Let me start by saying I'm new to DCC. Sorry if this question was previously posted, I didn't see it and am frustrated.
This engine, item #51807, worked fine till yesterday. Nows it just sits and chuffs. I tried doing factory presets with CV8=8 or CV-30=2, then turning off power for 30 seconds (many times) but that didn't work. I have an NCE PowerCab.
Thanks, Alan
Also, the reason i tried the factory reset is that all it does is chuff. The lights/whistles/ bells don't work either.
Sounds like the decoder is picking up power OK, but the motor won't run. Check the orange and gray wires running from the decoder to the motor for opens/loose connections.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks Mike, I'll check that but what I forgot to add to original post was that the lights, bell and whistles don't respond either. Like I said, I'm new to DCC, sorry.
Alan
Do lights blink when powering to indicate a problem?If so,the number of blinks tell what the problem is.
Was the loco "dispatched" from the controller the last time you used it?Your controller may be overloaded and need a reset.
Could the loco be also dialed on another throttle?
Do sounds work OK?
Are both the decoder and controller set for 28/128 throttle increments?What does CV29 say?
Are the brakes "on" (F11)?
Jacktal, I'm assuming you mean the headlight. No, there are no blinking lights. It wasn't the last loco run, but the other 4 loco's I have on the layout (none of which have sound) run fine if I switch to them. I only have the 1 throttle. No other sounds work. This decoder only has 14/28 increments and it is the same on either setting.
It was working fine 1 minute and then just the chuffing the next, I'm thinking I messed something up by hitting wrong button on controller.
Alan76, Power Cab -- 28 or 128 speed steps is selectable. In the manual section 28/128/F12, page 18.
Also, pressing 8 (Function 8) turns sound off/on
Baron, thanks for responding
I tried selecting loco #3, didn't work. F8 doen't turn sound off. Changing from 28 to 128 not effecting anything. Pressing headlight button does nothing.
The engine just sits and chuffs when power is on. I think it's laughing at me ; (
I'm going to call soundtraxx tomorrow and see what they say. From what I've read,they don't say much.
Recovering a lost/non-responsive decoder:
1. Remove all other decoder equipped items (locos) from rails. Leave the one you want to recover/reset on the rails.
2. Enter the Programming Mode, Go to "OPS" (not Direct, not Page, etc)
3. Type in Address "00" (zero-zero)
4. Program CV 8 = 8, then CV 30 = 2
5. Power down (either turn off command station or remove loco from rails for a few seconds)
6. Upon re-applying power, you should be able to bring up the loco on Address 03 and operate.
Let us know how this works
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
Bachmann HO scale forum. Bachmann reps there with users of this loco. CV list. Parts and repair page.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/board,2.0.html
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.
Obviously someone here can tell...can the Powercab read/program Tsunami decoders without a booster?
Jacktal Obviously someone here can tell...can the Powercab read/program Tsunami decoders without a booster?
Yes, absolutely yes. That's what I use on my programming track connected to JMRI. People often use a PowerCab for exactly this reason -- it's an all in one package that has enough juice to program sound decoders.
No matter what address it was set to originally, definitely try the loco on address 3. If it did reset, that's the address it will respond to UNTIL you reprogram the loco's specific address after the factory reset.
One small point I will make regarding the NCE PowerCab is that when you want to switch to locomotive address '3' don't put any zeros before the '3'. Just hit '3'.
The readout on the PowerCab is a little confusing since it shows the locomotive as '003'.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Dave,
Yeah, that's because NCE uses the leading zeroes for addresses below 128 in its decoders. If you have an NCE decoder, you have to enter it that way, so this is just NCE being internally consistent. It would not apply to the Tsunami we're discussing here, IIRC, but by force of habit I just add the zeroes since I'm so used to doing it.
It's not the decoder, it's in the throttle where the leading zeros matter or not. In a decoder, a short address of 3 is store in CV1, a long address of 3 is store in CV17 and 18 like any long address.
Since NCE allows any address to be long or short, you need some way on the cba to indicate which one you want to use, hence the use of leading 0's when keying it in or not. One way means you intend the short address 3, the other way means you intend the long address 3.
This is that part of the NMRA standards where the NMRA was a bit too easy going and left it wide open. NCE, 1-9999 is long, but 1-127 can also be short. Digitrax, 1-127 is always short, 128+ is always long. Lenz, 1-99 is short, 100+ is long. So it is possible to have decoders addressed so that they are only accessible on some systems and not others. Short address 120 works on Digitrax or NCE, but not Lenz. Long address 122 works on NCE and Lenz but not Digitrax. CVP is the same as Lenz.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Okay, it works now! I want to thank everyone for their help!
Even tho I tried what you all suggested, short of taking the shell off to check wiring, it still diddn't work.
So I called soundtraxx this afternoon and talked to the tech support guy (Justin, I think) and he talked me thru it. I swear I tried his way yesterday. Go to 'use program track', go to CV=2, turn off/on power to track, watch loco headlight blink 16 times, and then run train.
Murphy of "Murphy's Law" lives in my house.
Thaanks again, Alan
Alan,
Glad you got it fixed. The Soundtraxx people are pretty darn good at handling jittery first time users. I don't need them much anymore
Yeah, sometimes you have to do things three times before they seem to stick with DCC until you get the hang of things, then it works a little better. With me, I think it's just the brain/old fart interface