Hi,
I have nce dcc. I have a lifelike rdc and gp7 loco with "old" qsi, a bachmann tsunami sound value swicher and an athearn s7 switcher with tsunami. The rdc and bachmann run but the gp7 and athearn s7, one at a time, just sit on the track and idle. When i increase the speed in either, the sound will change but the motor won't move. The gp7 is plug and play and the athearn is hardwired.
I cleaned the track several times, cleaned the wheels, too. Reset decoders. changed cvs. Reset. Wondering if it is nce system. Guess I don't know how to analyze problem. Just can't get locos to move even when nudge a little or change to different portion of layout track.
I'll gladly try each suggestion one at a time on gp and switcher (have to reassemble). Perhaps focus on gp first.
Thanks.
Bob
"Been there" and I feel your pain. While I am not as well versed in DCC as others on the Forum, I have wadded thru the complexities a fair bit. Typically, when I have had your problem, the loco in question somehow lost its I.D.
So I guess the first thing I would do is reset the ID number and see if that makes a difference. I would also remove all the other locos from your test track area, and of course make sure that your controller is sending a signal to that track area. This would especially apply if you have various power districts.
Another thing (also been there) is that trackage could have a short in it. Of course if you can successfully operate another loco on that trackage, then all is well.
Of course there could be other problems, and hopefully folks will get into those for you. But I have to say, it might come down to the fact that the loco's decoder is just kaput! Hopefully that is not the case.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I'm goin' to first do a restatement. It sounds like there are 4 locos with sound and DCC. And it sounds like two of them run OK, but the other two make sound but don't go.
If that's a correct summary, it sounds like there aren't any shorts or other track or block power delivery problems, as the first two locos DO operate in the same areas that the "bad ones" misbehave.
Which then means you've likely got the same problem I have: a steam loco that just sits there and steams without going. I'm just a beginner myself, but I think what I'll do after I get a little more comfortable with Decoder Pro is have the program do a read on the loco and see if that tells me anything. Then I might trying out that reset everyone tells me about and see if that fixes it. Then I'll try reprogamming the decoder. If none of this helps, I'll open up the loco and see if power is getting to the motor (disconnected wire and all that kind of thing). If it's not, I'll put in a new decoder.
That's my plan, but then I'm a DCC newbie, so........
Ed
I don't know about NCE systems,but it may well be that your command station doesn't have enough power on the programming track for sound decoders without adding a booster.Try programming "on the main",that is if your system allows it.
I've never had any problem programming my Tsunamis...I use Decoder Pro with a PR3/PTB100 combo.
Which NCE DCC system do you have? They make several different systems. Even the beginner's PowerCab is able to program Tsunami sound decoders with no need for a booster if you use programming on the main.
Before doing anything, however, make sure you have CV29 set to the correct value if you have changed the decoders from their default value of 3 to a long address (any value above 128). This can be done by selecting the locomotive address, pressing the PROG button once to get PROGRAM ON THE MAIN, then select option 3, CONFIG and step through the options. One of the choices will be to set the decoder to recognize a LONG ADDRESS.
Also be aware that NCE does NOT use leading zeroes in addresses like Digitrax and some other systems do.
Are you sure the decoders have not been set for the locomotive(s) to run in a consist? If so, that will explain why the sound works but they won't move. Program CV19 with a value of zero to clear a consist address out of the decoder.
If none of these suggestions clear up your problem, then try a decoder reset. Program CV8 to a value of 8. Then tip the loco to one side to cut off power, hold it for a few seconds, then set it back down on the track. The decoder should now be back to the factory default address of 3. (Remember, no leading zeros with NCE).
The locos probably have different problems. Here are a few questions and things you can try:
-Have you tried them on another layout that has another DCC system?
-Were they working normally on DC?
-As suggested earlier, have you checked the wires leading to the motor (for the hardwire loco)?
-For the plug and play loco, can you try another decoder in it?
Simon