Hi,
I am fairly new to DCC and I'm really stuck. I have been running my two engines for a while and now they won't run at all. I put them on the track and the rear light comes on (even though cab says the lights are off), and it won't move. I can go into program mode and the light goes off. It seems to programs the address OK, and reads the address OK. But as soon as I esc out of the program mode, the rear light goes on again, and the engine won't move.
What am I doing wrong? What does the light on indicate? I'm titally stuck!
Hi, Just a quick reply as I’m no DCC guru or anything but the first thing that springs to mind (only because it happened to me) is have you had the locos in a consist and forgotten to un consist them? If this were the case they won’t respond to their original address but revert to their last consist command. If not stay tuned some one here will no doubt be able to help.
Hi, and thanks for the reply. No they are not in a consist. I think that topic has been covered here (in doing my searches).
I did get one engine going again. Then it wouldn't go. I went back into the programing mode and found I couldn't read back the address CV. I put it back in again, both the short and the long. Now one of the engines is going again although the lights won't go on or off. The other is still not moving. I'm scared that if I go back into the addessing of the second engine then neither of them will work again as per before.
P.S. the decoders are Digitrax DN163A0's
What program mode are you using? Ops(main) or program track?
The first thing to do is start over. Place one loco on the track and use the Program track method. Do not have any other loco on the track. Set CV8 to a value of 8. This will reset the decoder to factory default. Then select address 3 to test.
Springfield PA
If you're trying to program a long address, you must reset CV 29 to a value of 34 in order for the decoder to recognize it.
As you program the new address, there are two possible ways to accomplish this -- first is to use the Power Cab's "configuration" mode and step through the options, or secondly, set CV 29 as a totally separate programming step.
The Power Cab actually does that work for you if you follow the display prompts.
These are hard wired decoders. Check and make absolutely sure there is no short between the frame, wheel pickups, and motor leads.
Your Power Cab has a built in amp meter. Press program button 6 times and then press 1 and enter. when you escape from there an amp meter will replace the clock of the display. Try to run one loco and read how many amps it is drawing. If it reads more than .50 then check for a bind or a short from the motor to wheel pickups. If it reads very low then check for a bad connection or even dirty wheels and track.
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!
Thanks for all the suggestions thus far.
I can eliminate the following:
1. I am using program mode, and both engine decoders seem to respond in program mode. i.e. it readys the decoder manufacturere and firmware version
2. One engine is now working and the other isn't - so the PowerCab is working OK. Both engines were working at some point yesterday.
3. There is 13.9 volts at the top of the frame of the engine that is not moving (as I said - it programs OK)
4. I have the amp meter on and the engine that runs goes between 0.05 and 0.11, the one that doesn't work registers 0
I will try resetting the decoder of the one that doesn't work and see what that does.
Just one other question. Can you run one engine on short address and one on long? How do you switch between addressing types. If i put the short address in for the one that does work it puts an "*" (asterics) at the front - what does that mean?
I don't know if any of this makes any sense, but some additional symptoms are:
- the engine that does move - the headlights won't turn on or off
- the engine that doesn't move, if i give it a little nudge, the healights flicker - but that's all.
- when everything wasn't working, the rear headlight would come on when the engine was placed on the track (both engines) and would not turn off - what does that mean?
I'm going to take apart the engine that does not move to make sure the motor tabs are touching the board correctly, and see if that fixes anything.
I now have the second engine running - sort of.
It appears to be poor contact between the drop in board and the frame. It's a bit sloppy which makes for high resistance. For some reason I could still program it but it wouldn't run. When I push down on the top of the board it makes better contact. I have heard of applying a fine layer of solder to the 4 tabs that make a connection to the frame to improve the contact. So I will try this and see how it goes.
That just leaves one problem - the lights won't turn on or off for either engine. They flicker when it reads back the CV's, but that's about it. Any ideas?
Clean the wheels and track. A flickering headlight is indicative of dirty track and dirty wheels.
Are those N scale loco's. And just curious but what brand?
LRC.
The poor contacts in the decoder to motor and decoder to frame will cause all those symptoms you have described. No amount of programing and pushing will fix it. Best bet is to solder all the connections. If these are N scale split frame type locos it would improve performance dramatically if you solder the wires for the decoder right to the truck pick ups instead of allowing another potential bad connection with the wiper to frame. This is what I do to N and HO scale split frame locos. You may have to cut a channel for the wire to run in so the shell will not pinch the wires.
Hope this helps.
Pete.
P.S. to switch between 2 locos just hit the recall button. The asterisk is telling you you have configured your address as a long address but use a short address number. If you enter address 3 then just press 3. If you want a long address enter 0003. Adding zeros before the number turns a short address to a long address. This could be the reason one of your locos does not run. This is explained on page 25 of the manual.
Yes they are N scale.
the one that works (but lightsd not working) is an atlas. The other that now is movingbut stops and starts (again no lights) is an intermountain. They both worked fine a few months ago. I have been cleaning the track. I amabout to pull the trucks out on the intermountain and check the resistance on them, as if I place the fram on the rails it without the trucks it works fine.
Thanks everyone for all your help.
Check the metal strips that touch the truck for the pick-up. They can get out of allignment or become dirty. You can also bend them down a little to make better contact. I have 4 of the Atlas loco's.