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BLI Paragon3 DCC Issues

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  • Member since
    December 2019
  • 6 posts
BLI Paragon3 DCC Issues
Posted by mdmack75 on Thursday, January 30, 2020 1:14 PM

Let me start by saying I am very new to DCC, so I may be missing something that is completely obvious.

I recently purchased an HO scale BLI paragon3 diesel locomotive, and with my NCE Power Cab system it worked great right out of the box (Drive system,horn, bell, light, etc).  I also tested it on my DC track, and everything worked as well.

Today I went to start it up and everything was working fine, but then something happened to it.  It was under power and moving, then it derailed slightly, and I adjusted, without cutting the power.  Since then, the only that will work is the headlight.  The motor and sound effects won't work at all.  I did test the loco on my DC layout, and it works there, but I am not sure what happened with the DCC decoder.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, January 30, 2020 5:09 PM

Weird things sometimes happens to decoders.  Write 8 to the value of  CV8.  That is a decoder reset.  Turn the power off then on. 

If that doesn't work, the good news is I hear their customer service is very good.  The bad news is they get a lot of practice.  There are numerous threads here on Paragon decoder problems that are not fixable without a trip back.

Let us know what happens.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,205 posts
Posted by tstage on Thursday, January 30, 2020 5:15 PM

Are you operating it on address "3" or the road number of the locomotive?

You might try resetting* your decoder back to factory standards.  For BLI it's CV8 = 8.  That will clear any bug-a-boos in the decoder and your address will become "3".  You can then reprogram it to whatever road number you want.

Tom

*When programming with your NCE Power Cab use POM or Programming on the Main mode.  To access this POM mode press the PROG/ESC button 4x, press ENTER then press "2".  Enter "8" to select CV 8 then press "8" again for the value.  Your decoder should reset.  However, you may need to interupt power to complete the reset.

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
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, January 30, 2020 6:35 PM

According to this new post by gmpullman, the CV reset sometimes doesn't do it and you have to push a button on the decoder board.  I would certainly try that as the next step.  https://tinyurl.com/sh4wd6a

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    December 2019
  • 6 posts
Posted by mdmack75 on Friday, January 31, 2020 3:33 PM

It was operating on address 3, right from the factory.  I was able to fix things by disassembling the diesel and doing a manual decoder reset. Not hard, but just a bit tedious. Hopefully it won't happen again for a long time.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, January 31, 2020 4:57 PM

Did setting CV8 to 8 not work for you?

Glad it's running.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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