OK, so I bought a Spectrum Consolidation wired with DCC and Sound on eBay (I know, I know). The seller told me it was set for address 18. I put it on the track, selected addy 18, and zip. I put it on the programming track to try and give it a new address or at least read it to see what the address in fact really is, and I get a "d nd" error message on my Zephyr, which means i have an open circuit on the programming track. Never have before. Any thoughts on my slew of problems?
Did you try address 3? How about different combination's of address 18? Like 0018 or 1800 or 0180? The first thing to check is the tether from tender to loco to see if it is plugged in good and tight. Next would be to unplug it and check for bent pins. If all that checks out then pull the tender shell off and smell if the decoder in burnt.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
I own a Digitrax Chief system so I don't get the same error codes as you, however, I will give you some suggestions to try.
My guess is that there is a wiring problem with the locomotive.It sounds as if the command station is not reading any current on the programming track( hence the dnd error) when trying to program. This means its not detecting the locomotive (ultimately the decoder) on the track. one of the pickup wires to the track may be loose or broken. I would check to see if the decoder is receiving track power at all. If it is not then its a pickup problem. If it is and you are still getting the same error something is wrong with the decoder.
Below is some more general information.
Generally when programming, the decoder sends feedback signals (generally by pulsing the motor) to programmer (in your case the zephyr) to acknowledge that the information has been received. If there is no feedback pulse it assumes that nothing is on the programming track. I would check to make sure all leads are properly secured and that there are no broken wires.This scenario would give you that particular error. This would be your 'dna' error for your zephyr
Since it is a sound unit, do you have the blast mode turned on for your Zephyr? If not, it may have problems reading the decoder (the Chief doesn't have the blast mode programmer, I have a powerpax unit to solve that issue). I would check the Digitrax Yahoo group on how to turn this mode on. This is could be a potential 'dnr' error.
Also try dialing up address 03 and see if it got reset.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
Thanks gents - good advice and I will try 'em all.
You could try adding a 1k ohm resistor across the rails of the program track. Also use direct mode programming (Pd on the display). A DC engine on the program track with it may also work instead of the resistor.
If that doesn't work, you can try the down and dirty method for programming on the main. Remove all other decoder equipped locos from the track, place the Consolidation on the main line. Select address 00 on your Zephyr. Press the programm button until you are in Operations mode, then program the new address. Also set Cv29 to the correct value. Exxit programming , dispatch address 00 and try selecting the correct address and test run.
Martin Myers
If it truly has a sound decoder, it probably won't program on the program track. You will likely have to use ops mode to program it. Depending on which decoder it is, it may respond to the broadcast address (00) - but be VERY careful doing that because programming on the main (ops mode) to address 00 will program ANYTHING on the track. Use address 00 to program CV1 to 03, and then do it again and set CV29 to 6. You should not be able to runt he loco on address 3. If this works, proceed to the next part.
If you want to change to an address greater than 127, use the calculator on this page: http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm at the bottom to get values for CV17 and CV18. AGain using Ops Mode, select address 3 (assuming the loco runs on address 3 at this point), and program CV17 and CV18 tot he values generated by the calculator. Now program CV29 to 38. You now will have no control of the loco - clear address 3 and select the loco on the new address and it should run.
If you want to change to an address less than 128, select address 00 and use Ops Mode programmign to set CV1 to the desired value. You should now be able to select that address and go,
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Swayin I get a "d nd" error message on my Zephyr, which means i have an open circuit on the programming track.
I get a "d nd" error message on my Zephyr, which means i have an open circuit on the programming track.
"d nd" means "Decoder Not Detected". The Zephyr is telling you that it can't "see" the the decoder. But the probable open circuit causing that error isn't necessarily "on the program track".
It can be anywhere between the Zephyr and the decoder, which could be in the wiring from the Zephyr to the programming track, or in the contact between the track and the wheels, or between the wheels and the internal wiring, or within the internal wiring between the pickups and the decoder, or... Well, you get the picture.
Put a different loco on the programming track. If you can read that one, you've just narrowed it down to a problem in the new loco, so start checking there for poor contact, cold solder joints, broken wires, etc.
thanks everyone for the great help! No dice yet, but I'm still tryin'.
Ok, so put a quarter on the program or main track. The controller should shut down. If it does, the issue is in the loco pickups or decoder. I do that sometimes if I have the same issue.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.