I was given a GF Fowler 4F for Christmas to help me start an N gauge layout.
The service sheet says there is no decoder and shows how to fit one.
However there is something plugged into the 6-pin socket.
Can anyone tell me what it does?
The loco runs fine on DC - if I took the item out of the socket what would happen. I assume it is not actually a DCC coder. Am I right?
If DCC-Ready, it's a blanking plate needed to run in DC. You replace it with a DCC chip.
Thanks for that. I was thinking that was what is should be but the service sheet doesn't mention or illustrate it and it has a couple of copper coils on it which make me think it's more than a blanking plate. There is a pert no on it BA067+PCB02
@JimStothers (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=4903) Does it look anything like this :
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/34/thumb_19826.JPG) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=19826)
which is a blank in a Farish Jinty
see post #2 in http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=25386.msg272179#msg27217 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=25386.msg272179#msg27217)
assured by Dr Al in post #3 after it.
Yes,
very much like that.
Thanks,
your loco blanking chip will look more like this with the coils from above
[smg id=33409 type=preview align=center caption="DCC blanking plug "]
My 4Fs both run well with GAugemaster chips.
keep the blanking plates - you may want to sell the locos as DC loco sometime( and they are good spares for other locos).
Quote from: JimStothers on December 26, 2015, 03:05:41 PM
I was given a GF Fowler 4F for Christmas to help me start an N gauge layout.
The service sheet says there is no decoder and shows how to fit one.
However there is something plugged into the 6-pin socket.
Can anyone tell me what it does?
The loco runs fine on DC - if I took the item out of the socket what would happen. I assume it is not actually a DCC coder. Am I right?
The others were quite right to point out the item inside is a blanking chip that you just slide out. Make sure to look at the socket it plugs into and see where the 1 is marked. Make sure the 1 or the white dot on your decoder is lined up with the side of the socket with the 1 on it :) I just received a Sprog for Christmas and several decoders for my locos so I got to do all this for the first time yesterday! ;)
Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 26, 2015, 08:06:49 PM
@JimStothers (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=4903) Does it look anything like this :
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/34/thumb_19826.JPG) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=19826)
which is a blank in a Farish Jinty
see post #2 in http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=25386.msg272179#msg27217 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=25386.msg272179#msg27217)
assured by Dr Al in post #3 after it.
Indeed - that pic's a special right angle one for the Jinty in particular. But they all do the same thing of just routing the power direct from pickups to motor for DC use.
Cheers,
Alan