Need Help! Switched to BCR, but getting erratic behavior

[Demon09]

Hello Everyone,

I went and bought a Dallee BCR today for my MTH proto 1 gp-38.  I took out the old battery, and installed the new BCR and closed everything up.  When it put it on the tracks to charge it the inital 30 seconds, the engine took off in reverse.  It will not respond to the direction button, and only moves in reverse regardless of what I do with the controller.

Does anyone have any idea why this would happen?  Is it a problem with the BCR?  Could I have installed something wrong?  I didn't move any wires except for those attached to the battery, so I do not think anything has crossed.

Just as a test, I put a new 9v in it, and it is still only running in reverse, i tried to do the lock out fix, and that is not working either, the bell will ring as it says, but its reverse all the time regardless, no set up stage.  The sounds operate as normal, all the correct bell clings and the diesel sounds, but the engine is always in reverse and the sounds play the diesel roar when in neutral, and the neutral sounds while moving.

Any help would be much appreciated.  I bought the BCR to avoid the 3 clinks of death and run my trains this weekend, but it seems that this will put a damper on that situation.

[jefelectric]

Why not check with the folks at J & W who make the BCR.  Their email and phone # are on their site.

http://www.jandwelectronics.com/index.htm

[Demon09]

This was actually the Dalee electronics version of the BCR.  I will likely email them tomorrow if I cannot figure out through the boards what might be wrong.

Failing that, I might talk to the hobby shop owner where I bought it, as they are also a service station, to see if they can figure it out.  The only problem is that I don't have money to be wasting on repairs...

Thanks for the reply though!

[chuck]

You've accidently locked it in reverse.  If you have access to a Z-4000, use the unlock procedure and then reprogram a reset to factory default, aka feature set 18.  I don't have the manual for your loco so I am just guessing on the number for unlock fom reverse.  I "think" it's 52, or 53.  If you don't have a Z-4000, reprogramming this may be a bit tricky.  The loco "should" still start up in reset and you can try to unlock from there.  Good luck!  BTW, the thiry seconds isn't just to charge up the BCR, you need to let the loco come out of reset/program mode or you may hose it again.  PS-1 engines use voltage swings and +/- dc spikes to program features.  Programming only occurrs in reset mode but activation of features can happen at any time.

[Demon09]

Hi Chuck,

I tried the unlock procedure from the manual, it will still only act in reverse or neutral.  The loco doen't come up in the program mode at all, it makes the sounds as if it is (the two bell dings and the engine start up) but the loco is moving in reverse at that point.

I don't have access to a z-4000 but I will likely try to go back to the hobby shop I bought it at.  They have a z-4000 set up, and a service station so maybe they can look at it and figure it out.... I'm just hoping that I won't have to pay for it, or pay too much....

[chuck]

I found my copy of Dick Teal's book, page 93 has the unlock procedure.  Feature 51 is the unlock.  With track voltage at 8-9 volts, hit program on the Z-4000 and adance to feature 51, press bell.  If this doesn't work, you probably have a bad bottom board.

[fifedog]

09 - Try popping in a brand new everyday 9volt battery and see what happens.  If you get the same erratic behavior, it's probable a board problem...