I'm new to trains. I had a layout built with an atlas turntable that ""did" have an address. I have a separate program track and also a toggle to turn to "program" when using the programming track. l have a digitrax db150 and dt402d throttle.
I was trying to program a loco on the mainline and also on the programming track because the mainline didn't work....neither did the programming track...(the engine is a Bachman which I now know you need more power). The problem is that now my turntable doesn't work. Could some one please tell me how to program an address for the turntable to work.... Thanks
I didn't know Atlas made a DCC controlled turntable and after a google search i still don't know that. Did you mean Walthers?
What does "doesn't work" mean? No rotation or no track power?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Now you can tell how new I am.....I did find out by researching today that Atlas is a DC only. I obviously did something wrong when trying to program an engine the other day and the turntable wouldn't work. Today I tried to program a Digitrax decoder on the Programming track (using Mode Pg) and the turntable started working on the address I programmed, it rotates, etc. I emailed the fellow that built my layout a few days ago but haven't heard back. If this is going to happen every time I try to program an engine on the program track then I'll now have to program engines on the main line on OPS mode. Some how, something is backwards. Any ideas?
Are you using DCC to run the motor of the Atlas turntable? It's not often done, but it can be. The Atlas motor may be a bit old and large, and may take a decoder with a fairly high current rating to avoid burning out the decoder.
To program such a decoder, you will need to attach the power inputs (red and black wires) to your programming track, but you need to also have the motor inputs (gray and orange wires) connected to the motor. Without a motor, you can not program a motor decoder. The power wires should be disconnected from your normal power source to do this. Once the programming job is done, you must restore the original wiring configuration.
My guess is, you've got a loose wire somewhere and your efforts to program a decoder disconnected and then re-connected that wire, and that's why it works now.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I still fail to see how yoou could "program" a turntable that is a simple DC motor. The Atlas turntable is very simplistic, it doesn;t even have any indexing ot specific stops - it's a simple DC motor and a mechanical drive called a Geneva Drive that mechanically makes the table rotate between each posible stall track when the motor is running. There's nooo DCC, noooothing to program. And even if it DID have a DCC decoder hooked up to run the motor, programming on the program treack couldn't possibly affect that decoder because that decoder would have to be connected to the main track in order to operate. It's easy enough to figure out - prior to things getting messed up, how did you make the turntable spin? Using your DCC controller, or using a seperate switch?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
OK, so there is a DCC decoder connected to the motor. Now it makes sense - especially since you said you have a DB150. I'm guessing you actually DIDN'T flip the toggle to PROGRAM. The DB150 doesn;t have a dedicated program track, so you make one by putting a toggle switch in that in one position connects the DB150 to the main track for running, and in the other connects just a seperate piece of track to be the program track.
To put your turntable back to #111, first take all your other locos off the track. Then, with the toggle switch still in the train running position, use the Program key to select Pg or Pd program modes. Set the 2-digit address to 111, just like if you were programming a loco. Then exit program mode. Your turntable will now be operated as loco 111.
If anything says "SQ" on the throttle then you hit the SWITCH key, not one of the program keys. That's the only way to get the throttle to show SW - that's to select a stationary decoder to thrown a switch via the DCC system.
Digitax is confused, same way we all are confused - the Atlas turntable is not DCC. If it was CONVERTED to DCC then someone did that for you, there is no Atlas DCC turntable that comes that way. If the way you previously controlled the turntable was to select loco 111 and turn up the throttle, then here is how to program it back:
Take all your locos off the track - thsi is important. Before you take the last oen off - make sure you cna run it normally. If it is working under throttle control just fine - stop it, and take it off the rails. Touch nothing else.
On the throttle - press PROG until the display says Pd.
If it does not change to AD2=??? then turn the LEFTknob until the display says AD2=???
Turn the RIGHT knob so enter 111, the display should say AD2=111
Press the ENTER key
After it finishes, press the EXIT key
Press PWR, then ON to turn the track power on.
Select address 111 on the throttle. The turntable should work as before.
Do not touch any other switches or buttons. If the display does not show the proper reading, STOP, press EXIT, and start over, you hit the wrong button somewhere.