DCC loco slowing to a stall

I have installed a Digitrax DZ125 in an old Con-Cor Challenger. It will run for a few feet just fine than starts running slower and slower until it stops. after 2 or 3 minutes it can be re started and run the same, stalling after a few feet. I thought it might be the motor and I had a spare so I switched it out and it does the same thing. I then though maybe it could be the decoder and switched it out for another DZ 125. Is it possible it would act this way if it is just not enough decoder for the motor current draw?

 

Sounds familiar...

http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/hon3-concor-goose.89727/#post-956835

You guys keep laughing at me for continuing to run a layout with electrical block control. Go right ahead. You aren't bothering me a bit...

 

TrainsNTractors, what scale is this engine in? It sounds like it might be an N scale, but I can't tell for sure.

I'd check the above link if you haven't already, although it looks like that pertained to a preinstalled decoder. Also, see if the new decoder helps the situation at all. If not, see what the current draw on the motor is and compare it to the decoder. You may need a more powerful one. Most decoders will say what their current draw is on the motor.

 

No, I mean my toggle switches decide what locomotives go and which ones stay, and my brain does all the computation. My locomotives don't lose their minds because they have no minds to lose, and if the main computer crashes, then that'll mean I certainly have bigger problems than my trains.

 

I changed out the decoder again to one with a hight current rating and the loco runs fine now. Just to much load for that little DZ125. Thanks

 

I am sure you know now, the second thing to do after making sure a motor is isolated is to do a stall current check.
The below is what and many others do if you are not aware of this. Been using these meters for some years.

http://www.trainelectronics.com/Meter_HF/index.htm

Rich

 

Hehe, same here.

I like the baseball to go straight to home plate. No cutoff man.



Doug

 

And neither of these posts is at all helpful to the question asked.

 

A bit touchy about a little humor injection are we? The problem has been solved.

Doug

 

I referred him to a thread where someone was having a very similar issue. Are you quite sure that wasn't helpful...?