I have a brand new Athearn Genesis SD-70, that unfortunately I purchased over a year ago, and put away as I was busy with other projects. Yesterday, I came across it in the closet and decided to play with it. It doesn't work!
I put it on the rails and it just sits there and makes a wierd buzzing sound. Both the front and rear headlights and the front and rear ditchlights are on. It does not respond to any commands. I cannot program it, either an address or even a factory reset. It does not short out the Zephyr system, or get hot or smoke. It just sits there making a wierd buzzing sound, with all lights on, front and rear. Obviously I can't return it after more than a year. Any ideas what might be wrong with it. I'm thinking about just putting a new decoder in it.
almost sounds like it doesn't have a decoder on it ?? same buzzing sound, and all lights on is almost like a DC loco on a DCC track??
have you tried running it as a DC only ??
No. Good point. It says w/sound on the box. Cost me $202. I'll open it up tomorrow. As I posted, I bought it over a year ago, and got busy with other things.
if it says 'with sound' then it -should- have a DCC decoder already there ???
Something is not right or is missing entirely. When the DC drive mechanism is exposed to direct AC current which, if you're using DCC to the rails it must be, it buzzes. If the power can only get to the motor via a working decoder, then it should just remain silent or begin to make minor sounds and respond to motive instructions. I'm thinking it was sold mis-wired or without a decoder.
Just buzzing with all lights on - generally means no decoder, or the decoder was bypassed. You wouldn't be the first person to get a non-decoder unit in a box that says it has a sound decoder. Intermountain has some shipped out in the wrong box, a factory error.
You can verify the decoder is missing or bypassed by selecting address 00 on the Zephyer. As you crank up the throttle, the tone of the buzzing should change and the loco will start to move, maybe matching the direction lever, maybe not. But the only way to know if it's even in there is going to be to take off the shell and take a peek.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Opened it up and no decoder! Apparently the box was mismarked.
okay, now what ???
i suppose you don't have your receipt, and it's too far along to return it ...
will the reseller -give- you a sound decoder ??