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BLI Paragon 3 took off with System power ON then No response

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  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Moneta, VA
  • 116 posts
BLI Paragon 3 took off with System power ON then No response
Posted by gary233 on Thursday, August 16, 2018 4:49 PM

For those of you that replied to some of my posts know that this locomotive (BLI Paragon 3, 2-8-2 Mikado) has given me problems in the past.  Most recently it shorted the mainline breaker when there was some dirty track or wheels.

Well track and wheels cleaned, I put the loco on the layout, turned on the NCE System and OFF it went! Surprise I turned off the system and then back on and it didn‘t happen again. Loco ran fine and responded to the cab controls just fine.

Today, I turn on the system, select the loco move to speed step 5, nothing, 10, nothing. Sound the whistle nothing. Re-select the loco, nothing.

On to the program track to read the decoder.  Some how the primary address (usually 3) is now 127! and CV29 is 2. What the heck??

I reset the decoder and re-programmed everything back in. Running fine again.

Can someone tell me what happened?

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, August 19, 2018 5:48 AM

Gary, if it were me, I would call BLI and tell them exactly what you told us.

Sounds like the decoder is at fault, and that is not suprising since it is a Paragon 3.

Rich

Alton Junction

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Sunday, August 19, 2018 8:47 AM

Gary,

I agree with Rich but I would email BLI rather than call.  I would also clearly and meticulously document all that has happened with this particular loco since you purchased it and what you've done to correct/remedy the issues you are experiencing.  That way BLI has a written record that they can refer back to at any time, if needed.  It also leaves a paper trail for both you and BLI.

If you end up sending it to Ormand Beach for repair, you'll need to do that anyhow.  I've done this in the past with BLI, as well as my old Toyota dealership, and it has always proven helpful to the repair party.  In fact, the repair technician at Toyota read through the sheet I gave him and said, "This is GREAT!"

Also, if your locomotive took off before the reset, be sure that you disabled "analog (DC) operation" in CV29 when you reset your decoder.  If it happens again then document that, as well, in the email that you send to BLI.

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.

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Moneta, VA
  • 116 posts
Posted by gary233 on Sunday, August 19, 2018 12:57 PM

richhotrain

Gary, if it were me, I would call BLI and tell them exactly what you told us.

Sounds like the decoder is at fault, and that is not suprising since it is a Paragon 3.

Rich

 

Thanks Rich. I was afraid of that.  I don’t think I’ve had a paragon 3 yet that i didn’t have a decoder problem with.

They stand by their products but,...  what a pain. Angry

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Monday, August 20, 2018 12:14 PM

Sometimes that 'runaway train' thing happens when power is first applied and the decoder misreads the AC on the track for DC, and so takes off at full speed based on getting 14V of power. You can set CV29 to not allow the engine to operate on DC, that usually solves the problem.

Stix
  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Moneta, VA
  • 116 posts
Posted by gary233 on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 10:39 AM

Thanks, The decoder is set to just DCC.

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