Stupid DT 400 must want to go to Florida again and work on it tan. Guess it was 4 months ago I sent it in for repairs to Digitrax. When they got it, it was working fine. They said a button must have been stuck, did not open it or charge me.
Now the Liquid Crystal Display will only show the power level of the two engines. The Locomotive Icon's, F functions are missing. When I change engines, I cannot see the numbers I am punching in.
Sometimes when I have it plugged into the DB 150 and it is at idle, display will have random letters like KGMO?
Any ideas?
Ken
I hate Rust
I would make sure the batteries are new first. You've probably already done that, but I've had that happen before.
In addition I've had good luck calling Digitrax while having the units on and them talking me through a few things. Also, if there's a problem everybody's in the loop.
I am pretty sure there is a reset you can do, but I don't remember what the sequence is. It's in the manual, so I would check into that.
Usually display problems can be anything from a bad display, to a cracked pc board with dozens of other things between. When you send it back why not have it upgraded to a 402?
Springfield PA
Check the loconet sockets for crossed pins.
Would you believe it has started working right again? I have unplugged and re plugged it 10 times today. Now it is working again?
When it started doing the silly stuff, I had not unplugged from the DB 150 for a few weeks.
My guess is there are buttons sticking. That is what Digitrax told me the last time it was acting up. Anyone ever pulled one apart and gave it a cleaning?
Blue, I would have had it up grade the last time I sent it to Digitrax. But, they never called, they just sent it back untouched.
By the way, I have never installed any battery's in the DT 400.
I'm way out of my league here, Ken, but the cables have several wires in them, and they must all connect to a pin somehow? Could it be that somewhere along the line in one or two connections there is a break or corrosion/oxidation? Everything is so tiny, it wouldn't take but a speck or a very tiny hairline break in a filament or solder at the connector or inside the spiral cable for there to be transmission break-up.
You hate rust, I hate intermittent technology and electronics. You about ready to come over to my side?
Crandell
I 'fixed' a friend's DT400 - he had dropped it more than a few times and the buttons were sticking almost constantly - it's pretty obvious when the buttons stick. I thought it was just misaligned from being dropped, but when I took the back off, there are some rubbery standoffs that hold the circtuit board in place and one was broken off way down at the base and the other was broken off near the circuit board. In a flash of inspiration, I made some small squares of double-sided tape, leaving the last layer of protective paper on (the edge that would touch the back of the cover when it was put back on). There are two spots near the broken support pins that are devoid of components so there was nothing on the circuit board to break, thats where I stuck them. The first time I didn;t have enough pieces so it didn;t press against the back cover, so I added some more. I think 4 or 5 little squares in each stack. I then put the cover back on and now when you press a button the circuit board doesn't sink into the case, allowing the buttons to stick. Simple little fix and it's held up for a few weeks now.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
selector I'm way out of my league here, Ken, but the cables have several wires in them, and they must all connect to a pin somehow? Could it be that somewhere along the line in one or two connections there is a break or corrosion/oxidation? Everything is so tiny, it wouldn't take but a speck or a very tiny hairline break in a filament or solder at the connector or inside the spiral cable for there to be transmission break-up. You hate rust, I hate intermittent technology and electronics. You about ready to come over to my side? Crandell
What side is that? A DCC system other than Digitrax I suspect?
Sheldon
No, Sheldon, the side that hates intermittent electrical problems. I'm treating its an either/or thing.
Being facetious.
Crimp a new plug on your DT400.
We installed a new plug last summer when the clip broke off.
One of the reason's I think it needs a good cleaning is when I slowly turn the left throttle knob it jumps. In stead of going 1,2,3,4 it will go 2,3,5,7,8. If I use the + key to advances the throttle again it will skip numbers.
Randy, do the knobs pry off? I don't see any set screws.
Thanks for all the answers.
Only need to take off the knobs if you want to remove the board from the case, the back comes off without remvoing anything other than 2 screws in the battery compartment.
I'm thinking there's a bit more wrong, like maybe a crack in the circuit board, to cause the odd display stuff. There's a big giant chip on the board which is the display driver, the actual processor that makes the throttle do its thing is a smaller chip.
Ken, did you spill your beer on the throttle? LOL
Happens all the time with keyboards. Just try to clean it and see if it happens again.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
No Micheal, I did not spill on it.
Guess it is going on again.
Now where did I put that Cheaply Made E Z Command that has never gave me a lick of trouble.
I would try two things before sending it back. Do a reset, the instructions are online at Digitrax's website and you said you replaced the plug, I would try again with a new plug. The wires inside might have just been barely touching and have finally given up after repeated use.
cudaken We installed a new plug last summer when the clip broke off. One of the reason's I think it needs a good cleaning is when I slowly turn the left throttle knob it jumps. In stead of going 1,2,3,4 it will go 2,3,5,7,8. If I use the + key to advances the throttle again it will skip numbers. Randy, do the knobs pry off? I don't see any set screws. Thanks for all the answers. Ken
Any chance you have it set up for 28 speed step mode? The numbers jump when it is. I have one of mine set up that way.