Why the Hornby R8249 decoder is junk

This decoder did this, on it's own, with no provocation from short circuits. It was already damaged prior to this video; but this is what happens to these. You can hear the motor in the tender fire up as power is given, then die as the decoder finally dies.

It is component C8 that has blown out here. It is visibly cracked, and is presumably part of the power circuit.

Rather lucky the decoder was out of the tender testing at the time it initially occured; otherwise there would have been damage to the bodyshell.

Shot through the magnifying glass of a 'Helping Hands' tool, using a Sony Handycam DCR-HC19E, and stream captured in Vegas rather than being recorded to the miniDV tape.

The power to this decoder was supplied by the Track outputs on a Hornby Select controller, powered by the provided 1A switch mode PSU.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hornby
• r8249
• 8249
• DCC
• digital
• command
• control
• decoder
• fire
• smoke
• circuit
• board
• pcb

[ClassA4Mallard]

I have never had a problam with one of these decoders, its strange how it has happend to you. If they do this send them back!

[CJ19Productions]

@ClassA4Mallard I do send them back - had one or two do it, they're junk!

[itgamer100]

Use these in all of my locos, never had this? unlucky....., but then it was damaged before hand, so you can't really blame Hornby, as that could of been damaged from lots of things.

[CJ19Productions]

@itgamer100 I've had several do it, and my wiring is not to blame. It decided to smoke out when in a running loco, which is now happy with a new decoder in place and no modifications from the setup this was in when it went kaput.

I use the Sapphire in my Bachmann 4-CEP and am very happy with it. These R8249s are junk though.

[TheBazza909]

How did it get damaged???

[bbgunsrule324]

lol my test loco blew up due to this got free huge station and a few engines very good service but anoying at the same time 

[ClassA4Mallard]

@CJ19Productions

You do right, as said, myne do not do anything

[alexcooldudeful]

how much power were you sending through it?

[CJ19Productions]

@mongoosekid14 I have heard that the newer Bachmann decoders don't like the Select. I haven't tried it myself, but seems to be repeated across a few forums.

[mongoosekid14]

@CJ19Productions i use the dcc select controller from hornby