Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Switching from one to another DCC and have some problems

1787 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Suffolk, Virginia
  • 485 posts
Switching from one to another DCC and have some problems
Posted by rclanger on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 7:52 PM

 I have two pairs of locomotives that are programmed into two individual consists from the MRC system.

With the Digitrax I can run the programmed locos that were not part of a consist with no problem. But the locos that were part of a consist can only be run using the consist number.

Is there a way to erase the consist number from each engine using the Digitrax?

Is there a way to "reset" a locomotive to the factory default.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 7:58 PM

Bob,

Did you check your Digitrax manual to see what it had to say about killing a consist?

The sequence for resetting your locomotive to factory settings is contingent on the decoder.  Here's an aid from Tony's Train Exchange web site:

How to Rescue a Faulty Decoder

The sequences are at the bottom of the page...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 8:19 PM

 Set CV19 to 0 on the consisted engines. Digitrax doesn't by default mess with that, other systems do. If you are unsure of the original loco address, read it on the program track FIRST, because as soon as you set CV19 to 0, the original 2 or 4 digit address will take over.

              --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
    June 2008
  • From: Suffolk, Virginia
  • 485 posts
Posted by rclanger on Thursday, October 25, 2012 2:04 PM

Randy,

Thanks for the info. Following the manual I set CV 19 to 0 pressed Enter and "Good" was displayed.

But the 4 digit number still did not work and the consist number still did.

I reprogrammed each loco individually and then the pair. Same results, "Good" was displayed but the consist remained.

Did is miss something?

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, October 25, 2012 3:27 PM

 What decoders are these? Did you try and read CV19 on the program track, to see what it was? If you have a DB150, you can;t do that. Next option is to try programming on the main, either select the consist number and then use Ops Mode to set CV19 to 0, or else remove all other locos, select address 00, and use Ops Mode to set CV19=0. Ops Mode will work even on sound decoders, which sometimes have problems on the program track.

               --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
    January 2006
  • From: Portsmouth, VA
  • 372 posts
Posted by jfallon on Thursday, October 25, 2012 6:25 PM

Bob,

   Are these sound equipped locomotives? They may need a programming booster. If you still have your prodigy station, try setting it up on a piece of track on your workbench, then un-consisting the locomotives with that. If all else fails, e-mail me and we can use the Decoder Pro at the TMRC club.

                                                                                                  John Fallon

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

http://photobucket.com/tandarailroad/

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,879 posts
Posted by maxman on Thursday, October 25, 2012 6:34 PM

rclanger

Randy,

Thanks for the info. Following the manual I set CV 19 to 0 pressed Enter and "Good" was displayed.

But the 4 digit number still did not work and the consist number still did.

I reprogrammed each loco individually and then the pair. Same results, "Good" was displayed but the consist remained.

Did is miss something?

 
A question.  Do you have these units entered as a consist in your Digitrax command station?  If so, you can program CV 19 to zero all you want but it will not have any effect since, I believe, Digitrax does not use CV 19 for consists.
 
Have you tried deleting the consist from your Digitrax command station?
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, October 25, 2012 7:20 PM

 There is no 'considt number' in Digitrax unless you aliased the entire consist. ANd if you try to select the individual address of a consisted loco, it will display CN for consist next to it, and the functions will work, but not motor control. The OP indicated they were consisted on MRC and then moved to Digitrax.

               --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
    June 2008
  • From: Suffolk, Virginia
  • 485 posts
Posted by rclanger on Thursday, October 25, 2012 7:32 PM

Setting the CV 19 to 0 was the ticket. Thanks for aiming me in the  right direction. When I figured out how to display and change CV values I was on the right road.

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Suffolk, Virginia
  • 485 posts
Posted by rclanger on Thursday, October 25, 2012 7:52 PM

John,

They are sound equiped. I was able to fix the overall problem but one of them now has a sound problem. When power is turned on to the track the sound turns off after a second or two. I may have accidently turned it off.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, October 25, 2012 8:46 PM

 What decoders are they? Do the sounds start up after you select the loco and start running it, or does it stay off all the time?

             --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
    June 2008
  • From: Suffolk, Virginia
  • 485 posts
Posted by rclanger on Friday, October 26, 2012 3:17 PM

Randy,

I do not know what decoder is in the MP15DC from Atlas. I have two but the boxes are missing. But I did find a printed table in my file. I was correct, I muted the sound. Now corrected.

The lights are still off though. I have pressed "0" and "F" + "0" without the lights even flickering.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Friday, October 26, 2012 3:47 PM

Bob,

If it's Atlas and it has sound then it's a QSI decoder.

As far as the headlights coming on: Start your locomotive (in either forward or reverse) with the headlights on and see if they don't come on then.  For whatever reason I've found certain decoders will not turn on the headlights initially - even though the light button is pushed on your throttle - until the locomotive is moving.  After that you can turn the headlights on or off - whether its' moving or it's standing idle.  Weird.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!