Hi Fellas,
I will post info on my problem and che ck back later. IT's pasrtime to hit the hay,so I'll tacckle this problem more later. Okay here is what I have
A BLI 4-6-2 Streamline loco cab number 3768. Fairly new less than 6 months old.
IT was running on assigned cab number 3768.
Now it will not respond at all. I put it on my program track which has a UTP panel connecte to it and using an NCE Power Cab handheld, when I follow the NCE manual for programming, all I get is "cannoit read CV".
So i rearranged the hoookup with my NCE SB5 power supply hooked to the proram track and also still using the NCE Powercab, I cannot get a Use program track readout, only "program on the main".
It will not respond to loco 3 or loco 3768.
I am following the NCE manual step by step for loco programming with no luck. with no luck.
Are there any suggestions ?
This was not a cheap locomotive, I paid c lose to $400.00 for it .
It set on a storage track on my layout, totally electrically isolated for about 3 months and now will not function.
.
Does this have a BLI version of a keep alive?
TheK4KidSo i rearranged the hoookup with my NCE SB5 power supply hooked to the proram track and also still using the NCE Powercab, I cannot get a Use program track readout,
I don't think you can hook the Powercab up to a booster and use it for a program track.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
If the BLI is the older version, your problem could be that. BLI had a lot of decoder issues . Might not be the NCE at all. Especially if everything else woroks fine. do you know which version 4-6-2 it is?
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
How would I determine which version the BLI 4-6-2 is?
K4,
If you hook up the Power Cab to the SB5 (or a PH Pro), the booster and command station functions are bypassed and it automatically becomes a ProCab throttle. That was the way it was designed.
If you are using the Power Cab by itself (no SB5) to program, it must be connected the Power Cab's left port of the PCP panel. The UTP panel is only for daisy-chaining from the PCP panel or the SB5 and only for extra throttles. Or the Power Cab as a ProCab, as previously mentioned.
If you connect the Power Cab to the SB5 you will only be able to programming in Programming on the Main mode. Your Power Cab needs the PCP panel and its wall charger to program in programming mode.
Make sure that your track is also clean, as that will give you the "Cannont read CV" message...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Just use your Power Cab and hook it up to a short piece of test track.
hook your PC to this test track- now on the lower left corner of the PC press it 4 times/read out should say use program track hit 1 for OK read out should now say STD ,CV's and a 3rd one (?)
hit 1 for standard- power cab will,read back manufacture 's ID
IF NO READ BACK check for dirty wheels.
This might not help, but I have had situations where I can't read back CVs from a decoder on the programming track, but it turned out I could program CVs. (MRC decoders do that a lot.) If you get the programming track so it looks like it's working OK (or if you can program on the main or whatever) maybe try setting CV1 to 03 and then see if the engine responds to it.
Long-term, investing in something like a Digitrax PR4 so you can set up a programming track connected to your PC or laptop, and downloading Decoder Pro, might be a good idea. More than once I've been baffled as to why an engine wasn't working right, only to find out some CV had been set wrong without my even knowing it had been changed.
The 3768 is the Pennsy streamlined K4m which was released in the summer of 2020. It has a Paragon 3 decoder in it.
I had similar problems programming mine and BLI claimed it was a Digitrax problem, not theirs. They sent me a replacement Paragon 3 decoder but the new one exhibited the same behavior.
BLI_K4_SL_Parts by Edmund, on Flickr
I suggest the OP open the tender, the shell is easily removed, and use the 'hard reset' button. If there isn't any fatal defect inj the decoder that should get the engine running back to default address 3.
Mine exhibited bizarre behavior when I set the decoder to the engine number. It would run fine on 3 as well as several other combinations of say, 37, 68, 76, etc. But if I set the address to 3768 the motor and light control would get crazy with the engine taking off in reverse at full speed when the throttle was telling it to go forward at step 1.
Today the engine has a WOWsound decoder in it and is finally happy.
Good Luck, Ed
Thanks! gmpullman,
I'll give it a go.
It's just frrustrating to spend $400.00 and then have problems!
I also have a couple of Bachmann locos that seem to have lost their memory!
I'm trying to complete a construction project on my layout, but then have to stop and try and reprogram some locos!
IT's been quite awhile, but I recall having to do a "hard reset on another BLI loco I Nhave. I have about six of them. 4 of them I have never had a problem.
Thx,
Ed
Okay, I have removed the tender shell, and pushed on the reset switch.
Nothing happens.
I have the POwer Cab hoked up to the left side of the UTP and have power to the UTP.
I tried preessing on program buton 4 times to get "program on the program track.
Following the NCE manual step by step, nothing happens. I assume the decoder is dead
I guess my next move is to contact BLI.
gmpullman,
Which TCS WOW Sound decoder did you use in your BLI 3768 loco?
I looked at the TCS site and did not see a WOW sound decoder for the bLI 4-6-2
As mentioned previously and just double-checking: You've connected to the Power Cab's PCP panel and NOT an unpowered UTP panel, which is what you connnect to your SB5?
Have you also tried operating/programming another locomotive with this setup to verify that the Power Cab or your setup is not the issue?
TheK4KidOkay, I have removed the tender shell, and pushed on the reset switch. Nothing happens.
Be sure you hold the button fully depressed with the track power off. Turn on the track power (you can even use a DC power supply here) then release the button.
I had a momentary lapse of reason. I actually installed a Tsunami2 Steam decoder in that particular K4. I have since given TCS WOWsound a 'second chance' after having not been impressed with their earlier versions.
IMHO — There Is Not A Single 'Best' Sound decoder. However, where it counts, in the exhaust 'chuffs' I have reconsidered the WOW version 4 decoders for steam and, dispite my dislike for their audio assist programming, I very much like the exhaust sounds and their collection of bells and whistles.
Here's what the Tsunami2 and hi-bass speakers look like installed. This job was done before I discovered Scale Sound systems speakers. ALL my sound installations now use SSS speakers.
BLI_Tender-Tsunami by Edmund, on Flickr
All BLI locos have to be rewired in order to use aftermarket DCC sound decoders.
So should I totally remove everything from the tender bed, then install a new decoder?
TheK4KidSo should I totally remove everything from the tender bed, then install a new decoder?
Why not see what BLI says about a warranty repair? There is an online service request form. Sometimes it takes a few days for them to respond.
Have you tried running the engine on straight DC?
I'll give that a try when I have some spare time, I have a lot to do today, maybe get around to the workbench later this evening. I turned off power, pushed the reset button, held it down then turned power back on but nothing happened.
I was reading an online manual by NCE.
It stated that the use of a Soundtraxx PTB-100 decoder booster might be used
to overcome programming problems such as the inability to read CVs.
Has anyone used one of these and can anyone goive me their opinion or review of the use of one of these.
It did recommend not to use a Power Pax booster.
I see them advertised on Ebay for $58.00
TheK4KidI was reading an online manual by NCE. It stated that the use of a Soundtraxx PTB-100 decoder booster might be used to overcome programming problems such as the inability to read CVs.
Ed,
Was the online manual for the Power Cab or the PH Pro? I've heard/read that the PH Pro sometimes needs a booster for programming sound decoders. The Power Cab shouldn't need one, as it was designed to provide extra oomph to overcome programming issues with sound decoders.
FWIW, I've never had an issue programming sound decoders with my Power Cab. The only time I ever saw the "Cannont read CV" message was when the programming track needed to be cleaned and didn't make good contact with the drive wheels.
The programming track is very clean as are all the wheels on the loco and axles and copper contacts on the loco tender.
tstageWas the online manual for the Power Cab or the PH Pro?
One
Two
Unfortunately, the newest of these is 6 years old. It is not true that a PowerCab can program anything. I have been poking around the NCE-DCC groups.io forum and people absolutely have problems with some BLI decoders, both with the PowerCab or with JMRI.Unfortunately the only responder I recognize as a guru is David Heap (ESU and JMRI) and he refered to work arounds found in the JMRI group. I expect you do need a booster. There was a suggestion to turn off the Keep Alive via a CV and another one to let the loco sit without power after programing, for 5 min. At least those two suggestion won't cost any money. I did not look at every thread on the NCE-DCC groups.io
Did we establish if this is a QSI or a Soundtraxx decoder?
BigDaddyUnfortunately, the newest of these is 6 years old. It is not true that a PowerCab can program anything.
This may be true.
What is really unfortunate is that there are a couple things that the OP has not yet confirmed.
1. Is the PowerCab plugged into the proper port of the PTP. And it is a PTP, not a UTP.
2. Is the PTP directly connected to an isolated piece of track.
3. None of this is anyway connected to the SB5.
4.
BigDaddyDid we establish if this is a QSI or a Soundtraxx decoder?
OP says that the loco is less than 6 months old. If he bought this new, I think it should have some flavor of BLI decoder installed.
5. OP needs to confirm that the loco did run correctly at one time. (I think he said it did.)
6. Does the loco run on DC?
7. OP states that he also has some Bachmann locos that seem to have "lost their memory". I think there may be more going on here than just the BLI being a problem.
I was under the impression that the latest version of BLI was soundtrax decoders, but I could be wrong. I am not a BLI guy because of threads exactly like this. The OP did say it ran with the engine number in his 3rd paragraph.
I have a Bachmann 45 tonner and it too lost it's mind, just by sitting unused. A reset fixed it.
The engine in question is the Pennsylvania's Streamlined K4 No. 3768. I believe I mentioned that in my first reply above. It is a Paragon 3.
I bought mine when first available in July of 2020. I'm not aware of Broadway Limited ever using a Soundtraxx decoder in a factory-produced locomotive. Some early Precision Craft engines were equipped with ESU decoders but this was very early in the game.
I'm still not convinced that the OP performed the 'hard reset' properly. If he tried it on a programming track it will NOT work. He needs to depress the button then apply full DCC track voltage OR at least 12 volts from a DC power pack, then release the button while track power is still on. Cycling track power off then back on will complete the reset. Programming track power is not enough to perform the 'hard reset'.
IF the reset is successful it makes no difference what command station he is using. The engine should run on address 3.
IF the reset does not work I advised the OP to contact BLI. We do not know if this has happened yet.
http://bliservice.com/techsupport-options/
The issue the OP is having is not a new occurrence for him:
https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/p/259357/2911981.aspx
(fifth reply)
Regards, Ed
Okay , I put it back on the main track, pushed the reset button and applied power with the handheld on "3".
The loco came back to life and operated back and forth. Now all of a sudden it will not move either direction even thjough I am getting chuff sounds from the decoder , whistle, bell and headlight work but loco won't move in either direction!
IT was also smoking from the stack. but I turned that off under the cab. After that it would not move. Go figure?
The switch is under the cab.
Would the smoke switch have anything to do with it not moving?
AS of this time I have not called BLI. I could do that tomorrow.
I got busy with errands today and it's past 5 pm est time so will have to call BLI tomorrow.I can hear a motor running in the loco but the drive wheels don't turn.When I did the hard reset correctly the drive wheels turned and the loco moved back and forth
Whistle, headlight and bell work properly.
Any suggestions? I really don't want to get into the interior of the engine. I assume a set of gears is not engaging.