electricity_bill
Registered
I have just pulled this out of an LGB track cleaner. What is it?
Bill
LGB Track Cleaner
- Thread starter electricity_bill
- Start date
I have just pulled this out of an LGB track cleaner. What is it?
Bill
Zerogee
Clencher's Bogleman
Looks to me like the standard LGB "large loco decoder" - the MTS/DCC decoder board they used in two-motor locos (which if course the track cleaner is, the driving motor and the cleaning motor). Whether this particular one is possibly slightly different from the standard type in order to control the cleaning motor separately, I don't know....
Jon.
Jon.
Greg Elmassian
Guest
Just curious, why did you pull it out?
Greg
Greg
First thing we do with a new toy Greg!
Pull it apart, and put it back together again.. Sometimes we have a 'bit' left over!!
NCS from Qbyn
Registered
Well, let's hope you can put it back in again! 
Rhinochugger
Retired Oik
Zerogee
Clencher's Bogleman
Is that the bit where the magic smoke is kept?
Yes, but it doesn't look as though any has escaped from the one in the photos......
Jon.
electricity_bill
Registered
Hello Greg
The loco, electrically, was a compete wreck and I am converting it to DCC. Is this a decoder?
Bill
electricity_bill
Registered
Some plugs and no it was a no go.
Zerogee
Clencher's Bogleman
Yes, that is definitely the decoder, so the loco was already DCC.....
It doesn't look damaged (if there had been a serious escape of the Magic Smoke then you might well expect to see evidence in the form of blackened or melted components) but I guess something could have been fried inside and not show externally. Or it may actually be OK, worth testing it before discarding it.
Jon.
Melbournesparks
Registered
I have a spare decoder removed from an LGB loco too.
It wasn't compatible with the electrical modifications required to operate locally. I think it's in working condition though I have no way of testing all its functions. Would trade for some metal wheelsets if someone wanted one.
It wasn't compatible with the electrical modifications required to operate locally. I think it's in working condition though I have no way of testing all its functions. Would trade for some metal wheelsets if someone wanted one.
ntpntpntp
Registered
How on earth does a loco get into such a state?
electricity_bill
Registered
I previous owner tried a few modifications involving DPDT switches to reverse the track cleaning motor as he thought it ran better with and not against the direction of travel.
Zerogee
Clencher's Bogleman
I know quite a few people do this (reversing the cleaning motor) - but it's a shame he didn't just do it the easy way, and swap over the leads to the cleaning motor!
Jon.
Frank Gallagher
Well matured physically if not mentally
electricity_bill
Registered
The previous owner said " The board fitted is the original: the loco has 2 as standard and the second board only controls the cleaning functions (cleaning motor speed, flashing lights etc). My "fix" was to connect that cleaning motor via a switch to the track power -the switch allows the cleaning motor to be reversed or switched off completely"
Do they have two boards?
Do they have two boards?
electricity_bill
Registered
It runs well and I now have it running on DCC (again?)