Hi there,
I was having issues with a TCS WOW Diesel decoder. I should start off by saying these guys at TCS couldn't be nicer. Dave was great but I need more help as my warranty replacement behaves the same as the original decoder. The new one continues to be plagued by intermittant, random flicker off the rear yellow wire. This is connected to a 3mm led. I've tried the following:
* changed the speaker
* resoldered all joints
* changed the resistors from two 470ohm to two 680ohm.
* cleaned track/loco wheels
there are other weird issues too, but rarely appear:
* the motor will turn over it's aperture 1/2 to 1 revolution while just sitting at idle (0 throttle) not enough to turn the wheels.
* sometimes the loco will continue to travel even when the throttle has been decreased from say 11 down to 0. I have to click reverse or some other function key to stop it. (this non-stopping is rare also)
* occasional soft crackle sound from speaker while at idle
I'm using an MRC Prodigy wireless DCC system.
* other DCC decoders (I have two Tsunami) that do not have an issues with the MRC system.
* this loco is a circa 2007 model Athearn Genesis (SD70Ace/CSX)
Otherwise this decoder's sound/other functions is very, very good and I'd like to keep it but growing frustrated. I'm off to my LHS to test on his Digitrax system now. Any/all input is appreciated.
Jim
update: just returned from my LHS and I'm not going insane after all. Behavior followed decoder onto his Digitrax/Decoder Pro/Roller wheels set-up. thoughts?
I am having the same issue with my ditch lights. They will flicker intermittently depending. Sitting still or while loco is moving. I sent TCS an email last week with no response. I tried the same stuff you have to resolve it.
thanks, that's nice to know, I mean I'm sorry for you too but I now know I'm not alone. The duration between flickers was like 1 and 3 minutes at my LHS guy. Takes patience to replicate but it does eventually happen.
I bought a new harness thinking it might be the yellow, white or common wire but my guess is the decoder's firmware. We'll see.... guess I'll be soldering again tonight. : (
regards, Jim
That is odd. I have installed 9 of these TCS Wow Diesel decoders so far and have not experienced any problems with the lighting effects of the decoder. As you eventually figure out what is causing this odditie, please let us know.
Do they now have Railcom in them? Seems most of the TCS plain motor decoders now have Railcom, defaulted to off (CV28=0). If Wow diesel decoders have Railcom and it's turned on, this cn cause some wierd flickers when used with a non-Railcom DCC system.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Meyblc,
this is a very elusive bug and you may not have seen it yet or your decoders just don't have it. Did you keep these nine or are you running them yourself? If the latter, you're lucky.
I purchased a new harness Sat. and will replace today in case one of the wires is not seated well. I'll let you know if and how it gets resolved.
I have seen other places and other people reporting same issue.
I am running 8 of the 9 that I've installed. I have installed 4 into my Athearn Genesis GP9's. 3 into my Athearn Genesis GP38-2's. These 7 locomotives have head light and rear light only. I have installed 1 into my Kato SD90. It does that the ditch lights individually wired as well as the head and rear light. The last one is installed in a friends Athearn Genesis F7. His F unit had a head light and Mars light on the front.
So far I haven't seen any odd lighting effect errors.
Meyblc, are you running LEDs or 1.5v micro bulbs? two resistors? and what ohm value are they?
I just replaced the wire harness (for yellow, white and blue, etc. wires) and all new soldering and the problem is still there.
I am running all LED's with 680ohm resisters. No light bulbs.
JimMac* sometimes the loco will continue to travel even when the throttle has been decreased from say 11 down to 0. I have to click reverse or some other function key to stop it. (this non-stopping is rare also)
Did you turn off prototype throttle? Also if you are not using railcom I would turn that feature off if so equipped. Your installation sounds correct. This seems to be a software/programming issue.
BMMECNYC,
did I mention this all happens with no software changes (right after a factory reset, cv8=2). So Railcom, CV28 is at the default of 0. So no programming by me has been done. When you say a "software/programming issue" don't you mean a firmware (TCS) issue?
And to answer your question, I would say either or both.
TCS WoW sound decoders come factory default with prototype throttle selected. You have to use the function 7 key to stop the locomotive (20% brakes applied per button press). Function 6 will release brakes. You can turn this off in Audio Assist I believe, but I do not know how.
I only installed 2, both done at the Big E (Springfield, MA) train show on Saturday (I may have bought 2 of the very first ones sold), both in Proto 2K E7s that previously had decoders installed. I did have some consisting/sound issues that were resolved by talking to the TCS guys. I did have some other issues toward the end of the day Sunday, but they were not running in a sterile environment (lots and lots of variables such as dirty track, varying levels of expertise in consisting/programming locomotives on the Club layout etc.).