Hi all, BIG newbie here. I'm in the process off putting together a HO set-up for my son, since we are beginners we went with the Bachman EZ Command DCC. We haven't converted the DCC ready engines yet, so we are running analog. Which Bachman says is fine to do. When we put an engine on the track, the engines make a weird whining, kind of screeching noise. Once the engines gets up to speed the sound goes away but once stopped it still does it. (No noise on DC) No matter what brand of train engine, all are relatively new or brand new and yes only one engine at a time. Also my son has noticed all the lights (forward or reverse) on the engines come on no matter what direction. Thanks for any help and/or suggestions.
Hi ForMyKids and welcome to trainboard. My suggestion is to convert your locos to DCC, although Bachmann state that you can run one DC loco the truth is locos don't like it as you have experienced. This is because the track is at full power all the time. Even when your loco is stationary the motor is still receiving power but as a AC type wave and this can cause locos to hum I have a Bachmann DCC unit and can recommend it as a good entry level system. Really you need to have at least one loco converted so you can run the system as intended, you will like it. It is so much better controlling your locos rather than the track. Have fun.
Hi ForMyKids, I agree with Ken, you should convert to DCC as soon as you can. I put it off for years even after I was given a DCC system. I have no plans to go back. The noise you hear is common with all DC locos and any DCC system. Welcome to the TrainBoard.
As has been stated, the noise is normal for DC locos running on a DCC layout(so is both lights being on). What has not been stated is DO NOT LEAVE THEM SITTING STILL WITH THE POWER ON! They should be fine running(although I would suggest getting them converted to DCC as soon as possible, because they will run much better and quiter, and you get the advantage of individual control, the main reason for DCC), but if you leave them sitting for too long, the motors will heat up and could burn out.
What you're hearing and seeing is absolutely normal. Don't let the locos sit idle for more than a minute or so as there is a possibility of damaging the motor. Once the locos have had decoders installed they will run normally (no noise) under DCC control and you will be able to leave them on the track as long as you wish. I used the Bachmann EZ-Command for two years. It's a good system to get the feel of DCC with before moving on to a better system. I now use a Digitrax Zephyr and am quite happy with it.
Many thanks for all your replies. So this morning I did get a decoder for one of the engines and it fried. @%$! I had 2 Athearn engines. The first one I put it into it seemed to work fine but slow and I still am having the whining noises. (But is normal right?) Then I went to re-program the engine do a different number on the EZ. I didn't take. while I was trying a second time, my son pressed the 10 spot on the EZ (10 is for analog). After that I couldn't get anything to happen. So I tried to put the decoder on another engine and while trying to program the second one, the engine gave off a 3 tone series of beeps and didn't move then smoke came from the engine and the decoder chip was too hot to touch. FIRED Decoder. Not sure what to do next. Stupid question, the decoder has black plastic wrapped around the chip. Was that supposed to come off or is it for insulation? Again thanks for you help. Merry Christmas.
Nope leave the black tape on it , acts as an insulator. Agree that the decoder is fried( letting out the factory smoke is always bad )....Mike
You say you have two Athearn locos? They aren't by chance blue box locos are they? If they are the motor needs to be isolated from the frame. This means the motor must be removed from the loco and the grounding tabs on the bottom of the motor need to be removed. This is a simple operation for someone who's done it before. Your hobby shop clerk should know how if he's a model railroader.
Thanks Jeffery, Yes they are the blue box with yellow trim. Now I need a hobby shop. The place I first went to charges a min of $50 to do any work on a loco. So once the grounding tabs are removed with the Athearn loco it no prob to drop a decoder in and program? What about Kato? Again thanks for you help.
I don't know about the Kato. On the Athearn, once the grounding tabs are removed from the bottom of the motor solder a wire to the bottom of the motor. The gray wire on the decoder will attach to this wire. The orange wire goes to the top of the motor, red wire to the right rail pickup, black wire to the left rail pickup, white wire to the front headlight, yellow wire to the rear headlight, blue wire is common + to both lights.
The 2 locos are DCC ready so it's just plug in the decoder and go? Which is what I thought and if so why did it fry? With the DCC ready Athearn do you still need to pull out the motor and remove the ground tabs? Thanks
If the loco is DCC ready you need only remove the dummy plug (enables the loco to run DC without a decoder) from the board and install the decoder. On some Athearn's the dummy plug can be hard to remove. Do not use an MRC decoder. They are notorious for being undependable.
Jeffrey, YOU ROCK! Yes the decoder that fired was a MRC. So WTH is a dummy plug and where can I find one. They vary from loco to loco? Is there a way to determine where it is or what should I be looking for.
On Athearn's the dummy plug is in the socket on the pc board that the decoder will plug into. The dummy plug must be removed so the decoder can be plugged in. If a decoder is being hard wired it must still be removed as it will be a direct short from the wheels to the motor.
Jeffery, Thanks to and metra148, we are up and running. And the original chip I thought I fried still works. The dummy plug AKA, the jumper was the culprit. I feel like a new man. Happy New Year.
Glad I could help. Future installations will be easier now that you have some practical experience under your belt.
