For those of you that replied to some of my posts know that this locomotive (BLI Paragon 3, 2-8-2 Mikado) has given me problems in the past. Most recently it shorted the mainline breaker when there was some dirty track or wheels.
Well track and wheels cleaned, I put the loco on the layout, turned on the NCE System and OFF it went! I turned off the system and then back on and it didn‘t happen again. Loco ran fine and responded to the cab controls just fine.
Today, I turn on the system, select the loco move to speed step 5, nothing, 10, nothing. Sound the whistle nothing. Re-select the loco, nothing.
On to the program track to read the decoder. Some how the primary address (usually 3) is now 127! and CV29 is 2. What the heck??
I reset the decoder and re-programmed everything back in. Running fine again.
Can someone tell me what happened?
Gary, if it were me, I would call BLI and tell them exactly what you told us.
Sounds like the decoder is at fault, and that is not suprising since it is a Paragon 3.
Rich
Alton Junction
Gary,
I agree with Rich but I would email BLI rather than call. I would also clearly and meticulously document all that has happened with this particular loco since you purchased it and what you've done to correct/remedy the issues you are experiencing. That way BLI has a written record that they can refer back to at any time, if needed. It also leaves a paper trail for both you and BLI.
If you end up sending it to Ormand Beach for repair, you'll need to do that anyhow. I've done this in the past with BLI, as well as my old Toyota dealership, and it has always proven helpful to the repair party. In fact, the repair technician at Toyota read through the sheet I gave him and said, "This is GREAT!"
Also, if your locomotive took off before the reset, be sure that you disabled "analog (DC) operation" in CV29 when you reset your decoder. If it happens again then document that, as well, in the email that you send to BLI.
Hope that helps...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
richhotrain Gary, if it were me, I would call BLI and tell them exactly what you told us. Sounds like the decoder is at fault, and that is not suprising since it is a Paragon 3. Rich
Thanks Rich. I was afraid of that. I don’t think I’ve had a paragon 3 yet that i didn’t have a decoder problem with.
They stand by their products but,... what a pain.
Sometimes that 'runaway train' thing happens when power is first applied and the decoder misreads the AC on the track for DC, and so takes off at full speed based on getting 14V of power. You can set CV29 to not allow the engine to operate on DC, that usually solves the problem.
Thanks, The decoder is set to just DCC.