Hello community,
I have a Digitrax D.C.C. system on a 6ft layout two turnouts without frogs wired. Locomotive used to run well doesn't after ballasting. Have tried to be careful ballasting, track cleaned, wheels and track in gauge loco has sound but when moving 1cm cuts off.
Does the community know this problem? Appricate any advice. Willing to replace with a wired turnout or juice the frog even both.
Common problem with all dcc systems. The decoders commonly forget they have a motor function. Run it through a programming like you did the first time you got it, and that usually corrects it. shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Don't worry about the track. The loco is getting power to run the sound, then electrical contacts and track isn't the problem. Most likely the decoder has a oment of amnesia
shane
If it moved at all it is proubly dirty track. Did you bright boy the track well, I know people say that you shouldn't use an abrasive cleaner on track but this has never been an issue for me. Make sur you clean the inside of the rail face too.
Step One - get a small bottle of mineral spirits or kerosene, dampen a clean painter's cleanup cotton sheet remnant, and begin wiping down the rail head for at least two feet on either side of the affected spot.
Step Two - get a $20 multi-meter and verify that you have the correct power orientation and voltage supply on either side of the affected area for at least two feet. Also meter the affected area. Slide the points along the rail tops, one point at a time, for a few inches and note the reading. If it changes, there's your bad spot.
What did you use to affix the ballast particles? If you used glue, perhaps too much of it has corrupted the innards of one or more of the joiners. You'll have to remove the joiner(s) and clean them or replace them. Good time to clean up the web and top surface of the rail foot as well.
Did I mention metering the rails? The meter will tell you where voltage cuts off. It might be a weak mechanical joint, weak solder, weak connection between the rails and the command station....the list goes on.
Sound but no movement sounds like a decoder problem to me. Decoders do lose there minds from time to time and it does not take a mometary short. A decoder reset is usually acomplished by setting CV 8 to 8. Then toggle the power to the loco.
However whenever there is a question about power, you should measure, otherwise you are guessing. A cheap Harbor Freight voltmeter (AC) is good enough. You aren't looking to see is it is 12.51 or 12.49, you are looking to see if it is 12.5 or 7. It is a must have tool to have.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
If the loco moved 1cm, the decoder is probably ok. Dirty track can affect power, providing enough to power some functions, but not enough for the motor.
My rule of thumb is that is something worked fine, then I did something, and now it doesn't work, then what I did caused the problem. It's less likely that the DCC system has a problem, or the decoder suddenly went bad, and more likely the problem relates to the now-ballasted track.
When weathering rail or otherwise doing scenicking around it, I always make sure to clean the top and insides of the rail head, as rrebel mentioned above. It could be, if you just cleaned the tops, the engine is getting some power but not enough to keep it moving.
Would be interesting to see if a different engine has the same problem on the track. You might also try taking a piece of leftover track and wiring it up to the DCC system and see if the engine works on that track.
Thanks for the Replies. I am about to try out these solutions let you know after the weekend.