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Need help with digitrax programing problem (update)

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  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: New Brighton, MN
  • 4,393 posts
Need help with digitrax programing problem (update)
Posted by ARTHILL on Sunday, July 20, 2008 4:34 PM

I have the Digitrax Super Chief. When I turn the power on, my Proto 2000 engine with QSI sound says "RESET" and everything goes back to factory settings. I have a programming track and when I try to reprogram it sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes it seems to work until I put it on the regular track and the enigine says, "RESET". When I try to read the CV all it reads is Nopg.

I am not too bright with these things and could use some suggestions. I am afraid to try to program some new numbers in some new engines less I mess everything up.

If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Portsmouth, VA
  • 372 posts
Posted by jfallon on Sunday, July 20, 2008 5:00 PM

  It sounds like a problem with the decoder, not the Super Chief. IIRC, the QSI decoders in P2K engines use a magnetic wand to reset, so there is some sort of reed switch in there and it seems to be stuck. Try putting the magnet on and back off a few times to unstick the switch.

     As for the Nopg reading, do you have a resistor on the programming track? I use the Zephyr to program and had to add one to program P2Ksound loco's. I used the one that was in the LT1 loconet/decoder tester that came with the Zephyr. I don't think it was meant for that purpose, but it works. Just connect the resister between the rails of the programming track.

                                                             John Fallon

If everybody is thinking alike, then nobody is really thinking.

http://photobucket.com/tandarailroad/

  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
  • 2,899 posts
Posted by Paul3 on Sunday, July 20, 2008 6:53 PM

I agree that it sounds like a stuck reed switch.  If you can't "unstick" it, you'll have to either cut it or unsolder one leg of it.  Then, if you ever have to reset the loco, just touch the lead to it's old location, and it will reset.

I had to do this to a fellow club member's N&W steamer a few months back.

Paul A. Cutler III
************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
************

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Burlington, Washington
  • 196 posts
Posted by PHARMD98233 on Monday, July 21, 2008 7:23 PM

Art,

Yep, a stuck reed switch.  The magnet which comes with the engine might be a bit "wimpy".  I have used a more powerful magnet to move the reed switch.  Also, you might want to try coming at the reed switch from a couple of different angle.  If all else fails, consider removing the shell and then you can get close to the switch with your magnet.

 

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: New Brighton, MN
  • 4,393 posts
Posted by ARTHILL on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 9:13 AM

Thanks. It seems to be ok now. I did two things and I don't know which one fixed it. I tried the wand over the tender trick and then I cleaned the program track. I then tried to reset the CVs and it seems to have worked. Thanks again.

 

If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art

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