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Help with programming TCS decoder

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Brampton, Ontario
  • 107 posts
Help with programming TCS decoder
Posted by Artur on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 7:58 PM
Hi guys, I'm having problems with this TCS T1 decoder, I wanted to do a factory reset so I programmed CV 30 to 2 and now the engine starts running full speed as soon as I place it on the track, I have no control over it and I can't reprogram it. any help would be greatly appreciated.
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 8:23 PM

So .... at this point you can't even place the engine on the track without it taking off ? - even after leaving it off the rails for at least 30 seconds ?

You say you can't reprogram it .... are you unable to read back any of the CVs on the program track ?

Mark. 

 

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Brampton, Ontario
  • 107 posts
Posted by Artur on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 10:07 PM
yes it will take off immediately once placed on the track, I waited 30min and still the same. I can reprogram it on the test track but it doesn't do any good it still takes off. I took a second T1decoder programed it and it worked good, then I did the factory reset and the same thing happened, now I have two defective decoders.
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 10:46 PM

Seeing as how you ARE able to reprogram the decoder on the program track, have you dis-abled the DC mode of operation ? Try entering a value of 2 in CV29. Also, manually go through the CV's to make certain they HAVE in fact been reset to factory default - particularly CV 2 (start voltage). I've had a few case scenarios where the factory reset missed resetting a couple CV's (I have over 60 TCS decoders in operation). 

Out of curiosity, with CV 29 having a value of 6 (DC mode enabled), are you able to run the engine properly under DC control ?

Finally, failing all this testing, TCS had a transistor "issue" with the version 40 T-1 decoders that were produced in December last year and T-1 decoders were replaced en masse by the manufacturer. All else fails, contact the manufacturer.

Mark. 

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Brampton, Ontario
  • 107 posts
Posted by Artur on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 5:52 AM
CV 2 I programed to 10 and CV 29 I tried 2, 6, 36, 38. According to the penflet that came with the decoder in CV 29 a value of 6 shows DC mode disabled and 2 as DC mode enabled. I will go trough all the CV's, do you know if there is a web site with all the CV's listed for this decoder. thanks.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 7:37 AM
Set CV2 to a value of 0.  The instructions I have for a new TCS T1A decoder say the factory reset is to set CV 30=2 or CV 8=2.  I suspect that you may have put the CV number in as the value and the desired value as the CV number, thereby setting CV2 to a value of 30.  If your DCC system is set for 28 speed step, that's telling the loco to run at full throttle.  I always set CV29 to a value of 34 to disable DC operation.
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 7:47 AM

Correct .... if your engine address is 128 or more, set CV 29 to 34 .... if the engine address is less than 128, set CV 29 to 2 to dis-able analog DC.

CV 2 should be set to 0 - at least to start with. A value of 10 is applying voltage to the rails even at speed step 0.

Lastly, FWIW - I seem to recall the same scenario as you are having .... everything was working just fine until I used the "factory reset" which sent the decoder into permanent confusion. The decoders WERE replaced no charge due to a manufacturing glitch. With so many TCS decoders on my layout - and uncertain which versions were which - I no longer use the factory reset option for fear of this happening again !

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Brampton, Ontario
  • 107 posts
Posted by Artur on Friday, August 8, 2008 4:31 PM
Thanks for the help guys, I contacted TCS they told me that the decoders got scrambled while programming and that I should mail it to them for a replacement. So if you own a MRC prodigy system don't do a factory reset on a TCS decoder Smile [:)]

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