malibu43
Active Member
Hi,
I'm not very familiar or experienced with DCC/wiring, etc...
I got a DCC equipped SP 4-8-4 from Bachmann a few years back, and I just run it once a year when we set up a track around our Christmas tree. I just use the locomotive DC since I just have the one loop and my controller is an old DC controller.
I was trying to separate the tender from the locomotive tonight so I could put the loco away in it's box. Unfortunately I was in a hurry and a little distracted, and ended up pulling one of the wires out of the 4 pin connector when I was trying to unplug the tender (stupid me).
I have a few questions:
1. Edit - Ignore this question. I tried the loco and it no longer works. There is also a connector with 2 wires/pins. Is the one I broke just related to DCC?
2. If the answer to #1 is yes, can I still use the locomotive on my DC loop without repairing the broken connector/wire? Edit - Doesn't matter. Answer to #1 is NO.
3. What's the best way to fix the connector/wire? The wire is actually broken just inside the plastic connector. I tried to use a very small screwdriver to depress what I thought was a tab and maybe remove the metal connector that was soldered (or crimped) on the end of the individual wire, hoping I could strip the wire and re-attach it. However, I couldn't get the metal connector out of the larger plastic piece. Should I try to repair the connector, or do I need to get a new decoder?
4. Can anyone tell me how to get the shell off the tender? (in case I need to put a new decoder in) I tried looking at the exploded view on the backmann website, but it wasn't very helpful.
5. Edit - additional question. If I do need to replace the entire decoder, what's the cheapest way to do it, given that I plan on just running DC?
Thanks!
Gregg
I'm not very familiar or experienced with DCC/wiring, etc...
I got a DCC equipped SP 4-8-4 from Bachmann a few years back, and I just run it once a year when we set up a track around our Christmas tree. I just use the locomotive DC since I just have the one loop and my controller is an old DC controller.
I was trying to separate the tender from the locomotive tonight so I could put the loco away in it's box. Unfortunately I was in a hurry and a little distracted, and ended up pulling one of the wires out of the 4 pin connector when I was trying to unplug the tender (stupid me).
I have a few questions:
1. Edit - Ignore this question. I tried the loco and it no longer works. There is also a connector with 2 wires/pins. Is the one I broke just related to DCC?
2. If the answer to #1 is yes, can I still use the locomotive on my DC loop without repairing the broken connector/wire? Edit - Doesn't matter. Answer to #1 is NO.
3. What's the best way to fix the connector/wire? The wire is actually broken just inside the plastic connector. I tried to use a very small screwdriver to depress what I thought was a tab and maybe remove the metal connector that was soldered (or crimped) on the end of the individual wire, hoping I could strip the wire and re-attach it. However, I couldn't get the metal connector out of the larger plastic piece. Should I try to repair the connector, or do I need to get a new decoder?
4. Can anyone tell me how to get the shell off the tender? (in case I need to put a new decoder in) I tried looking at the exploded view on the backmann website, but it wasn't very helpful.
5. Edit - additional question. If I do need to replace the entire decoder, what's the cheapest way to do it, given that I plan on just running DC?
Thanks!
Gregg
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