[Teleman]

As you all know i work in electronics all day , well most of it but i was thinking as everbody seems to have a plug in decoder on there locos and i know that static can kill a lot of electronics is this not a bad thing ?
You can return a board you have blown up be cause you did not fit it propley ? and that is to my standards not yours . IE Anti static workmat and all the rest that goes with it . I went to a very well known TV maker and if you touched any of the boards on the line they were binned if you had no anti static bands on because it might go faultly in six or seven years time ! So are they buffer protected ? i can't find any site that tells me the spec on them

PS the TLO name is Hans .. so you can work out the rest
Who said B&O ?

You are right just a shame they cost so much (and they don't make trains) *deep breath Pol will find they do* Arrr two more patchies please

Sorry it looks like i am having a go at anyone but its just static kills please remember that and make sure you earth youself before you fit the next decoder

Looks like i will have to do a 'How to ' fit a decoder with out zapping it with static

and i'm still using DC Lots of wires , that will always keep me happy

[poliss]

It's easy to earth yourself with puters, you can just attach the strap to the frame, or even just discharge the static by touching the frame. Puter switched off at the plug, but not unplugged.
But where can you earth yourself when plugging a decoder in?
B&O might not make trains, but I bet the electronics are made in the same Chinese factory.

[Teleman]

Well strange you shoud say about the case on your computer but that is a realy good place to earth yourself , just put your hand around the back and touch the metal work (without the paint on) and that will do , but keep you hand on it as static will build up as you move .
Myself if i ever have to have decoders fitted its at the factory or i fit them , im not going to trust that to someone that 'thinks' they know about electronics to fit them and shorten there life span because there is no reason that they won't be working in 50 years or more time if they are fitted wright in the first place .
Sorry if it looks like i am having a dig at anyone but you must remember ..STATIC KILLS !... *wheres that coloured writing gone so its in red * so take care when fitting these decoders ......please ...

[poliss]

No room for soldering near the computer. No handy earthing spots near my table either. I think it's the TCS decoders that come wrapped in some sort of blue plastic, so you can't get your grubby fingers on the electronics.
The problem is that the makers still treat decoders (and puter ram) as if they are components fitted in an electronics factory. Camera firms have not made this mistake and flash memory, such as sd cards, just plug in.
So come on model manufactures, redesign your product!

[Teleman]

But camera cards etc most are 'BP' so thats not a problem
BTW 'BP' buffer protected so they discharge the static themselfs

Why can't they fit 'BP' chips ? as it seems like a lot are going wrong so to extra cost must be worth it

BTW EXTRA .. a 'BP' component has BP or P at the end of its number

[Brynjaminjones]

Teleman, do you mean you worked for Bang & Olufsen? Or was it Hannspree?

[Teleman]

No i have not worked for B&O , but i have been to there factory as the dealer i worked for sold there sets

[Brynjaminjones]

Oh right. I love B&O stuff!