The biggest Problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!

[CMSTPP]

I have a Layout with DCC. When I was running it everything died. The system didn't die, but my locos did. When I don't add any power to the tracks my locomotives are fine. But its when I add the power to a locomotive is when everything quits. The lights on the engines blink and the locomotive itself jerks. This is the same problem with every locomotive I try to run. I have tried everything. I thought it was the switches but I've checked them. Some of the switches are old. I have a brand new Diamond on the layout but I hope that is not a problem since it comes from Atlas. I have taken all the wiring apart and that doesn't help.
Can anyone help me.[:(][:(]

James

[CMSTPP]

Thats what I was thinking But I have know idea????

[Anonymous]

I would suggest that there is a short in one of your locos or a decoder that let its magic smoke out. Try taking all the locos off and running them separately.

If you can't identify the problem that way then try doing a reset of your command station and see if that takes care of your problem.

[RedGrey62]

Have you got the system broken up into different power districts?

If so, disconnect one power district at a time and try to run the locos on the districts that still have power.

Not sure its a short, if your system is on, but you're not running a train, the short should still occur because on DCC, power is always on the track. Basically, if you laid a screwdriver across the track, even with no locos on it, but the DCC system on, the system would short.

Finally, did the system run fine before you added the diamond or other new track, or is this first time you fired up the system. What type of DCC system is it? What kind of decoders?

Rick

[CMSTPP]

When the locomotives aren't running there fine. They just sit on the track with lights on and everything. It's when you try running the locomotive is when the problem happens with the motor jerking and the lights flashing. When I put the diamond in I had no problems. The system is a Digitrax super empire buuilder. The chips are some of the best. They are NCE DASR chips. I have not had any problem with these. Infact I have a friend who only puts these chips in his locomotives and he has over 70 locos. They run perfectly.

[CMSTPP]

Thanks for the help everyone. I finally figured it out. One of the wires leading to my system had been reversed so the electricity was moving through the wrong way.

thanks
James

[RedGrey62]

CMSTPP

Sometimes all we need is a little time and a deep breath, its amazing how many problems we would solve by doing this![:)]

Thanks for the tips on the NCE decoders as well, I need to convert most of my locos and I will seriously look at them.

Rick

[Anonymous]

Well good. I am happy that you figured that out. If I were you I would look at breaking you layout up into power districts so that problems like this in the future are less of a problem and are easier to diagnose.

Cheers!

[Crow T Robot]

Do you run your track in blocks? Or does DCC run fine without adding terminal tracks and blocks?