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DCC Decoder problem

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  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 7:08 PM

wblock
A few days ago as I began to operate, one loco ran fine. When I hit the Recall button to opeate the second it did not even show up on the screen.

I missed this.  I'm pretty sure it ought to recall a loco, even if it's not on the tracks.  It's possible to reprogram the Powercab to change the number of recall positions.  Maybe you can reprogram it to only 1?

Powercabs can read decoders on the programming track. 

wblock
I decided to re-program that loco, however even though its number shows up on the screen it will not move.

You can "select loco" and type in any number and the Powercab will show that number, even if there is no corresponding loco.

In Powercab  the loco number 3 is a short address.  003 is a long address.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
  • 2,899 posts
Posted by Paul3 on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 6:37 PM

wblock,
To me, it sounds like a recall stack problem with the PowerCab.  I know little about NCE (I'm a Digitrax guy), but perhaps try using the regular DCC address select feature rather than the recall and see if that works.

Can you read the 2nd loco decoder?  If it can be read, it's probably not dead.  I don't know if the PowerCab can read decoders or not.

If you still have trouble, try programming your decoder's CV08 to a value of 08.  This will do a factory reset of your decoder and reprogram the address back to 03.

BTW, what kind of decoders are you using?  It can make a difference on possible solutions.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 6:09 PM

Weird stuff sometimes happens in DCC.  There is no logical explanation. 

You take a normally fuctioning loco, take it off the tracks and park it for 3 weeks.  Next time you put it on the tracks, the horn or bell won't work or it won't go faster than tortoise speed step 1.  None of this is volatile memory that disappears over time and there are no power surges, lack of snubbing or reflected waves that affect the loco sitting on the shelf.

Don't forget to cycle the power after the reset.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 2:39 PM

I have had the Power Cab for sometime. If a decoder does not respond I just do a factory reset. CV8 enter 8 for my decoders. Cycle track power.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 2:39 PM

Try a factory reset of the offending engine.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 2:29 PM

Can you read back the engine number after you program it?  Can you turn the headlights off and on?

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

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Seaford, Va.
  • 72 posts
DCC Decoder problem
Posted by wblock on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 1:58 PM

  I am just beginning a small layout and have an NCE Power Cab DCC system, and right now only two locos.

  A few days ago as I began to operate, one loco ran fine. When I hit the Recall button to opeate the second it did not even show up on the screen.

  I decided to re-program that loco, however even though its number shows up on the screen it will not move. I tried programing it to a different number, but still nothing happens.

  Have I likely burned out the decoder? I keep the entire system unplugged between sessions, so it could not have been a power surge. The last time I was operating it worked fine and then nothing.

  Is there anything I can try to get it going again?

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