Two questions, one about gaugemaster prodigy and one about burned out chips

[WD0-6-0]

First question, a friend of mine is using a gaugemaster prodigy advance and is interested in getting a second handset but has heard that they have problems. Has anyone experienced any problems with a second unit?

Second Question, while I was at a running session at his layout and had just programmed my newest Bachmann pannier tank, L97 from the Midnight Met set, to number 21 and placed it on the track, I then applied power and it moved a few millimeters before stopping in a rather large cloud of foul smelling smoke. The chip was in correctly and insulated, I have 2 Bachmann panniers already one factory fitted the other I fitted myself and have no problems with them just this one. There was no visible damage to the loco or chip but the chip was definitely dead. Any ideas?

 

Rhys

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

Q2. So you installed the decoder (8 pin plug?) and than set the address successfully to 21 on the programme track, but the decoder then burned out immediately on track power. Had the loco run as you expected on DC?

 

This could just be a random 'infant mortality' due to a flaky component on the decoder.

 

Alternatively if it was small output decoder, possibly you have a motor with much higher than usual current draw. Try the loco on DC, ideally measure the stalled current at 12V.

 

Also give the loco a very careful check over, especially under the socket to see if the pins can come through the socket and short out on a metal surface beneath.

 

Likewise decoder wiring, has it been damaged when the body was replaced? Doesn't take a lot to pinch two wires together and create a current path.

[Ron Ron Ron]

As to using a second handset, a problem may occur if the handsets are operating on different software versions.

 

Is your friend's system a Prodigy Advance, or the current Prodigy Advance² (i.e. "Squared")?

If it's the former, then Gaugemaster can upgrade it to a Squared version, for a reasonable fee.

 

Your friend might benefit from a chat with the technical helpline, assuming there is one.

 

 

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[mikeg]

I have no problems with a second hand set, but I have had the original one updated with the command unit. I have also had the problem with decoders going up in smoke, I turned out to be a motor problem I appears to draw .5amps but if you stop it running by hand one motor coil give a reading of between 3 and 5 amps!

 

regards

 

mike g

[WD0-6-0]

Q2. So you installed the decoder (8 pin plug?) and than set the address successfully to 21 on the programme track, but the decoder then burned out immediately on track power. Had the loco run as you expected on DC?

 

This could just be a random 'infant mortality' due to a flaky component on the decoder.

 

Alternatively if it was small output decoder, possibly you have a motor with much higher than usual current draw. Try the loco on DC, ideally measure the stalled current at 12V.

 

Also give the loco a very careful check over, especially under the socket to see if the pins can come through the socket and short out on a metal surface beneath.

 

Likewise decoder wiring, has it been damaged when the body was replaced? Doesn't take a lot to pinch two wires together and create a current path.

Yeah, sorry I wasn't specific, It was a Hornby 8 pin chip, the same chip used in the other pannier I installed a chip in. The loco ran fine in dc but ill double check as soon as possible. The chip had been used for a short time n a loco before but was removed fairly quickly because it was performing poorly and when travelling forward over points the loco would stop reverse then stop again and travel forward again (another problem I keep meaning to ask advice about it occurs in a Hornby patriot and Hornby N15) so it was removed and was placed in the pannier.

 

Thanks all who have responded about both questions, on to the gaugemaster question ill tell him what's been said and ill let him decide what he does.

Thanks

Rhys

[RFS]

The Hornby chip is only 0.5 amps. A better option - at only slightly more cost - would be a Lenz Standard+ decoder.  Not only is its output 1.0 amps, but it has short circuit and overload protection. It's physically bigger than the Hornby (it's the same size as Bachmann's 36-553). If you get a short/overload problem the decoder shuts down to protect itself, and turns on bits in CV 30 to say what the problem was.

 

The problem with your locos going back and forth is because they intermittently don't read the DCC signal and think they're on DC. Try making pickup wheels and track squeaky clean, but the problem my well be due to inadequate DCC bus wiring.

[WD0-6-0]

The Hornby chip has been used by one of my other panniers and has performed flawlessly and was also recommended by my local model shop.

Track is clean but wheels might not be, it's a friends layout (mine doesn't exist yet) his DCC bus is once every meter, I think, does it need to be more frequent? No other loco ever has a problem.

Thanks

Rhys

[Ron Ron Ron]

The Hornby chip has been used by one of my other panniers and has performed flawlessly and was also recommended by my local model shop.

 

In that case Rhys, if i were you I would be a little more circumspect about DCC advice from that shop.

 

 

.

[RFS]

Track is clean but wheels might not be, it's a friends layout (mine doesn't exist yet) his DCC bus is once every meter, I think, does it need to be more frequent? No other loco ever has a problem.

Thanks

Rhys

I assume he has dropper wires every metre but what's his bus wire size? That may be an issue if it's too thin. Capacitors can also be an issue with some loco/decoder combinations. 

[WD0-6-0]

In that case Rhys, if i were you I would be a little more circumspect about DCC advice from that shop.  .

Yeah I think I will in future, although I'm not convinced about their advice being wrong because it worked and continues to work in another pannier. I have no idea how thick his bus wire is.

Thanks

Rhys

[RhBBob]

First question, a friend of mine is using a gaugemaster prodigy advance and is interested in getting a second handset but has heard that they have problems. Has anyone experienced any problems with a second unit?

 

Rhys

 

Just a hint from the Honorary Life President of The Idiots Society....

 

Each Handset must have a separate number 1, 2, 3 etc., - check by pressing Sys 6 and either noting or changing the number displayed.  I attended an exhibition with all three Walkarounds on the same number....and experienced huge delays in starting......and stopping; the PA2 was searching every 'packet' it could lay its hands on before deciding to proceed.

 

And be careful of the sadly conveniently sited DBL HEAD (double-heading) button which gets pressed at least once during an exhibition; it's easy to reset - he said - but you need to know what number was put in

[WD0-6-0]

Ill tell him about that, knowing him it'll probably be a while before he gets one anyway if he decides to get one at all but ill tell him anyway

Thanks

Rhys