Railpower 1300 testing

[Point353]

@rapidomike

Since Jason seems unwilling to respond with any detailed info about the failure mode - specifically which part(s) in the Rapido decoders are failing - as well as why they should be failing at all, perhaps you would like to review this thread (plus this one: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=44120.60 ) and see if you can share that info with us.

[Maletrain]

This post ( https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,35477.0.html ) on the Bachmann forum reminded me of this thread on TRW.  Basically, a Bachmann N scale EM-1 ran for a few minutes on a Railpower 1350 and then released the magic smoke. 

[peteski]

This post ( https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,35477.0.html ) on the Bachmann forum reminded me of this thread on TRW.  Basically, a Bachmann N scale EM-1 ran for a few minutes on a Railpower 1350 and then released the magic smoke.

But that could have just been a flawed decoder (with a weak component which could have failed with any DC throttle or DCC system). One example of a (Bachmann decoder) failure  is IMO not enough.  Reading that short thread we don't even really know if it is the decoder that failed. 

We still don't have any specific proof here either. We do not know which components failed (and whether always the same components fail) on the ESU/Rapido decoders.  Actually we seem to have proven here that the 1300 throttle voltages seem to be within voltages that the decoders should be able to deal with (according to the decoder specs).

[Maletrain]

Peteski,

It is just another data point.  One that does not involve Rapido.  I agree it doesn't prove anything.  It takes a serious data gathering effort to prove this issue one way or the other, and nobody is doing that. However, in the absence of some sort of proof about what is at-fault, prudence says to be suspicious of the possibilities.  I simply don't operate decoders on any DC system, period.  I also don't operate DC locos on a DCC system.

[mmagliaro]

Okay, I bit.
I posted a question in that Bachmann forum asking if the fellow was running the engine at or near full throttle.
This is likely, since DCC-equipped engines require high throttle settings just to get over the decoder drop and get the engine to move at all.

While it is true that the peak voltages from the 1370 are technically within the tolerance range specified for decoders, this is all about how much you are willing to live "on the edge".    When I build circuits with electrical components, I always choose components that have a healthy margin of error (for example, use a 50v capacitor even if the top voltage you ever expect it to see is 25). 

If I recall the DCC spec limit was 27, right?  Is it technically okay to hit a decoder with 25 volt peaks?  Yes.   But is it a good idea?  No.  And will there be a certain number of new failures brought about just because some of the components aren't quite up to snuff?  You betcha.

Let's see what that guy says.  If he was running it full-out, that would be another useful data point.

[peteski]

If I recall the DCC spec limit was 27, right?  Is it technically okay to hit a decoder with 25 volt peaks?  Yes.   But is it a good idea?  No.  And will there be a certain number of new failures brought about just because some of the components aren't quite up to snuff?  You betcha.

While that is for ESU decoders, does Bachmann even provide official voltage specs of their decoders?