I have the same problem with my Zephyr on some types of decoders. My fix was to attach a 1k resistor across the rails with alligator clips. That solved the problem.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Don't forget the PGM A and PGM B program track connections are NOT adjacent to one another on the connector, there's a ground connection in between.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
How would it know there was an open circuit. maybe there's just no loco on the tracks yet.
Springfield PA
1- Could be the contact between the decoder and the programming track is not good.
2- If it is a Lenz decoder a resistor across the rail may be required.
3- To read some sound decoders requires more power than the Zephyr provide. They program fine however.
Jack W.
Two suggestions:
1) Make sure you have your programming track connected to the correct programming track terminals. It's amazing how often the obvious eludes us (speaking from experience here...)
2) You seem to have concentrated on the track to Zephyr connections, but the open circuit may lie elsewhere. Are the programming track and wheels clean? Are the pickups in good working order? Is the decoder wired properly and known to be in working order?
The Zephyr instructions certainly don't call for a resistor - it's basically plug 'n' play...?
Assuming the wires are attached at the terminals, could it be that you need a resistor for that decoder?
My Zephyr is giving me the open circuit "d n d" error message in programming mode - can someone help me understand how a single piece of wired track - I've tried a piece of flextrack with soldered connections and then even an old Tyco-style terminal track, too - can have an open circuit?