I wired up 2 LifeLike C424's last night using the TCS CN-GP decoders and Aztec milled frames. These are the first hard wire jobs I've done, but with the help of online installations from others, seemed pretty straight forward. The worse part is making those first cuts of the decoder wires, don't want to cut too short.
Well, after I finally cut the wires, I soldered them to the spots where they belong. Rebuilt engine, and put on the track to test. Waa-lah ! Engine responds in both directions and lights work. Then I noticed the light on the short board remains dimly lit when it runs in other direction. When I reverse to that direction, it goes full bright. Do I have a short somewhere ?
In the second locomotive, I should have gone to bed
but I figured I was in the flow so go with it. Got all wired up, on track and once again, issues with the short board. But this time, when going in the direction of the short board, light would be on full bright, and slowly fade/dim out, kind of like a flame or a match burning it self out. Engine would still run, just no headlight. I messed with the board, put back on track and the same thing would happen. Then as I pushed chip into the frame, the LED came off. I'm guessing that creates an open circuit because now the engine does not run and decoder is not recognized on the programming track ??
One thing I will say, the Aztec frames are very nice to work with. Well worth the money spent if you don't have the equipment to mill the frame yourself.
