I took a brand new (though about 5 years old; bought at Amherst show) P2K w/QSI out of the box last night to program on my Digitrax Super Chief Xtra. I was able to program the address no problem-then put in on the main line and when accessed you hear the primer mover crankj up for about 1 second then its dead-no sound, no movement. took it off and re-programmed and same thing. Cooked decoder? Cooked board? Can this be saved?
Tophias,
It may have been put in semi-hibernation mode, which is done by pressing F9 twice rapidly. (When this done 3X in succession - with a 2-3 second break in between, it goes into full hibernation mode.)
So, with the locomotive on the track, try pressing F6 twice rapidly. That will wake it up. (You may need to do it twice.) If that doesn't work, try resetting your QSI decoder using this sequence:
CAUTION: Be sure that no other QSI decoder-equipped locomotives are on the track or you'll reset them, too.
Here's a handy link for resetting the decoders from the major manufacturers from Tony's Train Exchange web site:
How to Rescue a Faulty Decoder
Hope that helps...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Since the engine hasn't run for 5 years, it might be grease-bound. Remove the cover plates under the wheels and clean the gears and bearing surfaces. Add some Labelle grease to the gears. It's probably a good idea to remove the shell and clean any internal gears, too. Manually spin the motor and make sure everything turns freely.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
thanks Tom. In regard to the F6 idea, should this be done on the main track or the programming track? (Can you tell I am a DCC novice?)
Tophias thanks Tom. In regard to the F6 idea, should this be done on the main track or the programming track? (Can you tell I am a DCC novice?)
Actually, either one is fine. I would just put it on the main track for convenience so you can run your locomotive to see if you do need to clean and re-lube it, as MB suggested might be the problem.
No bother about being a newbie. We were all there once and we're all still learning. Welcome to the club.
I once had a similar problem with a QSI decoder. It was a couple of years ago, and I don't remember the details all that well, but it was a situation where it would not run. I tried all manner of resets, including the magnetic "magic wand" over the tender.
In the end, I took it to my LHS. He has a QSI programmer unit, and was able to awaken Rip Van Loco from its odd sleep state. It took him several tries, repeating the reset and wakeup sequences, before it was fully operational. It's been fine ever since.
QSI decoders are not configured with normal CVs in a lot of areas and they have different F keys to consider. Bottom line, read the manual, download any helps you can find, use their yahoo pages. I have a 3 ring binder on them after about 6 months of research to get them optimized. You have to turn the verbal acknowledgement off for them to work with JMRI.
Richard
It isn't just with JMRI. To program on the main you need to turn off the verbal acknowledgment.
Joe
tstage Tophias, It may have been put in semi-hibernation mode, which is done by pressing F9 twice rapidly. (When this done 3X in succession - with a 2-3 second break in between, it goes into full hibernation mode.) So, with the locomotive on the track, try pressing F6 twice rapidly. That will wake it up. (You may need to do it twice.) If that doesn't work, try resetting your QSI decoder using this sequence: CV49=128 CV50=255 CV56=113 CAUTION: Be sure that no other QSI decoder-equipped locomotives are on the track or you'll reset them, too. Here's a handy link for resetting the decoders from the major manufacturers from Tony's Train Exchange web site: How to Rescue a Faulty Decoder Hope that helps... Tom
Sweet! Glad you're up and going, Tophias. Now have some fun with your locomotive and DIgitrax Super Chief.