired because of the new Legislation for products to be able to be repaired, apparently not. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2E Sub Shed Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Hi The Prodigy is a rebadged Model Rectifier Corporation product. MRC have a Service Dept in the US and accept International repair requests, see MRC Customer Service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 21 hours ago, rorz101uk said: ...Legislation for products to be able to be repaired... I haven't looked at this in any detail for years, but am pretty confident that for the private buyer the lowest price items covered will be limited to what are expected to be 'durables': appliances like washing machines, heating boilers, fridge/freezer, cooker/oven; on the basis that these are necessities for a family. Hobby stuff = luxury item, you are on your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rorz101uk Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 Here is the reply from MRC, hmm bit of a cop out 🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Im assuming its out of warranty? Wont they even have it in for a paid repair? Ive had nothing but great service before from gaugemaster so id be really suprised if they washed there hands of you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted February 20 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20 On 12/02/2024 at 12:09, rorz101uk said: Hi all I hear that gaugemaster have stopped repairing their older DCC controllers, although my controller isn’t broken, my booster has failed. It leave me a bit of a problem as I need the booster as my for my depot layout, there was no alternative given to me. Is this due to the new system that’s coming out? my next question is there anywhere that I could take my booster to get it repair, with cost ramping up in the sector, it getting/got very expensive 🤦🏻♂️ Hi there, We had a simillar problem - not due to misuse, but to dropped and run over. I found this one on Amazon https://aax-eu.amazon.co.uk/x/c/RCbuwiEBe9fu_8JM0zYcpiYAAAGNyK3KpgMAAAH5AQBvbm9fdHhuX2JpZDEgICBvbm9fdHhuX2ltcDEgICD2IIia/http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CMXMS3J7/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pf_rd_p=103e3e54-ecb1-49c9-932a-155637d64f72&pf_rd_r=2V88DTYNN8FBX2AJ01FC&pd_rd_wg=eFyGd&pd_rd_w=k5Xi3&pd_rd_r=c263aff2-3ff4-47aa-980b-3f55de48f806&aref=PaT5KdsHsU It''s worked for nearly 2 years without a problem. Please note - other similar products are also available elsewhere! Phil H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rorz101uk Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 20 minutes ago, meatloaf said: Im assuming its out of warranty? Wont they even have it in for a paid repair? Ive had nothing but great service before from gaugemaster so id be really suprised if they washed there hands of you Yer it’s out of its warranty, had it before COVID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rorz101uk Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 15 minutes ago, Scottish Modeller said: Hi there, We had a simillar problem - not due to misuse, but to dropped and run over. I found this one on Amazon https://aax-eu.amazon.co.uk/x/c/RCbuwiEBe9fu_8JM0zYcpiYAAAGNyK3KpgMAAAH5AQBvbm9fdHhuX2JpZDEgICBvbm9fdHhuX2ltcDEgICD2IIia/http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CMXMS3J7/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pf_rd_p=103e3e54-ecb1-49c9-932a-155637d64f72&pf_rd_r=2V88DTYNN8FBX2AJ01FC&pd_rd_wg=eFyGd&pd_rd_w=k5Xi3&pd_rd_r=c263aff2-3ff4-47aa-980b-3f55de48f806&aref=PaT5KdsHsU It''s worked for nearly 2 years without a problem. Please note - other similar products are also available elsewhere! Phil H It’s bring up a EV car charger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted February 20 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20 4 minutes ago, rorz101uk said: It’s bring up a EV car charger? Strang - must be Amazon moving product codes about! I Get T-Power Ac Dc adapter for MRC Prodigy Advance 2 D.C.C. Railroad System 15v Replacement Switching Power Supply Cord Charger Brand: T POWER Try this link... https://www.amazon.co.uk/POWER-adapter-Railroad-Replacement-Switching/dp/B0794CMNHK Phil H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rorz101uk Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 3 minutes ago, Scottish Modeller said: Strang - must be Amazon moving product codes about! I Get T-Power Ac Dc adapter for MRC Prodigy Advance 2 D.C.C. Railroad System 15v Replacement Switching Power Supply Cord Charger Brand: T POWER Try this link... https://www.amazon.co.uk/POWER-adapter-Railroad-Replacement-Switching/dp/B0794CMNHK Phil H Thanks for that doesn’t tell you what Amps it is, I can see it 15V 👍🏻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted February 20 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20 3 minutes ago, rorz101uk said: Thanks for that doesn’t tell you what Amps it is, I can see it 15V 👍🏻 When I bought mine it was showing as Max Amp rating 3A Mine has powered 5 Sound fitted locos at the same time. Thanks Phil H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rorz101uk Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 Right, the original booster was to give out 8 amps with the original base station, thanks for all your help, I’m sure it will help 👍🏻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted February 20 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 20 (edited) 4 minutes ago, rorz101uk said: Right, the original booster was to give out 8 amps with the original base station, thanks for all your help, I’m sure it will help 👍🏻 Have a hunt on Amazon for DC power supplies until you find a powerful enough one e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=15v+10a+dc+power+supply&crid=2FK4QLDYEUVWM&sprefix=15v+10a%2Caps%2C110&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_7 Check the plug is correct for the Prodigy. Edited February 20 by melmerby 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Izzy Posted February 21 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21 Is it the OP’s primary power supply to the base station that has apparently failed, or a secondary booster? The normal supply is 3.5amp, the separate booster available 8amp. If it’s the latter then how do you know whether it’s the power brick or something else? Can’t understand Gaugemaster refusing to offer assistance when they are apparently still selling the system. I know they have their own new DCC systems in the pipeline but this is very poor customer service which is contrary to what has previously been the case. I wonder what’s going on. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 3 hours ago, Izzy said: ...Can’t understand Gaugemaster refusing to offer assistance when they are apparently still selling the system. I know they have their own new DCC systems in the pipeline but this is very poor customer service which is contrary to what has previously been the case. I wonder what’s going on. The message from Gaugemaster up thread makes it plain enough - no longer economic due to change in circumstances. Add this to another major retailer ceasing operation because future profitability looked unlikely, and it is clear that there is a cold wind blowing in some aspects of trade support for this hobby. Such things happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted February 21 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21 (edited) I thought Gaugemaster controllers had a lifetime warranty? Or is that just their 'in house' design DC ones maybe? Edited February 21 by spamcan61 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Definitely a lifetime warranty on their own brand DC controllers. Careful reading of the applicable warranty for DCC kit seems to be in order. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted February 21 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21 (edited) 25 minutes ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said: Definitely a lifetime warranty on their own brand DC controllers. Careful reading of the applicable warranty for DCC kit seems to be in order. Given they are advertised as Gaugemaster products and indeed labelled on the product itself as Gaugemaster I'd say they're Gaugemaster controllers... EDIT: This page implies it applies to both DC and DCC:- https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/model-railways/gaugemaster/gaugemaster-controls-brand5.html Edited February 21 by spamcan61 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 The DCC items are bought in rebadged ones; the DC stuff is made by them onsite so they are in a position to repair the latter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted February 21 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21 2 minutes ago, andyman7 said: The DCC items are bought in rebadged ones; the DC stuff is made by them onsite so they are in a position to repair the latter. True enough, but not really relevant to the warranty situation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 35 minutes ago, spamcan61 said: ... not really relevant to the warranty situation. 17 hours ago, rorz101uk said: Yer it’s out of its warranty, had it before COVID Clearly, the OP has acknowledged that the item not working is out of warranty, which suggests that a very different scheme applies to DCC kit, as compared to the lifetime cover offered on their own brand DC controllers. Notice the line that ends 'subject to the usual caveats' in the Gaugemaster advertising? This is the reason for my earlier posting: 1 hour ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said: Careful reading of the applicable warranty for DCC kit seems to be in order. The reply from Gaugemaster quoted above suggests to me that what was previously possible to support a customer has now unfortunately become uneconomic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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