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DC operation on Bachmann's EM-1

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 460 posts
DC operation on Bachmann's EM-1
Posted by JimValle on Friday, December 4, 2015 4:10 PM

My recently purchased Bachmann EM-1 was first operated in DC mode and ran fine.  When I programed it for DCC it also ran fine BUT later it would not go back to DC operation.  Is there a fix for this short of sending it back to Bachmann where it will languish for a month or more?

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, December 4, 2015 4:30 PM

Hi, Jim

I have two EM-1 but only run them on DCC and have never experienced any problems.

Have you browsed through the Bachmann EM-1 threads at their forum?

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php?action=search2

You may find additional information or post your question there. Type in HO em-1 in the search line. (or N if that's what you have)

Have you done any programming on the decoder? Sometimes there is a CV value that disables DC operation. Maybe a decoder reset is in order?

The EM-1 has a Soundtraxx "soundOn Board" decoder.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/images/Spectrum_DCC_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf

 

Hope this helps, Ed

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, December 4, 2015 4:51 PM

 You need to check what value is in CV29. Here is a calculator to show what the values should be: http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm

 For DC to work, it should be set to 6 if using a short address or 38 for a long address. If it's 2 or 34, that's the problem, those values disable DC operation of the decoder.

                                 --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
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 460 posts
Posted by JimValle on Friday, December 11, 2015 4:17 PM

Thanks Ed and Randy:  The fix was to delete all my custom settings back to factory settings, test both DC and DCC modes in those settings and than reprogram back to custom settings.  Apparently something corrupted the original program but this eliminated the problem.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, December 11, 2015 4:57 PM

That's good news!

Bachmann wisely used a Soundtraxx decoder in the EM-1, a big improvement over some of the OEM models with Model Rectifier decoders.

Ed

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