Run-away problem with Digitrax Zephyr

[Anonymous]

Has anyone discovered that if you hit the power button on the Zephyr, after experiencing a short circuit on the layout, when the short is corrected, decoder-equipped locomotives run out of control? I've been able to duplicate the problem at will by putting a quarter across the rails.

This situation concerns me for two reasons: (1) It's a natural tendency to want to hit the power button when there's a power problem but; (2) doing so almost put one of my best locos on the floor.

I called Digitrax the Tuesday after Labor Day but have heard nothing back from them about it. I'm wondering if this is an anomaly with the Zephyr or is my particular unit defective?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated,

Lee

[nslakediv]

first of all dont call digitrax, send them email as they will answer your questions with in 24 hours usually. second, when you short track with a quarter does the zephyr go into short mode or does it stay on line, 5 beeps means its in short circuit and will remain there as long as the short does, if it does not go into short circuit mode then the locos will take off(why, i dont know, this has happened to me). if the latter is happening then I would suggest adding more feeders to the layout. I had same problems in 2 areas and added feeders and now everything works fine. They say feeders every 6-8 feet but I use code 83 track and shortened that to 5-6 feet and changed my bus wire to 12 gauge. Try these tips and see what happens.

[bcammack]

There is a CV value on your decoders that allows the trains to be operated on a DC layout. Do some research to identify which CV that is and what value is necessary in that CV to turn off that function. When you get a short like that, the decoder is flipping to DC mode and running away. It doesn't have anything to do with the command unit, it's the decoder config.

[CP5170]

If you are using a Digitrax decoder, reduce the value of CV29 by 4. This will turn off the analog mode which is causing your problem.

Hope this helps...Ken

[dano99a]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5170

If you are using a Digitrax decoder, reduce the value of CV29 by 4. This will turn off the analog mode which is causing your problem.

Hope this helps...Ken

DITTO

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Digitrax and I had quite a telephone conversation this morning. In short, they want the DCS50 back to take a look at it.

This afternoon, I did reprogram CV29 to 34. According to the manual, this should have set analog mode conversion off, but a test with two different locomotives yielded the same results as before.

I'll be shipping the command station off in a couple of days. (It'll give me a chance to do some scenery work that I've been postponing anyhow.)

Thanks again & happy railroading.