I have a Digitrax DB150 command station and a DT402 throttle. All was well and then when I turned it on today to run a train, it ran ok for about 10 minutes and then the Locomotive stopped dead. I could hear a soft clicking, not a beep and the speed indication on my throttle started to increment 1 number at a time up to 99 and then started all over at 1 again.
Checked the documentation and the Digitrax forum but nothing there. Any ideas folks?
Dennis
CDN Dennis
Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada
Continuous soft clicks means that your input (supply) voltage to the DB150 is too low.
Make sure you are powering it with an adequate power supply. For HO that would be at least 5 amps @ about 15 volts. An old DC powerpack isn't up to the job.
The first thing is to make sure that there are none of the pushbuttons sticking depressed. Then try to reset the DB150 option switch 39 to clear the memory. This happened at my club a couple of times with our DB 150 on our Empire builder and with the DCS 200 on our supper cheif and and it was an easy correction but I don't remember how I did it exactly, but I think it was a stuck button. We were using the correct power supplies.
I have the same system and a stuck button will also give this on mine as retsignalmtr has stated.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
The power supply is ok because it's the Digitrax 20 amp one. Checked the buttons and bingo, One was sticking.
Thanks for the information fellas. Much appreciated
Dennis, Your welcome. The first time it happened to me, it took awhile for me to find it was a stuck button. A little less time, the next time it happened.
No problem now, only about 20 seconds or less.
chochowillie The power supply is ok because it's the Digitrax 20 amp one. Checked the buttons and bingo, One was sticking. Thanks for the information fellas. Much appreciated Dennis
Okay, a sticking button didn't occur to me, since your description fit the low-input-power scenario. I'll have to keep that in mind for future reference.
If the sticking button wasn't caused by environmental contamination (spilled drink, etc), it may be that the decal was applied to the case slightly offset from the button holes. You can clean that up by disassembling the throttle and gently twirling a hobby knife with a #11 blade in the offending hole(s).
Any of the pushbuttons on Digitrax throttles have the potential of sticking depressed. The problem usually occurs when a button is pressed too firmly and at an angle. Finding which button is easy. Just hold the throttle flat and look at the pushbutton pad at eyelevel. The offending button will be shorter than the others. Release it and have fun.