ukrailroader wrote: When I want to programme my locos with my Digitrax Chief, the DT400 defaults to Page Mode when I press the Programe button. I also use an end section of a shed road that is isolated on both rails and fed from a DPDT switch so I can drive the loco on, switch to 'programme', switch back to track power and then drive out.ukrailroader.
When I want to programme my locos with my Digitrax Chief, the DT400 defaults to Page Mode when I press the Programe button. I also use an end section of a shed road that is isolated on both rails and fed from a DPDT switch so I can drive the loco on, switch to 'programme', switch back to track power and then drive out.
ukrailroader.
I use the exact same setup.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Sensible approaches, gentlemen, and you will have no argument from me. I don't happen to care if I interrupt the power to the main system when I am intent upon programming the one locomotive, and by interrupting the power elsewhere, I never have to worry about other locomotives shorting into that section since they are unable to move. It all takes a little care, no matter how each of us does our "thing."
As a lone wolf, and not as sharp as I was 20 years ago, I have accepted that I need to address myself to as few operational inputs as possible to enjoy the safe operation of my layout and to not make an expensive mistake. It started with the inexpensive SPDT, shared wiring to the programming track, and the rest as I described.
The part about the DT 400 defaulting to Paged Mode: it does indeed upon first entering programming after the last powering up of the command station. But if one has been altering momentum and volume CV settings on the main, then trundles a loco onto the programming track to programme in Paged Mode, and then forgets to either isolate that track or to scroll through the various programming modes on the DT 400 to actually get to Paged Mode, you will experience problems. Same the other way; if you do your programming in Paged, take the loco changed off that section of track, and then set up momentum or some other CV, but forget you're still in Paged Mode, the SEB's DB 150 will programme every loco to that setting.
Thanks for pointing out that the Zephyr and other has seperate outputs for programming in Paged Mode. That was important to know. I had been told by a Soundtrax Tech that the same was true for the DB 150, but I have found otherwise. I don't have to change my wires, or add more. For sure, everyone should know his equipment.
It's tricky stuff in a way, but I suppose we all agree that getting into the manual, and drawing wiring diagrams to figure out routing for different purposes, is a sensible thing to do from the start.
Interesting thread.
selector wrote:Mike, even an SPDT, which I use, is fine. You simply run the command centre's ouputs to the SPDT,but the same terminals would also have the feeders to the programming section that is isolated. The other set of terminals supplies power to the rest of the layout. When you flip the toggle to the SPDT, the layout power will be cut off, but the power and signal are still getting to the gapped programming track because the switch and the track get power from the same set of posts.
I ran jumpers from the power buss to one set of end leads on the DPDT switch, the program leads to the other set of end leads. The center leads feed the siding.
This way, I can program a locomotive without interrupting operation of the rest of the layout.
After programming a locomotive, the switch is thrown back to normal operation mode and the loco is moved off under it's own power. This eliminates the danger of shorting to the rest of the layout and causing the condition mentioned in CSX ROBERT's post.
You don't have to dedicate a piece of track off the layout for programming.
I isolated a siding with insulated rail joiners and used a DPDT switch to change it's function.
In one switched position, the siding operates with the rest of the layout. In the other switched position, it's my programming track.
This works well and it's invisible.
On some systems, 04 is a short address and 0004 is a long address, but on Digitrax systems, adresses 1-127 are all short addresses(you can't even enter 0004, at least on the Zephyr's console if you try to enter 0004, it shows up as 04) and 128-9983 are long addresses. If you have an engine that is programmed with a long address of 0004, you would have to reprogram the address to run it on Digitrax.I usually program addresses on the programming track, but if you get into adjusting other CV's such as momentum, you'll probably want to do them on the main with Ops mode programming so that you won't have to move your engines back and force between the program track and the main to test different values.
Looks like I had some success last night, I tried just moving the main bus wires over to the Prog A and B terminals and recieved a No Pwr on the DT 400 Terminal. The point to which the feeder wired is connected to the track to where the engine was sitting is approx 25 feet away since I am still putting in track feeder wires. After that I grabbed a short piece of flex track and soldered 2 wires up to it and moved the bus wires back to Rail A and B on the DCS 100 and connected the short flex track up to the Prog A & B terminals. Things then worked like a champ.
One follow up question, do the decoders see a differance between the address of 0004 and 04 or do they just consider them 04?
Thanks for everybodys help...
REG
Safety, it is the key for the QSI decoders, and I would think it is probably the same for many others. (Where are the experts here?) Anyway, what does a fella have to lose if he can't achieve his goal of getting a loco to function at his bidding otherwise?
For the Digitrax SEB, the instructions with the DT400 throttle supplied say to go through a certain procedure, but as you know, some decoders are more progamme-friendly than others on the main. The DB 150/DT 400 combo comprising the Super Empire Builder works this way- the loco should be on a seperately powered section where the programming commands can get to that section only...no other. For me, that means flipping a SPDT to cut power to the rest of the layout, entering programming mode, in Paged, and then going through the motions to alter the address. When the DT 400 asks me if I want to engage the new extended address by pressing "Y", as the manual says it will, I have not been happy with the outcomes. So, I hit enter at that point, whereupon the DB 150 cuts track power completely with a beep. I restore track power using the DT 400 buttons, re-enter programming, but thumb through to Ops Mode, and then change the CV29 to a value of 38. In the case of the QSI decoders, they keep their backs turned to you until you actually dial in their new names, and click the encoder knob. When you engage the decoder that way, they will start up their sounds and respond to your bidding.
BTW, CV29 set to 38 means properly oriented lighting control dependent on locomotive's directon of movement, among other things. But it also activates the long addresses.
-Crandell
Selector,
is CV 29=38 the key to 4 digit addressing? If I put the value of 38 into this CV 29 I should not get any more prompts or have any problem issuing 4 digit addressing?
The program track is the key, I would hate to re-format a entire roundhouse full of DCC engines.
With that added tidbit about Address 03, we know it has a decoder, and I'm pretty sure the issue is with the mode you're using, or perhaps with the terminals. There is confusion out there about the terminals. I had a soundtraxx tech tell me to program my 100LC using the middle terminals on my DB 150 a couple of years back when I had a reset problem. I didn't listen to him, thank God, and corrected the problem myself. Point being, you should not have to move wires at all to program a decoder. Just use the right mode, and then enable the address if it is an extended one. I had problems getting the "Y" prompt to actuall do the address enabling, so I reverted to Ops mode and changing the CV29 to 38 that way. Success every single time.
I will give this a try tonight on an isolated piece of track with Programming terminals. I didn't hook up the Programing Terminals because I thought those were if you want a dedicated programming section only, but it sounds like that may might be my screw up..... Right now this is the only engine on the track and let you all know what happens. They run perfectlly when selected to address 3 as expected, but they just love that number too much...
thanks for the suggestions, more to follow...
It's telling you "No decoder". That means it can't electrically "see" the decoder to program it.
The first two things to check are:
Do you have the loco on an isolated section of track connected to the programming terminals on the Super Chief, and;
Are the programming track and the loco wheels clean so they make good contact?
HTH,Steve
What mode are you in with the DT400 during prog? Also do you see the AD=?? for two digit entry? Or the AD=???? For the 4 digit entry?
After a 4 digit entry, it should display a dialog related to enabling 4 digit addressing, hit YES and move on.
If you make a successful entry and it is accepted by the decoder it should display "GOOD" on your DT400. Anything else means either it has been refused or the decoder has a problem responding which is a whole different can of worms.
I am trying to reprogram my 2 engines one is a Atheron Amtrak AMD103 with a Digitrax DH163 decoder which I installed. The other is a Bachman SD45 that was DCC Decoder installed. I tried following the instructions, however after I input the address and then hit the Enter button on the 400 throttle, I see a "No-d" or similiar appear and I can't go to the next step of enable ing the 4 digit address as specified in the instructions. I even tried to just change the 2 digit address and something similiar happens. What and I doing wrong with my Digitrax Super chief system?
Thanks
Ryan