Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
Listen to them.I've had several people warn me about the MRC decoders .
I too have had some MRC decoders that have lasted for years and maybe even a decade, but I have had many more that didn't last more than a single night of operation. I have one that came in a Genesis 4-6-6-4. The locomotive moved perfectly for about 10 feet before it died. I took it back to the hobby store and they figuratively went screaming from the room. Despite over 20 hours of work, and attempts to program/reset from NCE, Digitrax, and Lenz it still has not turned a wheel.
Another decoder that appeared to be working perfectly, I just happen to put a meter on it for something else I was working on. With the throttle set to zero, the decoder was still leaking over a half volt of power through the motor. Groan, I immediately stopped my other project and replaced the decoder.
One would hope that the newer units are getting better, but I am not willing to chance them. The better brands aren't that much more expensive in the big scheme of things.
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