I'm fairly new to the hobby and this is my first post. I'm in the process if constructing a layout and have a fleet of 5 DCC locomotives, controlled by a Digitrax Zephyr DCS51. I have an Athearn Genesis GP 38-2 with sound. The issue is that the locomotive will run a short distance and then stop, with no interruption in the sound. If I reduce the throttle and then increase it, it will resume running and then repeat the behaviour. This is the only loco that exhibits this behaviour. I reset the decoder to factory default but that did not correct the issue. As a test, I MU'd a second locomotive and the uncoupled them, leaving a short distance between them. When the problematic loco ( the one controlling the consist) stopped, so did the second loco. The second locomotive runs fine otherwise. I've contacted Athearn and but to date they have not been able to identify the issue. Can anyone help me with this issue?
You have this loco address selected more than one, perhaps on one of the Jump Throttles, if you have no other throttle. It's not the decoder, you need to clear the loco from the Zephyr. Follow the instructiosn on pages 54 and 55 of the manual to set OpSw 39 closed to do a full reset.
When done running a loco, always dispatch it properly - stop the loco, set the direction handle to brake as well, and make sure all functions are off. Then hit the Loco button and Exit. You can then hit Loco and key in the next loco you want to run.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
to the forum You are on moderation for you first handful of posts.
You found one of our electrical cognicenti straight away to answer your question. As both engines do the same thing at the same time, it would make sense that it is not the decoder.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
It does it in consist because the problem child was probably selected as the lead loco. Any commands sent to the lead also get sent to any others in the same consist, so if a stop gets sent - they both stop. At least with the default Digitrax consisting, in which the command station handles this by sending speed and direction commands to all locos in the consist. Functions commands get sent only to the lead loco, but you can select any loco in the consist and send function commands to it, although this is much easier with a DT40x throttle with two knobs - you'll have the consist on one, and then can dial up any loco in the consist on the other knob and send function commands.
I currently do not have a jump throttle connected. I'll try clearing it as you advised and see if that corrects the problem. Thanks.
UPDATE:
This seems to have solved the problem Thank you so much for your help.
Thank you :)