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Decoder start up issues

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 2:01 PM

 I only have one QSI loco, an Atlas Trainmaster, but it has never given my a lick of trouble, always works. I tws packed away for 6 years, pulled it out, put it on the track - started right up. No lost programming, still had the cab address. I guess they had more than their share of lemons, guess I lucked out.

                                     --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 1:59 PM

Have you tried removing all the other engines before you power up, or powering up on an isolated track with only the engine on it?  Do you have a "dead track" with a toggle to turn power off and on?

You have a lot of engines.  If you are trying to bring them all up at once, you may not be getting enough power to this one at startup.  QSI decoders used to have power requirements that made them difficult to program.  This could be an aspect of that.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 9:40 PM

Hi Quincy47,

When you did the factory reset did the locomotive go back to address 03 or did it stay at 280? If it stayed at 280 then I suspect that the decoder didn't actually finish the reset. I have two QSI Quantum decoders. I find that they are very slow to respond to programming changes, and you also have to cycle the power off after resetting the decoder, even when it says that the decoder has been reset.

I have a very simple solution to the QSI challenges. It is called Loksound!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaugh. Not cheap, but guaranteed effective!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 47 posts
Posted by Quincy47 on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 7:10 PM

rrinker

 Sounds like the classic "reed switch stuck closed" situtation so it is doign a decoder reset every time the power cycles. Or if instead of a magnetic wand, this loco uses a jumper for the reset - the jumper may have been left on. 

                                     --Randy

 

 

Thanks for the information. But, if the decoder was resetting every  time wouldn’t the loco address return to 03? The address of 280 doesn’t change. I did try a magnetic wand reset prior to changing the address.

 I have a Digitrax system. I have around 25 engines and have never run into this problem before. First time for everything, I guess 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 3:02 PM

 Sounds like the classic "reed switch stuck closed" situtation so it is doign a decoder reset every time the power cycles. Or if instead of a magnetic wand, this loco uses a jumper for the reset - the jumper may have been left on. 

                                     --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 11:58 AM

No clue as to what system your using, but on some systems, the tilting the engine needs to be done to complete a reset, or an address change.

I use Digitrax, and it automatically shuts down the power, and you have turn track power back on again, to complete the process.

Mike.

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 47 posts
Decoder start up issues
Posted by Quincy47 on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 11:46 AM

I just purchased an older Proto 2000 GP 9, with a Quantum QSi decoder with sound.It is new in box.

 The problem I’m having is with the initial start up, each time I turn the track power off and back on again I get a different result. Sometimes the engine just sits there making sounds, or the whistle might blow a few times and still doesn’t respond, sometimes the bell rings and other various sounds are made and sometimes it runs perfectl. All the controls work and it’s great, until I turn the power off and restart it

I tried a factory reset and it responded by saying it was reset but obviously it didn’t solve the problem.

 I was able to change the engine number from 3 to 280.

So far the quickest solution has been to tilt the engine on it’s side until only four wheels are on the track and the power stops to the engine and then lower it slowly back on the track, and see what happens. Not the most optimal solution.

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