Hello,
I am a Finn who currently living in Shanghai and for that reason have temporary layout. I am using Lenz Digital Plus LZV100 ( and LH100). Now I have bought some Bachmann DCC turnouts, but have big trouble programming those decoders (change turnout decoder address) with Lenz. Anybody can give advice how to change that with Lenz LH100?
MJT
Not many on this forum are Lenz users. My club uses Lenz but we have no accessory decoders. You may have better luck on this forum under Yahoo groups.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalPlusbyLenz/?yguid=270163699
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Hi Mit
I also use a Lenz 100 system (with a LH90 as a secondary throttle). I also don't use any stationary decoders, but I'm sure the programming sequence is covered in either the command station manual, or the LH100 manual. Both are available for downloading from the Lenz official website. I'm not sure which versiion of software you're using, but there are a number of manuals to choose from including the latest V3.6. Good luck. Gerry S.
Hi,
problem is not Lenz, but Bachmann. It is very easy to program other manufacturers turnout decoders like Roco, but Bachmann is different. In the beginning Lenz do not even recognize bachmann decoder even it shoud be NMRA compatible. Also all different methods I have tried to program decoder with Lenz do not work. It just causes short circuit. I can program turnout with Bachmann system and change decoder address, but then decoder do not work with Lenz. Are Bachmann turnouts not compatible with other systems???? Usually I would use Roco or other manufacturers, but now I am living/working in China and Bachmann is most easily to buy and very cheap in here.
The turnouts are supposed to come with two sets of instructions, one for use with the EZ-Command and the other for use with most other DCC systems(they have to resond to a locomotive address to work with the EZ-Comand because the EZ-Command cannot control accessory decoder addresses). I have seen someone post the directions before and from memory I think this is what you do:
There is a button located on top of the switch between the rails. Hold that button until the turnout operates to signal that it is in programming mode. Then you issue a switch command from your DCC system using the address to which you want to program the turnout. Again, this is from memory, so it may not be correct, and I don't have a switch to test it.
thank you for reply, but that does not work. Actually there is no instructions with turnout, how to program decoder with other system than Bachmann. (They just write that one must follow other systems instructions how to program decoder...) With lenz you must use Programming track, not programming on main when programming turnout decoder. Programming track do not have so much power that at programming on main. So if I press backmann turnout programming button nothing happens (turnout should switch couple of times to show that it is on programming mode). So actually I can not turn on backmann turnout programming mode. If I just try to program it so that I press turnout programming button and then use LH100 to change decoder address, there will be short circuit.
You have to hold the program button on the turnout until the switch changes twice. Then issue the accessory command on the desired address. It's not a press and release of the program button - you have to hold it. Also I would be in the accessory mode with the address already keyed in because I have no idea how long of a timeout it has, if it has one. So be ready on the LH100, and then hold the program button until the turnout flips twice. Then let go of the button and issue the accessory command on the LH100. It can only handle address 1-100, nothign higher. When it accepts the address it will flip 4 times.
If these are like regular EZ Track turnouts they will route power, so if your track shorts whent he position changes, you have the feeders mixed up on one of the routes. Or you have made a reverse loop. Assuming an ordinary siding, if the approach to the point side has the left rail with a black feeder, both the normal and diverging route must have the black feeder on the left rail. If this is not the case, there will be a short as soon as the turnout is moved to the position where this is noit the case. The short would prevent the turnout from entering program mode, because as soon as it went to move it would short and kill power - the downside of accessories that are directly powered from the track. All stationary decoers, especially for turnouts, shoudl be on their own power district or sub-district so that if the track shorts due to approaching a switch set the wrong way, you still have power to throw it. Direct rail power renders this impossible. Sure they are cheap but, you get what you pay for.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
thanks for reply, but...
I try to explain again. As you wrote, according to instructions one should press programming button (I press at least 5 sec) of turnout so that decoder will turn to programming mode. When one has pressed button it should switch 2 times to show than programming mode of the decoder is on. But... with Lenz system I need to use Programming track (as I understand I can not program this turnout decoder on POM). Programming track do not have enought power so that Bachmann turnout mode could turn on. When I press turnout programming button nothing happens.. Turnout do not switch 2 times to show that programming mode is on. If I anyway try to program turnout decoder, Lenz LZV100 tries to write decoder but gives ERR 02 and will show short circuit.
If I use Bachmann system to program this turnout it is no problem. It works ok. Problem is if I program address to this turnout with Bachmann, Lenz can not read that address! And I really prefer to use Lenz not Bachmann system! Maybe I just have to give up and start to buy ROCO turnouts also here in China.
You do not use the program track. With the turnout hooked up to the main track outputs, press the button on the turnout until it enters program mode. At this point, you do not enter any programming mode on the Lenz, you simply issue a command to throw the turnout just like you would during normal operations using the address(1-100) you want to use for that turnout.
What Robert said. When the turnout is in Program Mode, it 'learns' the address of the next accessory command sent. MANY accessory decoders work this way. That's why they have a 'program' mode, it sets the controller up to listen to DCC accessory commands coming down the wire, and the first one it gets, is stores that address. It avoids having to use the program track which is rather unwieldy for accessory decoders.
To further avoid having to use the program track, the Tam Valley servo controllers I use, when in 'program' mode, use loco address 01 and programming on the main to set additional CVs. Makes things real easy.
OK.
Thank you very much! This was really good information.
Does the turnout go into the program mode at least? The two quick flips? If you are getting that far, it probably timed out before you issued the accessory command. Try being in accessory mode with the address all dialed in and read to go (I don't know the required sequence on the LH100, but it should be in your manual). Use only 1-99. Witht he throttle all set and read to go (should just be waiting for you to press the ON or OFF button, or whatever terms Lenz uses), set the turnout into program mode and the immediately press the ON or OFF.
Yes turnout go to program mode and I can program turnout with Bachmann system. No problem. But I can not program it or even use it with Lenz. It just seems that Bachmann decoder do not in some reason understand Lenz. With bachmann I can switch turnout and change address of decoder. But if I try to do anything with Lenz, it does not work. With every other manufacturers turnout it is no problem using Lenz system. Only one that seems not to work is Bachmann. I have sent some question of this to Bachmann service and waiting if they can answer to my question how to program this turnout with Lenz system.
Since they work with the simple EZ-Command system, when you program them with that system I'm pretty sure they get a mobile decoder address, since that system can only address modile decoders 1-9. ANd it's made by Lenz, go figure. However, programmed by the EZ, they won't work under an accessory address.
What's odd is the setting method for the Bachmann turnouts is pretty much identical to the method used to set address on the Lenz LS150, except there is only 1 address, not 6.
If you did not do this exactly, try this. On page 38 of the current LH100 manual, also it's Section 11, it shows you how to operate a turnout with the example address 16. Since that's a valid address fro the Bachmann turnouts, try those keystrokes exactly as shown. After the tep where you press the Enter key, put the turnout in the program mode. Then press the - and + keys as shown in the Lenz manual.