Thank you Randy,
You are correct on the solution to the issue. When programming switch numbers into a Cobalt IP is necessary to move into and out of set mode with track power on. Nothing should change except the position of the "set/run" switch.
I will suggest to DCC Concepts that they make this absolutely clear on their web site for people like me who dislike changing the state of electronics with power on. Clearly there are some other messages being broadcast on the track bus by the Digitrax system (and perhaps others) that were being picked up by the Cobalts and putting them in a peculiar state characterized by an alternation in position upon power up.
Thank you again.
I don;t think that will work. The way the Cobalt is programmed is like many other accessory decoders, it just listens for whatever address is used for the next DCC switch command after being put into configuration mode. The Cobalt instructions mention nothing abou program track, they most liekly cannot be programmed on the program track. Some accessory decoders do haev directly accessible CVs liek a loco decoder and can be configured on the program track, I don't think these can. All you need is a piece of 2 conductor speaker wire. Hook it to the DCC terminals ont eh Cobalt, and unhook the track bus from the DCS100 and connect to the track terminals. Turn it all on (track power). Put the Cobalt in Set mode. Hit Switch and dial in the address, say 345. Hit C, T, then C and T again. Turn off track power. Turn off Set on the Cobalt. Turn the power back on - it should now respond to turnout commands sent to switch address 345.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Do not turn off the track power. Just disconnect the DCC in tot he Cobalt, although I don't think you need to. But it does seem you need to disconnect the power AFTER sending the switch commands for the desired address. When you turn track power on with the throttle, there is a series of automatic queries sent by the DCS100 and if you turn track power off, change the Cobalt to Set mode, and turn track power on, THAT is the address it will get. And make sure you have no other devices that might be reporting when trying to program - like and block detectors. Your best bet may be to program before installing, disconnect the layout track power and just run a pair of wires from the track output to the Cobalt.
Yes that is what I am doing. The only variation is that sometimes I will turn track power off before moving the switch between set and run, in both directions.
DCC Concepts sent me two additional units. I only realized one was programmed with a switch number. It works just fine as advertised. I did not realize that the other was already set for a switch number and attempted to assign a number. It now misbehaves like all the others that I have tried to program. (except for one)
Thanks for the response
SO you are putting the switch on the Cobalt into SET, the pressing SWITCH on the DT400, keting in the address you want, then pressing C and then T, and then a second time just to be sure (just C again and then T again), and this is not saving?
I recently purchased a dozen DCC Concepts Cobalt IP Switch Machines because I liked the combination of a slow motion stall type switch machine, a DCC decoder, and a solderless wiring termination in one device. I use a Digitrax DCC System with a DCS100 as the controller.
Unfortuneately of the dozen Cobalts only one has accepted programming of a switch machine address. All have accepted the address 198 which disables the centering, since they cycle position at power on. They do not accept the switch machine number when in the set position.
The Digitrax system is putting out good switch addresses because a separate DS64 has accepted programming using the exact same pair of wires that the Cobalts Refuse to work from.
I have consulted DCC Concepts, so far no solution from them. They state that they have successfully programmed unit with the same configuration and sent two to me (from the UK so it may take awhile).
Has anyone had a similar issue or been able to solve it?
Thanks