Hello all,I have 2 Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 HO locomotives. One of these engines has a Tsunami Soundtraxx decoder, the other has the standard Bachmann decoder.I doublehead these locos nearly every time I run them. I am using a DCC layout (MRC Prodigy Express).Previously, I had these two locomotives in a consist and I had left them in a consists for months. They worked perfectly in said consist; the number of which was 8.I had adjusted the speed curve on the Tsunami to match the Bachmann.On the date of this post, I cleared the consist to have both trains run independently. The loco with the Tsunami worked perfectly upon readjusting the speed curve.The loco with the Bachmann decoder now will not respond to any commands (The loco will not run on strictly DC powered layouts either).I know for a fact that the problem loco was address 4.Things I tried include:1. Reset the decoder with CV 8 to 8 and CV 30 to 2. a. I know that most Bachmann decoders are Lenz decoders and as such setting CV 8 to 33 is sometimes necessary to reset. I have done this as well.2. I have set CV 19 to 0.3. I have attempted to clear the consist again. 4. I have left only the problem on the main track and tried to program on the main to address 0000 in an attempt to reset with this address, then cycled the power.None of these steps have worked. I have tried all of these steps on the programming track and the main.The only guess I can conger is that perhaps there is an issue with the CV relating to the address of the loco or the decoder is fried.Any and all pertaining advice or comments are welcomed.Happy rails,Brandon
If you truly reset the decoder, it should run on short address 3. I presume you tried that?
Have you tried using the consist address to run the locomotive? On my Lenz system, I can run a consisted engine with either its own address or the consist address. On a Digitrax system, I don't think that a consisted engine will respond to its own address, only the consist address.
After you do a reset, the engine should be at address 3. Have you tried that?
Can you read back an address, or any other CVs?
When you programmed this engine initially, did you do it on the program track, or on the main?
When the engine is on the track, is it making sounds?
Have you tried pressing F6 a few times? On some decoders, this will bring it back from a "deep sleep" state.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have tried everything you have suggested and it was to no avail. However, I have discovered a new development.
ANYONE please explain a possible reason for this. I unplugged the decoder from the locomotive and ran it on a verified working DC power supply and the loco would not run with standard DC. No lights or movement or motor sounds.
BalevreANYONE please explain a possible reason for this. I unplugged the decoder from the locomotive and ran it on a verified working DC power supply and the loco would not run with standard DC. No lights or movement or motor sounds.
Not sure but I think these units have a dual mode decoder that will run on DC or DCC. If you remove the decoder there will be some connections missing and the loco won't run. Some units used to include a "DC only" unit that you plugged in to the decoder socket when you removed the decoder.
Joe
Balevre I unplugged the decoder from the locomotive and ran it on a verified working DC power supply and the loco would not run with standard DC. No lights or movement or motor sounds.
Did you install the decoder in this engine or did it come with? If you installed the decoder, then there should have been some sort of jumper that you will have to replace.
If the loco came with, then you need the decoder there to complete the circuit.
If you un-plugged the decoder there is not way for power to get the unit running on DC.
You need to install a jumper plug into the socket were you removed the decoder from. The 8 pin socket.
You are absolutely right, I didn't even think about the connections not being made. This loco came with factory installed DCC, so I do not think I have the plug to run without the DCC decoder. Nonetheless, attempting to run on DC without the decoder was something I tried in desperation to get the loco to move or make some noise.
I re-plugged the decoder and tried to reset it again a few times but the loco still doesn't respond to any DCC command.
Does anyone have any other suggestions or fixes?
Balevrea. I know that most Bachmann decoders are Lenz decoders and as such setting CV 8 to 33 is sometimes necessary to reset.
Was this engine a sound equipped engine as supplied from Bachmann? If so, I think the decoder is a Tsunami, not a Lenz. The same reset procedure should apply, however.
After you un-consisted the locos and tried to run the loco in question independently, did you have sound but no movement, or was everything totally dead?
On some steam locos, it is possible to have sound operation but no loco movement. This is generally caused by a poor connection between the loco and the tender. Have you checked that connection?
What does the circuit board where the decoder plugs in look like? Is there any place where you can use a meter to check if the decoder is seeing any voltage?
This locomotive isn't sound equipped. I have gained access to the decoder and can confirm that it is just a normal stock Bachmann decoder. I have read that Bachmann's stock decoders are Lenz. However I have no proof of this.
Everything appears totally dead. No lights, motor sounds or movement.
I had read on another thread that perhaps placing a resistor across the programming track would help to program but I don't know how effective this would be. My loco will not program on the main or on the program track. I do see some places on the board to check voltages and assure the board is getting power.
The best way to find out for sure if the Bachmann decoder has gone bad is to purchase a different brand and plug it into the locomotive and see if it runs. A TCS, Digitrax, NCE, or other, better brand than Bachmann, would be advisable.
Until you get another decoder, try the below.
With your multimeter set to AC voltage, put the probes on pin 4 and pin 8. You should see 12 to 14 VAC if the DCC voltage is reaching the decoder.
http://tinyurl.com/lurn4kj
The resistor across the tracks I "think" was for the Tsunami decoders. I know a 1k resistor was used from some of the post I have seen the past four or so years.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Just a guess. A broken pickup wire on the decoder. Check the plug pins.
richg1998With your multimeter set to AC voltage, put the probes on pin 4 and pin 8. You should see 12 to 14 VAC if the DCC voltage is reaching the decoder.
I agree with what Rich says, except that you will be checking the pin sockets on the board rather than on the decoder plug.
Did you check to make sure that the tender connection to the loco is securely inserted?
maxman richg1998With your multimeter set to AC voltage, put the probes on pin 4 and pin 8. You should see 12 to 14 VAC if the DCC voltage is reaching the decoder. I agree with what Rich says, except that you will be checking the pin sockets on the board rather than on the decoder plug. Did you check to make sure that the tender connection to the loco is securely inserted?
I meant the decoder plug. You can see all eight pins on the decoder plug where the decoder wires are soldered to. I have seen the stock decoder as I have one. I just looked at the decoder in the parts list at the Bachmann site/forums.
richg1998I meant the decoder plug. You can see all eight pins on the decoder plug where the decoder wires are soldered to.
Okay. I just wasn't sure how you would read a voltage with the decoder unplugged, as I assumed that was the only way you could put probes on the decoder plug pins. Guess I was mistaken.
Many decoders with the eight pin plug have all the pins exposed where the decoder wires solder to. You do not have to unplug the decoder to check for voltages. makes trouble shooting a little easier.
I do hope the OP comes back with what he finds.
I would make sure that that the 8 pin plug is making good contact with its partner, the 8 pin socket.
I have had some plugs that did not make good connections with the socket.
Need to check them out with the DVM to make sure all connections are good.
If the suggestions above have proved to be fruitless I would try the old resistor trick.
I have never heard of it being necessary with an MRC DCC system, I don't even know if it would work.
With my Digitrax Zephyr, I always use a 1K ohm, 1/4 watt resistor across the programming tracks. This fools the Zephyr into increasing the programming power. Without the resistor the Lenz decoders, at least the low end ones, do not respond.
It might be worth your while to contact Bachmann and ask their advise. They have been remarkably helpful to me in the past.
There is a photo and a brief description of my resistor on my website. This is the link to the proper page, then scroll down to the bottom.
http://www.intergate.com/~acoates149/How'd%20You%20Do%20That.html
Good luck to you, and let us know how you make out.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
First off, I would like to thank EVERYONE for your time and thoughts regarding my questions. I can not describe the gratitude I feel.
Also, I am sorry I have not responded or updated in awhile. My job has been keeping me quite busy.
Now to DCC and model railroading:
I would like to say, that I have tried EVERYTHING that has been recommended to me via this forum and other references. I am still having no luck... This decoder will still not respond to anything I try.
Regarding the programming track, I now have a bigger issue regarding it as to the fact that I believe it is not even sending programming signal to the program track. I can not program a working loco with a working decoder using the program track on this MRC, however I can program the said loco with decoder on the main using the MRC. Nonetheless, I still can not get the Bachmann 4-4-0 with the bad or non functioning decoder to program. PERIOD.
The engine and circuit board do in fact work as to I have ran this engine just tonight with a working stock Bachmann decoder form another loco. The engine ran PERFECTLY with another decoder. This decoder is the same model No. decoder from Bachmann as well. Which leads me to believe the non functioning decoder is not functioning due to an error in the CV's or has faulty components. Upon checking the said decoder with a meter on pins 1 and 8, it is getting standard voltage.
I am highly inclined to believe this decoder will not program due to errors in the CV's/programming.
So I now raise a NEW question in addition to the previous:
Is it possible to get the same type of programming strength on the main as you would the programming track?
As always, ANY OTHER comments, ideas or advice is extremely welcome!
P.S. BRVRR, your website is fantastic and full of great information. I have added it to my model railroading bookmarks. Also, Your layout makes me envious. Fantastic job.
Balevre Regarding the programming track, I now have a bigger issue regarding it as to the fact that I believe it is not even sending programming signal to the program track. I can not program a working loco with a working decoder using the program track on this MRC, however I can program the said loco with decoder on the main using the MRC.
Regarding the programming track, I now have a bigger issue regarding it as to the fact that I believe it is not even sending programming signal to the program track. I can not program a working loco with a working decoder using the program track on this MRC, however I can program the said loco with decoder on the main using the MRC.
If you can't get any decoders to program on the programming track, it would seem the problem is either with the connection to the programming track, or with the DCC system. Is your programming track connected only to the programming leads of your system, or is it a track on your layout where you have a DPDT switch to change back and forth??
BTW, have you tried reading back the decoder/engine's ID number?? I had a situation where I tried and tried to change a decoder's CVs but apparently nothing happened. Turned out somehow I had changed the ID number, so I was changing the CVs but the decoder wouldn't respond because my DCC system was using the 'wrong' ID number. Once I corrected the ID, everything was fine.