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Digitrax DB150 Problem and running session scheduled

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Georgia Mountains
  • 28 posts
Digitrax DB150 Problem and running session scheduled
Posted by Hawksridge on Saturday, March 20, 2010 5:14 PM

I have a problem and need help fast. I have a running session scheduled tonight and I can't get the Digitrax DB150 on line. I have a Digitrax Super Empire Builder with a DB150. No locomotivesor anything else is shorting the layout and everything was working fine until I tried to clear the loco roster by setting OpSw 38 to "c". I followed the instructions exactly as indicated in the manual. I went to turn the track power back on and I don't get anything indicating power on the DB150. The power light on the DB150 is blinking green every five seconds (which according to the manual indicates a fault). The track status is blinking orange and the Off Line light is red. I checked to make sure that I did not change OpSw01 and it was in the "t" position. The power light on the DT400 indicates the power is on. I also tried resetting OpSw 39 to "t" to see if that would do the trick. Nothing.

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Tom  

 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 327 posts
Posted by locoworks on Saturday, March 20, 2010 6:06 PM

is there an ops switch to do a factory reset??

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Westchester NY
  • 1,747 posts
Posted by retsignalmtr on Saturday, March 20, 2010 7:24 PM

Option switch 39  also changes options 36, 37 and 38. Look at options 33 and 34. are you following the right procedure? The steps are slightly different  for 36-39 from the rest of the options. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Georgia Mountains
  • 28 posts
Posted by Hawksridge on Saturday, March 20, 2010 9:38 PM

OK, here is the latest update after a few hours of trouble shooting. I did try the "master reset" OpSw 39 and no change. What I did find was that if I disconnect the rail A wire from the DB150 the unit went back to green and everything was OK. Reconnect and the unit went into short mode. Checked all wires and things looked good. The strange thing was I did not touch any wires before the problem occured. I disconnected each wiring section and could not find any shorts. Very frustrating!!!!!!!!!  My operating crew helped me to try to locate the problem but no luck. After over an hour or more I finally got the system up and running. I still don't know what caused the problem or what I did to fix the issue so that the short went away. 

I am still open for any suggestions or help. At least I am able to run trains. Thankfully my operating crew was very understanding.

Thanks in advance for any help.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, March 20, 2010 10:07 PM

 Seems pretty clear you have a short somewhere in the wiring if everything comes up normal with the track wires disconnected from the DB150.  Perhaps a gap closed near a powered frog. Maybe a seldom-used siding that was line for the siding and when you reset everything to the main it started working? Definitely does not appear to be anythign wrong with your DB150.

                                     --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Victoria, BC
  • 54 posts
Posted by Don 2816 on Sunday, March 21, 2010 9:17 PM

I know someone who cleared the loco roster this way and it resulted in all the power boosters being reset to command units.

Don 

 

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 1,204 posts
Posted by mfm37 on Sunday, March 21, 2010 9:39 PM

Don 2816

I know someone who cleared the loco roster this way and it resulted in all the power boosters being reset to command units.

Don 

 

 

That could happen on a multi booster system if another booster has had an Op Switch closed to make it just a booster and if they didn't follow directions and unplug all loconet cables from the one command station before closing Op Switch 39. Lot of things to screw up at one time but yes it's possible.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Sunday, March 21, 2010 10:02 PM

DB150's do have the OpSw settings to make them just a booster or an autoreverse booster, but you really should use the jumper method to set one to be a booster and not rely on the OpSw settings. For a DCS100 you don't have a choice, so you need to be careful about using the OpSw 39 reset to factory default - factory default on a DCS100 is to operate as a command station.

                           --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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