Decoder, CV Issues, or...??

[JRP]

I have the Zephyr system and have replaced a cheap factory decoder in my new Backmann 4-8-4 Northern with an NCE D15SR decoder for the motor and lights (I'll be adding a Soundtraxx sound only decoder later, which already works). Here are the problems: 1.When asking the system to read back the current address of the NCE decoder, the letter "d" (meaning decoder is reading) does not show up on the address (_003), but it should according to the manual. Why not? 2. I got the engine to run, but it takes off very fast just after turning the throttle up a notch and will not stop, even when the throttle is back at zero. I have to turn the power off for the loco to stop (good news is it runs great, but way too fast). > 3. I can't get this loco to go in reverse....the address on the Zephyr screen starts to ossilate rapidly (like it's showing a short). Note: This NCE decoder was first tested and is fine, and I cut the two capacitors off the Bachmann pc board as some of you instructed me to do. Might these problems be CV related? Thanks. JRP

[rrinker]

 Did it run with the Bachmann decoder? And how did you test out the new decoder? Unless you really put in a bunch of random junk attempting to program it, it's probably NOT a CV problem. You can reset the whole thing to factory defaults by programmign CV30 =2.

 Now, about what you cut out - are you sure you only removed the capacitors that were in parallel with the motor? There are also inductors which typically do not have to be removed however if you DO remove them, you need to replace them with jumper wires. Getting a short indication when trying to run in reverse makes me think there is a wiring problem. The D15SR is a wired decoder - how did you exactly connect it?

                          --Randy