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DCC Concepts DCC READY Cobalt Switch machines

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  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, March 14, 2014 8:28 AM

Sorry, I meant DCC Concepts, but I did mean to say, call Tony's Trains Exchange who now carries the Cobalt products from DCC Concepts.

Rich

Alton Junction

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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Friday, March 14, 2014 8:00 AM

 Getting them mixed up. DCC Concepts makes the Cobalt, and they are "Down Under". DCC Specialties is Tony's, they make the Hare, Wabbit, PSX breakers, and other items. They are in Vermont.

                --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
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, March 14, 2014 7:39 AM

Did powering off, then powering on again have any effect?

You might call Tony's Trains Exchange and talk to their Tech Support guys.  They feature a lot of DCC Specialties stuff.

Even if you didn't buy it there, they will be glad to talk to you.  It beats an email to Australia.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2011
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Posted by PRR1955 on Friday, March 14, 2014 7:07 AM

A good idea Elmer. DCC Specialties is in Australia. I have sent e-mails.

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  • From: Eastern Shore Virginia
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Posted by gandydancer19 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 5:19 PM

If you still can not get it working by this time, maybe a call to the manufacturer would be in order.

Elmer.

The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.

(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, March 13, 2014 4:39 PM

PRR1955

I may have tried the power off but I will give it a try. 

 

That's how the NCE Mini Panel works.

After SETUP and REVIEW, you have to power off and then power on again, for the programming to take effect.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 22 posts
Posted by PRR1955 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 4:35 PM
good Idea I'll give it a try.
  • Member since
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Posted by PRR1955 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 4:34 PM

Rich

I have no other "devices" programmed yet so there is no duplicate 501. I am in the process on installing machies and decoders. I was trying to use a numbering system that denoted power district and switch but the device will not accept any address 1, 10, or 50 or 100 don't work.

I may have tried the power off but I will give it a try. Thanks Jeff

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 13, 2014 4:27 PM

Another thing that might help, while it's in learn mode, press both normal and reverse a few times - back and forth. If it's like most other stationary decoders, learn mode just means that whatever address it sees an accessory command on is the address it stores, so a few extra commands to the same address before exiting learn mode won;t hurt and may get it working.

                     --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
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, March 13, 2014 4:13 PM

I cannot contribute anything substantive to this thread because I don't have this DCC Specialties device.

But I do have a Switch-It, Switch-8, and a Mini Panel, so I will at least offer some thoughts.

Does this device accept addresses as high as 501?  Try something lower, maybe under 255.

Does any other accessory or device has an address of 501?

After you exit the Learning Mode, would it help to turn off the power, wait a moment, and then turn the power on again?

Just some thoughts, nothing more.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 22 posts
Posted by PRR1955 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 1:10 PM

Powered up system. Put machine in learn mode. Selected accessory. Entered number I want to assign (501) hit enter. Cab shows 1  and 2 now in 1. Put machine into run mode. hit 2 .

No response. Did I miss something?

I tried the same process but left accessory mode after entering number and putting machine into run mode (did not throw the switch as it were) and tried to address it then. still no response from machine. I know they work as I can control them with a toggle or push button. Very fustrating.

  • Member since
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Posted by PRR1955 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 12:47 PM

Clearly you have different instructions than i do mine clearly say that the machine should respond with a little move in learn mode and that you should press a key while in learn mode and then reset to run. I will try this and see what happens. Thanks

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Eastern Shore Virginia
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Posted by gandydancer19 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 12:28 PM

My interpetation of the instructions is different than yours.

When in 'learn' mode, the machine WILL NOT respond.  That is only for setting the address.  Once the address is set, you MUST get out of 'learn' mode by putting the switch back in its normal position ('Run' mode). 

THEN when you address the machine and press 1 or 2, the machine should respond.

If this is what you are doing, it is not what you said in you post.

Elmer.

The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.

(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 22 posts
DCC Concepts DCC READY Cobalt Switch machines
Posted by PRR1955 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 11:13 AM

Anybody have any experience with these machines? Despite the "easy" programing advice from the maker the darn things don't seem to accept an address from the NCE Power Cab.

Following the instructions to the letter.Connect to DCC power buss. Shift machine into "learn" mode. Select acessory. Type in # for the machine. Press enter. Shows 1 =Normal 2= reverse now 1. I press 2. Machine should respond. It does not. Move back to run mode does not respond. Machine does cycle when power is turned on.

The programing works with the Tortoise and the NCE Swithch 8 and switch it's!

Do i need to be on the program track or go through "program on ther main"? any thoughts help appreciated. I have a 12 pack and first 2 outl respond the same way.

Jeff

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