Common place for issues with N scale decoders is where the board fits between the track pickup tabs and the motor tabs. Some decoders come with a piece of Kapton tape to insulate the area, it's extremely critical to apply it as shown in the instructions. The motor tabs fold over or otehrwise contact the pins on the decoder but that is the ONLY place they should touch anything, without the tape they can touch the pickups or the frame.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
It sounds like the motor is somehow getting track power.
Make SURE that the motor is insulted from the frame, as what everyone else said.
Charles
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
Disable analog mode.
And, remove the scissors from under the track, making it flat and level. Also, ensure that all rails get power, and at the same level, as sometimes (most) rail joiners are unreliable (at best) in power transference. This should cure the issues.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
I have to admit that I'm still fairly new to DCC so I'll have to read up on how to program specific CVs and give it a try.
The N scale section of my website is now uploaded with a lot of various things. Check it out: www.CarlettaTrains.com
That's a different one. The only thing I can think of is that you are getting intermittent power to the loco due to the sectional track that is balanced on top of a pair of scissors. The track may be flexing enough to make and break contact to the loco causing erratic operation.
Part of that may be related to CV29. You should always program CV29 to turn off DC Analog mode capability. It's possible for a DCC decoder to get a momentary power input and for it to think it's on DC analog. When it thinks it is on DC analog, it takes the power from the track and throws it into the motor. The end result it a runaway at full throttle.
Try programming CV29 to 02 (for a 2-digit address (IIRC, not used on NCE) or 34 (for a 4-digit address) and then put the track on a flat surface or a single piece of flex track and see if that happens again.
Paul A. Cutler III
Hi Everyone,
I finally was able to correct the power issue and the decoder now powers up and moves the locomotive. The problem is that it moves it all on its own with no input fro me! What the heck is going on with it. Below is a video of the possessed decoder. Why is this happening?