Hello
I had purchased a athearn quick plug BNSF locomotive with a unknown decoder in the 9 prong spot. I run it on DC power for a while and it runs fine, but I had purchased the NCE powercab and put that loco on the tracks to hear a loud pitches screaching. I don't know if it is coming from the motor or the decoder, since the loco runs fine on dc power I assumed the motor was fine. Apon resetting the CV using my powercab I was given the error message of 255. Ive done so much research and nothing seems to help. The screaching makes different pitches when I increase the throttle. Can anybody help?
First, welcome aboard!
Have you run other engines or is this your first foray into DCC? There is a DC setting (I think it's in CV 29) for choosing DC or DCC operation, and that may be set wrong.
If you did a total reset of the decoder, it would no longer be at its original address, and will now respond to Address 3, the default address for decoders. You can reset that.
There is also a command to query the decoder for the decoder ID, which can help you find out which one it is.
We have an Electronics and DCC forum here, which is probably a better place to ask questions like this.
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tacomarrproI had purchased a athearn quick plug BNSF locomotive with a unknown decoder in the 9 prong spot.
Are you sure it's a decoder? DCC-ready engines generally come with a dummy plug that has to be removed and a decoder plugged into it. Trying to run a DC engine on DCC can produce the sounds you describe.
p.s. I think with some Athearn engines, they come with a 9-pin and an 8-pin plug, and if you use the 9-pin plug you still have to remove the dummy plug from the 8-pin receptacle.
You can look up the engine's instructions on the Athearn website and see what it says.
tacomarrpro Apon resetting the CV using my powercab I was given the error message of 255.
Apon resetting the CV using my powercab I was given the error message of 255.
Are you certain that the locomotive has a DCC decoder installed? If so, is it seated securely?
Rich
Alton Junction
Yeah, it's time to stop being a Newby and take a step up. You need to remove the shell from the engine and see what you've got inside.
To be a model railroader, you have to learn to take things apart and put them back together. You have to learn to paint things. You have to make a mess doing plaster castings. Don't be afraid of it. It opens all kinds of doors.
MisterBeasley Don't be afraid of it. It opens all kinds of doors.
Don't be afraid of it. It opens all kinds of doors.
And windows too!
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You've still only got one post, so even if you were John Armstrong you'd still be a newby here. We all go through a process of "moderation" before being able to post freely. It's worked well to keep the trolls from under our Central Valley trestle bridges. But, you need to post occasionally to let us know you're OK and let you post freely.
Keep trying. You're not forgotten. We want to solve your problem.
tacomarrproApon resetting the CV using my powercab I was given the error message of 255.
Which CV is "the CV" you reset? If you mean you tried to reset the decoder, decoders can be reset by setting CV8 to 8 or CV30 to 2. You have to turn the power off and on to the engine to finish the reset. Reading CV 8 will tell you the manufacturer of the decoder.
The screaching makes different pitches when I increase the throttle.
Does the loco move or just screech?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
It sounds like it's not a DCC decoder, but the dummy plug.
On DCC, a DC locomotive will emit a high-pitched noise that changes with throttle change commands.
We really need a bit more info from the OP.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ricktrains4824 It sounds like it's not a DCC decoder, but the dummy plug. On DCC, a DC locomotive will emit a high-pitched noise that changes with throttle change commands. We really need a bit more info from the OP.
And there's nothing in the moderation queue from the OP either...