the MRH Forum

DCC caboose elec problem Track and electrical/DCC
Reply
Active Member 53 posts Patrick_ Active Member 53 posts
Patrick_

Hey guys,

I have this athearn caboose that lights up cause it has a dcc decoder. I weathered it and now when I put it on my track it lights up when I hit 5 and 0 but but the second I move it, it starts flickering and the lights go out but when I pull it off the track the electrical capacitor keeps it lite up for about 20 seconds with no flicker. My engines run well without cutting out but this caboose flickers and the lights go out the second I touch it.  Does anyone have an idea of what’s wrong? Did I muddy up the electrical contacts when I weathered it? Is my wiring messed up on my little shelf layout?  Frustrated I can’t get it to work right!

thanks for the help

Pat

9FDBFB1.jpeg 
Reply 0
Mark Deimling Active Member 66 posts
Mark Deimling

I believe the contacts for

I believe the contacts for the electrical pickup are on the outer part of the truck, near where you have weathered it. Sounds like you have paint or something else in there. I would clean it out and it should come back. I have two of the same cabooses and had to clean the trucks out before. The capacitors in the decoder don't work well from the factory, mine always have flickered from day one.

Modeling Modern HO scale and Sn3.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Helmikins
Reply 0
marcfo68 Frequent poster 656 posts
marcfo68

. . .

These Athearn lighted caboose used Soundtraxx light decoders. 

https://soundtraxx.com/factory/images/athearn/pdf/Genesis/pre-2016/ath_c50caboose_ho.pdf

Wonder if you might have the wrong Status Edit setup for the decoder (14 versus 28 versus 128). A status edit of 14 can cause lights to flicker on you. Other than that , defective decoder as it is charging the capacitors and providing 20 seconds of flicker-free Keep-Alive lights.

JMRI has a definition for this decoder. It is under Soundtraxx, Lighting Decoder. You might try a reset.

Marc
Reply 0
marcfo68 Frequent poster 656 posts
marcfo68

. . .

Found a pic of the trucks. I see how the pick up is done and why the weathering might have affected things as Mark indicates

 

img.png 

 

Marc
Reply 0
Reply