We have this new DCC controller -- http://www.trainsetsonly.com/page/TSO/PROD/160-44902 -- that came with our Bachmann set.

My son (now known as a knucklehead) inserted a bare metal wire from an electric LH track switch which was connected to the track into the I/O Port on the back of the controller, which then stopped working. He claimed he could smell plastic burning. I couldn't.

I'm guess he's shorted it. We've disconnected and then waited for to reset it, but can't get it to turn back on or anything. We've opened the back and see a disconnected red wire from the knob, but it doesn't look like it was fried or anything.

Any ideas on what to do next?

Thanks.

Thanks, ACY. Appreciate it.

Hello.

We're new to model railroads and bought the Bachmann Digital Commander starter set (http://www.trainsetsonly.com/page/TSO/PROD/160-00501). We subsequently bought track to expand our set up and mistakenly bought the standard Bachmann Remote Switch LH and RH pieces that do not connect to our DCC controller.

Rather than sending back that track, my son wonders if we can simply get another power controller, specifically this one: Bachmann - Power Pack w/Speed Controller N/HO/On30 http://www.trainsetsonly.com/page/TSO/PROD/160-44212 and hook up our four Remote Switch track pieces to it, leaving the DCC controller to run the trains.

Thanks for helping us newbies.