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Help on DH165L0 decoder for Proto GP38-2

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  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 28 posts
Help on DH165L0 decoder for Proto GP38-2
Posted by bigwall on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 11:51 PM

I have two Proto GP38-2 locos that I rencently converted to DCC using DH165L0 decoders. Following the instructions from Digtraxx's web, the conversion was quite simple and straightforward (basically just plug the decoder in). But I found two problems:

1. If I put one loco on the track first, then turn on my NCE PowerCab, everything is fine. If I turn on the NCE PowerCab first, then put the loco onto the track, the loco only responds to headlight control and does not respond to motion control.  

2. When I try to do consist, if I put the two locos in the same direction, I can program the consist; if I put them in opposite directions,  I get one responsive to PoweCab and the other one not. So the way to do consist is to put locos in the same direction. But I don't think this should be the case.

Does anyone has the same experiebce? Or can anyone give suggestions... Thanks!

Jerry

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Posted by jbinkley60 on Thursday, June 5, 2008 4:13 AM
 bigwall wrote:

I have two Proto GP38-2 locos that I rencently converted to DCC using DH165L0 decoders. Following the instructions from Digtraxx's web, the conversion was quite simple and straightforward (basically just plug the decoder in). But I found two problems:

1. If I put one loco on the track first, then turn on my NCE PowerCab, everything is fine. If I turn on the NCE PowerCab first, then put the loco onto the track, the loco only responds to headlight control and does not respond to motion control.  

2. When I try to do consist, if I put the two locos in the same direction, I can program the consist; if I put them in opposite directions,  I get one responsive to PoweCab and the other one not. So the way to do consist is to put locos in the same direction. But I don't think this should be the case.

Does anyone has the same experiebce? Or can anyone give suggestions... Thanks!

Jerry

Here's a possible answer to the first question. 

http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=170

I generally wire the gray lead to F1 to solve the problem with certain P2K units.

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 28 posts
Posted by bigwall on Friday, June 6, 2008 12:34 AM

Thanks Jeff. I read this from wiringfordcc.com. But what confused me is that my loco did not show the short current. Actually, when the loco can run, the lights for number boards are on  and I can control headlight.

 

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Posted by jbinkley60 on Friday, June 6, 2008 8:47 PM
 bigwall wrote:

Thanks Jeff. I read this from wiringfordcc.com. But what confused me is that my loco did not show the short current. Actually, when the loco can run, the lights for number boards are on  and I can control headlight.

 

I misread your original post and didn't see that everything was fine if the locomotive was on the track when power is applied.  I have a number of L0 decoders and haven't seen this behavior before but I don't have an NCE system.  I'd suggest seeing if any NCE members here can help.  I'd also suggest turning off the analog conversion mode.  As for the light board, I'd double check to make sure that the lightboard wire is not also tied to a motor output.  Every P2K I've seen has been wired that way.  Maybe this is a newer one ?  I've got an SD50 I just put a 165L0 decoder in and will be adding a Soundbug chip shortly.

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 28 posts
Posted by bigwall on Friday, June 6, 2008 11:22 PM
Thanks, Jeff. I will check the light board connection again.

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