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decoder problems

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  • Member since
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decoder problems
Posted by melisrael on Saturday, January 26, 2013 7:08 PM

I recently bought anN scale Atlas H15-44 with a decoder. Initially the marker lights did not function regardless of cv settings.Atlas replaced the decoder and tested it ok. I tried it and the lights are great but the loco now won't run. I tried resetting the long address but did not help. Accelerating just makes the headlight blink. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

mel@idghq.com

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Posted by cacole on Saturday, January 26, 2013 7:13 PM

After resetting the long address, did you program a value of 34 into CV 29?   The decoder won't recognize a long address unless CV29 is changed.

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, January 26, 2013 11:21 PM

It's funny.  I have programmed all my long addresses with my Power Cab on the programming track and have never once had to adjust CV29.  Does the Power Cab somehow do that automatically when I'm programing it?

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, January 27, 2013 1:14 AM

Tom:

I am no expert on this but I believe that the NCE Power Cab does several things more or less automatically. In other words, if you are trying to program something, say a long address, the Power Cab will automatically adjust whatever CVs are required to be adjusted. That assumes that your version of the Power Cab software accomodates the decoder of course, but I have never had to play with multiple CVs in order to program a four digit address. I have a variety of newer and older sound and non-sound decoders and the only problems I have ever had with programming were with Intermountain decoders being difficult to reset to factory settings, and that may have been because I was trying to input the commands too quickly.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by gandydancer19 on Sunday, January 27, 2013 10:06 AM

When you program a four digit address with NCE, you must activate the 'long' address.  That automatically changes CV29.  The Cab screen will ask you this when you are programming the address.

Elmer.

The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.

(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.

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Posted by cacole on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 9:59 AM

gandydancer19

When you program a four digit address with NCE, you must activate the 'long' address.  That automatically changes CV29.  The Cab screen will ask you this when you are programming the address.

That's true of all NCE systems, but too many people exit programming mode before completing the setup, and wind up with a non-responsive decoder because CV29 doesn't get reset.
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 1:39 PM

 Lights blinking as the throttle is advanced can also be a symptom of the incorrect speed step setting. Make sure CV29 is set properly in the decoder, but also make sure you did not accidently swith the mode for the address on the throttle. With the CV29 suggestion for a long address, the throttle will also need to be in 28.128 speed step, which is pretty much what all current systems default to, but it can be changed to 14 on an address by address basis via 'status edit' or a 'mode' function.

            --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by Train Modeler on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 3:27 PM

With Digitrax you just select the 4 digit option with a click of the knob when you program a 4 digit address and it takes care of CV 29 as you program in the road number.

Richard

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