Hello,
I have a ESU cab control system. Recently, I purchased two BLI SD40-2's. Both have had issues. The first went back and is currently coming back to me from BLI. The second unit has worked very well on its default address of 3, but when I put it on the program track to change its number to its road number, the locomotive will not program, and shuts down the entire layout. Also, when I try to read the locomotive address, it again shuts down the entire layout....
Could anyone clue me in to what is going on with the BLI locomotives? My Athearn Genesis, Atlas and Intermountain Locomotives all work great on the program track.
Thanks-
Some otherwise fine decoders can not be programmed on a programming track. Have you tried programming on the main?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MKTGP39-2but when I put it on the program track to change its number to its road number, the locomotive will not program, and shuts down the entire layout. Also, when I try to read the locomotive address, it again shuts down the entire layout....
Being unable to program a decoder is substantially different than it shutting down the entire yard. Does it still run on address 3?
The only way I can envision that happening is there is a short in the loco.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
The first locomotive that we sent back to BLI, the decoder was replaced with a newer one, and he did find a pinched wire. It was not running well on address 03.
This 2nd locomotive is operating fine on address 03, but when you go to program it, it shuts down the entire layout. Also, it shorts out the entire layout when you go to read the locomotive number. Hope that helps.....Thanks everyone!
I don't think it's the decoder. If it works at all on Add '03'.....................it works!
Does your system by any chance know that the track power needs to be cut off in order to effect the changes to CVs 01, 17 & 18, and to 29? My Digitrax DB150 does this step automatically, and even prompts me to enable long or short addresses in each instance.
Perhaps you need a resistor across the rails to programme the decoder the way you are doing it with the system you are using...?
I looked at the ESU manual and it is no where near as intuitive as a Power Cab. I see no explanation of the symptoms the OP, but there is also no troubleshooting info.
The Yahoo ESU group is pretty good
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/loksound/info
I'm betting that it is the decoder.
Thank you for the link to the ESU yahoo group. I also just posted there, and have sent an email to ESU in PA. I will also be updating BLI on Monday.
All of my other locomotives from other manufacturers (atlas, athearn, intermountain) program just fine on the program track. I do not think you can program on the main with this ESU system- but I am not sure.
MKTGP39-2This 2nd locomotive is operating fine on address 03, but when you go to program it, it shuts down the entire layout.
I had the very same situation with a new BLI K4, Paragon 3, I bought about two months ago. It ran fine on address 3.
It took me several tries to get the engine number, 5341, programmed using decoder Pro and a Sprogg II on a programming track. I would set the address then try to access it only to find that the decoder had assigned some random number (?) Even trying to manually set the CV numbers was not working. I would write the CV OK but on readback some random number would be shown.
Finally, after several "hard resets" using the rubber button on the decoder I was able to get the address set and the locomotive would then respond when the throttle was addressed to it.
Once out on the layout though, the locomotive ran for just a few feet then would short the power district it was occupying. Then run again for a while and short again moments later. Not an open, but a short causing the PSX breaker to activate. Placing the tender on the rails without being plugged in to the engine the same thing would occur so the short was somewhere not in the locomotive itself.
I opened the tender again and checked all the wiring and plugs but everything looked good. It took only a very light tap on the PC board to make the short come and go.
BLI replaced the K4 with another engine. I really haven't run it much since it returned from Ormond Beach but I hope it is OK.
A very similar oddity happened with another P3 decoder in an Erie heavy Pacific I bought from the BLI refurb depot. Again, the decoder REFUSED to accept the engine number 2925. I could program it to 2924 OR 2926 and everything would be fine. It absolutely refused to accept 2925! I could set it to 29 OR 25 but not 2925
In this case I replaced the decoder with a Tsunami 2 and tossed the P3 in my junk drawer. I don't know why the manufacturers (BLI is not alone in this regard) are having QC issues with decoders. Possibly a component sourcing issue?
BLI has always done their best to remedy a problem but it does get frustrating.
Good Luck, Ed