HELP NEEDED TO PROGRAM LOCOMOTIVES

[Don Rogers]

Hello, Let me start off by saying I'm VERY new to the world of DCC so I apologize in advance if my terminology lacks or isn't used in the right context. 

I have been able to run my two locos right up until last night when I had a long train and needed to MU the locos.   I was able to do that fine.   After I was done and wanted to run each loco independently, like I have been, they wouldn't move.   I tried to reprogram them and after hours of looking online for a solution and or help and along with hours in the basement with my controller in hand I find myself writing this, desperate for someone to help. 

I have two locomotives.  First is an Athearn Genesis SD60M and the second is an Athearn Genesis F45. Both with sound. (sound is working fine on each unit, I just can't get them to move) My DCC controller is the MRC Prodigy Express.  

I've tried both programming it on the main track (one loco on the track at a time) as well as the program track (one loco on at a time) and the results are the same.  

This is where I'm getting lost and confused.  I don't know what to put in for the SV, ACC, DEC, and TV.  I know what they all stand for as I've read the back of the controller several times.  I just don't know what I need to put in there.  

If someone can please give me a step by step starting with SV and so on as far as what I should enter I would be extremely grateful!!

Thanks for any help I can get,

Donnie

[jalajoie]

Did you break (kill) the consist when done. I suspect CV19 did not reset to zero and this is why you are unable to run these locos independently. Unfortunately with the Express you can't read any CV, therefore I suggest you blindly program a value of zero into CV19.

You may also have done more wrong to the decoders when trying to reprogram them repeatedly. A factory reset may be in order if programming CV19=0 does not correct the problem.

[cacole]

If setting CV 19 to a value of zero on the programming track does not clear up the problem, you may need to reset both decoders.

MRC does not use the same CV setting as any other brand to reset the decoder back to factory default values and address 3.  For MRC decoders you have to set CV 125 to a value of 1 on the programming track.

 

[Don Rogers]

this is good advice but I'm not sure how to reset the decoder back to factory default values and address 3.  Like I said before I literally will need to be taken by the hand and told step by step assuming I know nothing. 

[maxman]

I don't have a Prodigy Express, but the instructions (http://www.modelrectifier.com/resources/trainsound/0001408.pdf) seem pretty clear.  Did you read through them?

The first thing I would try before I got into totally resetting the decoders is to follow the clearing a consist instructions in the manual:

 

Clearing Advanced Consists

1. Press

 

PROG until “Cons cLr” flashes in the display. Then press ENTER.

2. “Cons#” will display, prompting you to input the consist number. Enter

number of the consist you want to clear and press

 

ENTER.

Once you clear the consist, each loco will respond immediately to its

original speed command.

Note

 

 

If you forget the consist number, each loco’s address in the consist must

be reprogrammed its address on the Program Track, or program CV19 to

zero.

 

You did remember to write down the consist number as recommended in the instructions, right?  If the above information does not reproduce clearly here, it can be foound in section 2-9 of the manual.

[rrinker]

 SV is start voltage. If the loco doesn;t start to move when you first crack the throttle, put something greater than 0 in there. It's a trial and error thing, so use the programming on the main so you cna immediately see results. Keep programmign in alarger number untilt eh loco creeps at its slowest possible speed when you first crack the throttle.

TV is top voltage. If the loco runs too fast at full throttle you can put a number here to reduce the top speed. Most decoders use a range of 0-255, so you'd want something less than 255 but greater than whatever you put in SV. The advantage of reducing the top speed like this instead of simply not cranking the throttle all the way up is that you now have the full range of the throttle to control the now narrower speed range - finer control.

ACC is acceleration momentum. It's usually based on a formulat for a certain amount of time per speed step, for INCREASING speed. So that if you crank the throttle suddenly to half speed, the loco doesn;t leap into action, but gradually speeds up. Don't go overboard, or you might think the loco is broken and the speed doesn;t increase. Small numbers work best here, 2-5.

DEC is deceleration momentum - how long it takes the loco to slow down or stop when you reduce the throttle. Same deal here, don;t make it too high, or you might not be able to stop your loco in time. Half of the ACC value is common. Leave both at 0 for 'instnat' reaction tot he throttle knob. DEC is the trickiest to get used to, but it simulates a real train with tons of loaded cars - they don;t stop on a dime, you have to plan the stop.

                           --Randy

 

[Don Rogers]

Hey Maxman,

 

Thanks so much for the great advice, it worked!!!  I cleared it out and everything seems to be up and running, it's a good thing too because my freight is getting backed up and I have a lot of upset passengers who are stranded!!!  :)  

 

Thanks again for taking the time to give some great advice!!

 

Donnie

[Eric97123]

It can be frustrating at first but it does not take long before you will get the hang of DCC.  We all have been there!

[maxman]

Don Rogers

Hey Maxman,

 it's a good thing too because my freight is getting backed up  

Donnie

Getting backed up?  I think they have an app for that!