All my locomotives have Bachmann decoders in them. They have 2 digit addresses programmed with EZ Command. I now have Digitraz Zephyr Xtra and want to change the addresses to 4 digits. I have followed the manual to the letter with no success. I have gone thru Digitraxs' FAQs again with no success. I am completely stumped.
The question is; How do I program Bachman decoders with a Digitrax system?
If you are following all instructions, is it possible you are somehow not getting CV29 to change its value? If you are assigning any of the decoders an address of 127 or higher, they are called 'long' or 'extended' addresses conventionally. In order for the decoders to accept them, and thence to act on them when you issue them commands via throttle inputs, you must install a value of either "38" or "34" into the decoders' CV29. Thirty-eight is for when you want your locos to be operable on either DC or DCC rails, although many people report unwanted runaways when they first power up rails on decoders with long addresses and the value of "38" because the decoders sometimes mistake the current inrush for DC full voltage and they'll take off like scared cats. Best to set the value to "34", which assures the owner that the decoder will only ever accept DCC inputs.
Digitrax DCC throttles prompt owners with a display prompt that asks you to press "Y" for accepting changes it proposes based on your assigning the long address. In Paged Mode, and you must be in paged mode, when you enter the long address, the system makes a beep and flashes the prompt on the display. You have maybe four seconds to press "Y", at which I believe it beeps once again. The loco often jumps at these beeps.
Next, though, you must restore track power. On the DT400 throttles, you must press the Track Power key and I believe "Y" once again. The system shuts down track power upon assignment of a new address in Paged Mode, and it is part of the process of getting the new address to take. It doesn't happen in Ops Mode where all your other CV changes will take place.
-Crandell
Crandell,
I suspect the OP is using the actual DCS51 front panel to program his engines. Page 22 of the DCS51 manual walks one through the process. Basically, you need to do this:
If you have a Soundtraxx or QSI sound decoder, they may not program every time. This is due to the low power on the program track. You have two options:
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier If you have a Soundtraxx or QSI sound decoder, they may not program every time. This is due to the low power on the program track. You have two three options: Buy a Soundtraxx PTB-100 programming booster Set CV7 on the DCS51 to 'Blast Mode" so you can write the address on the Main Track. Make sure you return CV7 to normal after programming, and make sure there are no other engines on the Main Track - They all will get programmed to the same address! Forget about the programming track booster and get a Digitrax PR3 instead. Use a power supply in the 16-18VDC range with your PR3 and you will be able to read/write reliably to virtually any sound decoder. PLUS, you'll now also have a computer to DCC system interface, which allows you to use software such as JMRI, RR&Co, etc. Jim
If you have a Soundtraxx or QSI sound decoder, they may not program every time. This is due to the low power on the program track. You have two three options:
Jim,
Fixed it for ya'!
Those Bachmann non-sound decoders are a real low-end Lenz decoder that Lenz doesn;t sell any more. They can be wierd. If you are properly following the steps to set an address witht he Zephyr and it isn;t changing, look in the box. There should be an accessory called the LT-1 Loconet Tester that came with the Zephyr. In the pack with that is a resistor, which is a cylindrical sort of component with some color stripes, adn two wires. Connect this across the rails of your program track and try programming the locos again. This sounds wierd but it has worked for some people.
Also make sure you have the program track hooked to the proper terminals on the back of the console. The PGM A and PGM B terminals have the GND terminal in the middle, they are not next to each other.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
In addition to Randy's post. Use Direct mode programming. That's Pd on the display. Lenz built decoders seem to do better with direct mode programming.
Martin Myers
mfm37 In addition to Randy's post. Use Direct mode programming. That's Pd on the display. Lenz built decoders seem to do better with direct mode programming. Martin Myers
On the Zephyr Extra, the direct mode display is "dir".
Dante
Thank you for the advice. I re-read the manual and found the screw up. It follows your sequence thru the first four steps then says to hit CV-RD to read the decoder. The next step was to enter the desired number, hit CV-WR then exit. All this is listed as one operation, "Changing and Reading the Decoder Address" as opposed to two operations.
I have had some success. I was able to change the address on two locos. One works and the other, while I was able to change the address, is unresponsive. It's been slow to respond for a while now so it might be something else. These two locos were DCC ready that I installed decoders in. The locos that had factory installed decoders are ignoring my attempts to make changes.
Russell,
If the two with sound decoders are not taking the address, you will need to either:
o - Get a programming booster(like a PTB-100)
o - Set CV7 on the DCS51 to 'closed'(Blast Mode). Take all of the other engines off of the layout and place the engine you want to program on the main line. With CV7 set, address programming commands will go out on the high power main line and you should be able to get that engine programmed. This is explained on page 54 of your DCS51 manual.
o - Once done programming it, set CV7 back to 'thrown' and put your other engines back on the layout.