Thanks for the DPDT switch idea. I will definitely put it to good use.
Switching back and forth between track power and programming is DANGEROUS. If you accidentally connect the power while programming is on, you WILL damage your system.
The safest thing to do is to wire a separate program track that NEVER has track power applied to it. Short of that, use a DPDT center off switch to toggle between one and the other. That way you can't accidentally get your wires crossed.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Truck your directions were correct. Sorry for the non explaination as this was one of the things on another forum about this same problem that I disliked and never got a response from the original poster. So here it goes.
I have a test track and only hooked up the main terminals to it. As I was getting frustrated I switched to the program terminals and didnt realize that this only programs the loco and the loco won't move while in program mode. I think that added to my confusion so I would switch the terminals back to the main. Of course instead of taking time to set up another set of wires for the program terminals using the alligator clips. I was switching back and forth between the main and progam using the screw ports.
Once I stopped being lazy and did this and read your instructions it worked out fine.
Thanks again for your help and everyone elses as well.
Carter54 Thanks for your help. I have it straightened out now.
Thanks for your help. I have it straightened out now.
I guess your not gonna share what the problem was, or how you corrected it.
That happens alot on these forums. Truck.
Something else that was not mentioned is what type of decoder the engine has. If has a Tsunami, to program on the main you need to first call up the loco # you want to reprogram but this engine must respond to the # shown, type in any four digit address, and the engine should respond to that # then go back to program on the main and enter your two digit # and the engine should then responed to that #.
First, select loco 0003. Hit enter.
Then hit the program button twice, so the screen reads PROG with "Main" as a sub script.
Hit enter. The screen will indicate that it's loco 0003 that will be reprogrammed, hit enter again.
The first selection is "address".
Type in 76.
Hit enter, then hit it again to scroll through the other programming options until the screen goes back into operator mode.
Select loco 76 and hit enter one more time.
Gleefully watch your locomotive toodle around your layout.
Hope this helps.
(Good thing you don't have Digitrax, or the first step would be "Get a Degree in Electronics Theory")
What I believe may have happened is some how you have programmed the engine to a number you do not know what it is, so when you are trying to programm on the main it is not getting the message. Put it on a program track and press program till it shows prog track then program the engine to 3. When you put it back on the main it shoud respond to #3. Then while it is on the main you hit program till it shows prog on main, press enter it should show address 3 hit enter it will show address then put in address that you wish, then press enter, new address should now be programmed, press recall, press loco enter new engine #, press enter, engine should respond. If not I have no idea were you are.
[quote user="Carter54"]
If I try to program on the main I type in 0076 as loco number and adr as 0003 it doesn't work. I have even tried loco 0003 with adr of 0076 and nothing.
I beleive your confusing loco # with loco address # When you get to "program on main" the screen will show the # of the last loco you ran, and you are typing in 0076 thats telling the program to address loco 0076 and after you hit enter you are addressing loco 0076 to 0003.
Run your loco on address 0003
Go to program on main when loco # pops up it should say loco 0003 leave that alone and hit enter
now address loco to 76 hit enter , if you do not want to program anything else hit recall
press loco button, enter address 76 hit enter your loco should now run.
Even though MRC lets you choose which loco you want to program on main, it will address other loco,s while doing so, dont ask me how I know this. it is wise to use a programing track when starting out to keep things simple until you familiarise how things work.
If any of the advice you get here doesn't work, you can try posting this over on the "electronics and DCC" forum here, you will likely get better help.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
I don't think you can program the loco address on the main. Kind of a safety check against reprogramming all your decoders to the same number.
In any event, as the previous poster pointed out, programming on the main is a risky proposition. Get a piece of flextrack and nail it to a piece of scrap lumber. Take a pair of wires with alligator clips on the end an connect them to the programming track outputs of your Prodigy Express. Bingo, instant programming track that you can stow under your layout or on your workbench when you don't want it.
Most decoders come factory set to address 0003. Set it on the programming track and hit the "Program" button. When the address flashes, enter 0076 or just 76. Now you can set the min / max / starting voltage (or leave them at the defaults) and you'll be good to go.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Since you did this while programming on the main, be glad you only did it to 1 loco! That's what programming tracks are for. Also it seems to me that there is some confusion about some terms; basically loco address is the same as loco number. Places the loco on the programming track and use the Prodigy to set the address to 76. The Prodigy will fill in the extra zeros for you. PLace loco on the main and run it as loco 76.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
I need help. I just purchased a loco and while I was setting it up with my Prodigy Express I accidentally put 0003 as the loco number. My loco number is 76 and I can not figure out how to correct this. If I put in 0003 for the loco number it runs fine. If I try to program on the main I type in 0076 as loco number and adr as 0003 it doesn't work. I have even tried loco 0003 with adr of 0076 and nothing. I'm not sure if I need to reset the decoder and the manual isn't very good at telling you how to go about that.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanx.