digitrax problems

[pike-62]

I turned my system (DB150, UR91, dt300r and 1 up5) on today, first time in about
two weeks, and found it not working properly. When I turned it on I had an
engine moving on its own which is pretty normal and my sound equipped engine
idling along like normal. The problem exists with my throttle (dt300).

The screen flashes between the voltage and "DT300v". When it is doing this all
of the function numbers are lit and the address display has all "0's" in it.
White it is toggling between these two screens the backlight is turning off and
on. Prior to this, this throttle worked fine.

This is the second throttle I have had this happen to. It did a couple of times
switch to the selection screen but only briefly then it went back to the problem
screens.

The system voltage that shows up on the screen is 10.5volts so I think the
throttle is getting sufficient voltage. I have unhooked the loconet and plugged
the throttle directly to the booster and it did not help. This is my last
throttle so I am out of luck if I do not get this one figured out. I sent the
last one to digitrax and they sent directly back indicating they do not service
this throttle any more so I won't bother sending this one in. I am at a loss as
to what to do here. I bought this system after hearing that digitrax was the
best out there. Please help me as I do not want to buy another throttle untill I
can figure out what went wrong here.

Dan

[Jacktal]

Too bad Digitrax don't service these throttles any more.The club I used to belong to had a few of these and had a couple of them sent for service in the past,so I'd guess this isn't Digitrax's best design.However,I suggest that you email them explaining your problem and their tech people will help you.I've asked infos to their service dept. and they've been very kind to me with prompt and accurate infos.At least,they likely can direct you towards the problem and take the guessing away.

[pike-62]

When the other one crapped out I sent it to them and they promptly returned it to me stating that don't service it any more. When I asked for help they basicaly told me I was out of luck and I could purchase a new throttle to get my system going. I understand that products evolve and improvements are made but, to just ignore an existing problem is not good

[simon1966]

I don't think they are ignoring it.  The last DT300 throttles were shipped 4 years ago and the throttle has been superceded.  From what I understand this was largely forced by obsolecence of some of the components inside the DT300 throttle (same for the DT100).  If there was somthing they could do, I have no doubt that they would do it.

[Stevert]

  The DT300 throttles were discontinued more than 13 years ago!  Try getting your 13-year-old VCR repaired and let us know how much luck you have.   However, that said, there was a post on the Digitrax Yahoo! group that indicated DT300's were still being repaired as of November 2008.

You said that you "sent the last one to digitrax and they sent directly back indicating they do not service this throttle any more", but was that one a DT300?  They state on their Web site that they have stopped servicing DT100, DT200, and BT2 throttles because parts are no longer available.  

From the Digitrax Web site:

4. We will attempt to repair all items sent to us. However, in some cases, items may not be repairable. This occurs when we are no longer able to source parts for discontinued products or when items are damaged to the point that repairs are not possible. If an un-repairable item is under warranty, we will send a replacement item. If the un-repairable item is out of warranty, it will be returned to you at no charge with no repairs made.

Also:

**As of 11/28/2005 DT100 series, DT200 and BT2 throttles are no longer repairable due to unavailability of repair parts. DT200 was discontinued 1998, BT2 was discontinued in 1999, DT100 Series was discontinued in 11/2000.

http://www.digitrax.com/warranty2.php

Steve

[rrinker]

 It's not been 13 years for the DT300. DT400's haven't been around since 1996. However, what was stated above is true, besides adding features, the other reson they dropped the DT300 is that is used parts that were becomign scarce. Same deal with the DT100. You cna sometimes come across someone who has a stash of the encoders, which is usually yhe thing that fails, but they (Bournes, the maker of the part) only makes them to special order, if at all - it could be there are quantities stored somewhere - since it has been reported that if you go to one of the large electonic distributors like Digi-key or Mouser and would be willing to order massive quantities - 10k or more - you CAN get them. All in all, not a situation conducive to manufacturering a device using these. The ones used in the DT400 apparantly have many years left to their product cycle, but eventually the same thing is going to happen there.

 As to the original problem if the DT300 apparantly not staying connected (the description of the display sounds liek it is repeatedly initializing), this could be as simple as a bad plug. There's not much cord on the radio throttles, but there's enough room to cut off the existing plug and crimp a new one on. Going forward, you cna get s coupler and use another length of cable for wired oepration, so the plug on the throttle itself does not get excessive use.

 The second thing that could be wrong is a stuck button. Not as many to get stuck as a DT400, but the design is the same, with the sticker overlay on the case and the buttons moving through the holes. Check that no buttons are sticking.

 Third thing, perhaps the main chip has become loose in its socket. There is a common method of smacking the throttle in you hand to fix this but I prefer taking off the cover and gently but firmly pressing the chip into its socket to make sure it's seated. And any other socketed chips there might be inside.

                                 --Randy

 

[pike-62]

Steve

I am not sure on the age of my throttles but, I know I did not own them prior to 1998/99. They were both DT300's purchased at the same time from the same source. You have to understand my frustration here. My job keeps me plenty busy and does not leave me much time to run the trains. In fact all of last year I did not run more than a total of 1hour. Since I am the only user of this system 99.9% of the time I can surmise that since I bought this system I have only got about 30 hours on it. Yeah, 3 hours per year. When you look at it that way you can see that the throttles don't get much use. With the small amount of use they get and the fact that I now have two inoperative throttles I am not too impressed with the lifespan of them. The VCR analogy can not be used with me as I have a 10 year old VCR that I only paid $30.00 for and it is still working. At $30.00 I consider it a throwaway when it finaly dies. I can't consider a $130.00 item a throwaway. I do understand also that specs change, new models are introduced and old parts obsoleted. As I mentioned earlier I am just very frustrated about this.

 

To the others who offered ideas. I did clean the plug connectors on both the throttle cable end and the booster socket. I also checked continuity from the plug end to the wire connection on the PC board inside the throttle. I did push down on the two chips inside and it made no difference. The way the chips looked though I thinkthey are soldered to the board anyway. I put it all back together with no joy. I am going to research my options here before I decide my next step. As I mentioned earlier it is the frustration of this not working that has me wound up here. My brother-in-law has two DT100's on his system that work fine and have not caused any problems since he got them. Maybe I will send my throttle to him to test on his layout

[Stevert]

rrinker

 It's not been 13 years for the DT300. 

                                 --Randy

  GAAA, you're right!  I really dropped the ball on that one, didn't I?    I somehow read '05 as '95 when I went to the Digitrax site to verify the date.  Must have been temporary insanity.  That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking to it... 

Steve

[rrinker]

 That's ok, we're all insane or we wouldn;t be in this hobby.

Dan also posted to the Digitrax Yahoo group and, based on the responses, they still DO fix DT300's, probably depends on just what's wrong with it. I'm willing to bet they actually could fix DT100's unles sit was an irreplaceable aprt liek the encoder - problem is, they wouldn't know until you sent it in and they figured out what was wrong, so it would be pretty much a waste if it got there and turns out it was one of those things they simply can't fix. Easiest way out is to pretty much just say no for somethign that old.

 Hey, at least the support last longer than Microsoft's for a product past end of life.

                                                    --Randy

 

[pike-62]

I am planning on sending this one in to them. I suspect It will be returned unrepaired as this is identical to what happened to the last one I sent in. Still, I will give it a shot and see what happens. I am first going to send them an Email about it this morning and see what they think might be the problem. Has me kind if leary about purchasing a new throttle though...We'll see.

Dan

[simon1966]

Dan, I would phone them rather than e-mail them.  You can then speak to the service dept voice to voice rather than dealing with e-mail.

[selector]

I agree completely, Simon....get their agreement to take a serious look and consideration at the throttle before you spend money, and theirs, to have it returned to you with absolutely squat done to it.  Why spend money that could go towards an updated/new throttle if it turns out to be your only reasonable recourse?

My

[pike-62]

I did send them an email. My job does not afford me the ability to be on the phone most of the time. It is easier for me to send a note, which today, took 3 hours to compose as I was extremely busy today and had to come back to it about 4 different times. Anyway, about 20 min after I sent it I got a reply telling me to send them in as a couple of components need to be replaced. I will try it again and see what happens.

Dan

[pike-62]

Here is an update on the throttle problems I was having. I did send the throttles in and recieved them back yesterday. Both were repaired this time and work fine. The repair ticket indicated that they replaced two caps in each throttle. I am goint to guess that the "caps" are capacitors. They also had to re-solder the chip socket to the board in the throttle I originally sent back for repair once before.

Thanks for all the advise, Dan

[selector]

Way to go, Dan!   Yer back in business, and even better off than before.  Just try not to drop the throttles, okay?  (Been there!)

-Crandell

[pike-62]

selector

  Just try not to drop the throttles, okay?  (Been there!)

-Crandell

No chance of that happening. I solved that problem years ago.

http://www.dansresincasting.com/digitrax%20throttle.htm

A bit of a shameles plug, but...hey, what the heck.

 

Dan