tsunami tenders

[pdlethbridge]

Any word on the possibility of spectrum tsunami tenders?

[SteamGene]

What a great idea!  I am beside myself with the USRA light Santa Fe large USRA tender and it's sound decoder.  I removed the Bachmann decoder which worked.  Should I have to cut capacitors for a different brand decoder?
Gene

[the Bach-man]

Dear Paul,
Nothing yet...
Happy Thanksgiving!
the Bach-man

[SteamGene]

What about clipping caps on the USRA heavy tender?
Gene

[Yampa Bob]

Hi Gene
What brand sound decoder did you install?  Was the Bachmann decoder also a sound decoder?

Everyone says "cut the caps", period.  But the way I see it, if the thing works ok, why cut them?  You know, "if it ain't broke....."  I have heard that if operation is erratic, then they must be cut.

Perhaps some non-Bachmann decoders are compatible with the caps, and others are not.

All my Bachmann locos have the factory decoders, the only non-Bachmann decoders I've installed were in Athearn and Roundhouse locos, which didn't have the caps, totally plug and play.

I think this issue needs to be clarified, so people don't start cutting things unnecessarily, cutting the wrong component, or ruining the board in case they need to switch back to a Bachmann decoder. As for me, I'm not cutting anything unless absolutely necessary.

"To cut or not to cut, that is the question that has plagued mankind"...

Perhaps Jim will have some comments on this.

[SteamGene]

My installed sound decoders are Soundtraxx, Tsunami, and Sound Brilliance.  I've found that people who don't know what the decoder is prefer the MRC.  It's easy to install, but is often hard to program, and will crap out on you.  The new series may be better.  OTOH, they have a Bachmann like return policy.  And Frank at MRC is a great guy!
Gene

[Yampa Bob]

Then are you saying you did not cut the caps, and everything works just fine?

If that's the case, then perhaps some people have been cutting caps without good reason. My fear is that someone might cut the wrong part and ruin the board. (present company included). 

[pdlethbridge]

And this from our very own Jim Banner:
http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/2-8-0/index.html

[SteamGene]

One point to add - this is an old article and Bachmann now does not void the warranty for cutting caps.
Gene