testing locos

[ChrisDante]

I came across this somewhere on the net, sorry, I can't recall where, but it helps a lot.

Set up a piece of test track, about 3 feet long totaly isolated from the rest of the layout.

Wire a loco decoder directly to the track using the wires that would go to the loco. When you want to see if your unencoded loco will work just put it on the track and run it.

I use this a a test of every new loco I buy.

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

[mtaylor]

can't you just use 0 bit stretching to test a analog loco? Granted I do think that is a neat idea and it certainly seems "cleaner" than that annoying BUZZING. But at the same time it also seems like alot of resources dedicated to a task that could be accomplished with the DCC system. I am not slaming your idea, I'm just having a hard time trying to see the need for it.

Thanks
Matt

[pray59]

Thats an excellent idea, ChrisDante. I just picked up some 1969 made Atlas Pacific's that have been rewired with helix jumper jr. can motors. I put one on the track but it just buzzed, and I think the motor just don't like the stretched 0 packet. I'll try it.

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Robert Ray
The NP & UP N-Scale Railroad (http://members.home.net/pray59)

[ChrisDante]

Matt,
with the price of decoders falling out of bed, it's a cheap way, and less cumberson way of doing some testing. You don't have to wire the decoder into the engine to test it.
You are correct, "0" for analog will do the same thing.

maybe I'm not being clear. The decoder is perminently wired to the tracks. you just place the loco on the track and run it.

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

[BC Rail King]

Good idea eh!

Happy Railroading!

Dane N. http://www.trainboard.com/wink.gif

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TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King
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