Digitrax DCS50 fried ? partially ?

[mu26aeh]

Is it possible to fry the programming part of the DCS50 Zephyr command station ?  I put a loco on programming track and display came up d nd after a few seconds, I smelled electrical/smoke smell.  I took loco off track, unplugged unit.  Could smell hot/electrical smell from underside of DCS50.  I plugged back in, selected a locomotive to run, and they run.  I cannot read/write any loco address or CV's on any locomotives

[mu26aeh]

I tore loco apart that I was trying to program after all this happened.  I put engine on mainline and it ran intermittently, DCS50 display was flashing something quickly like it was shorting but engine continued to run.  Upon inspection, one of the contact tabs had broken 2/3's way across.  I took motor out and the tab broke off completely.

[mmyers]

Very easy to fry the programming section. All it needs is some voltage applied to the Program A and B terminals. Bridging the rails between the main powered track and programming track would do it. i always make my programming track a piece of track with no connection to the layout.

The programming outputs should not be damaged if there is simply a short in the engine. It just won't program or read. The "Hot electrical smell" is what bothers me. Tryb changing the address on a known good decoder and see what happens.

Martin Myers

[mu26aeh]

I have a separate programming track, not connected in any way to the layout main.  Tried other loco's on the programming track, nothing can be read.  Tried running multiple loco's and they all run, turn on/off lights.  Just no ability to program anything. 

Anyone know how long turnaround time at Digitrax is ?     Sounds like I got to ship this thing off

[mu26aeh]

DCS50 shipped out to Florida this afternoon.  $25 and up to 30 days return period.  Hope it's soon then that, open house is in 3 1/2 weeks....