TCS CN-GP decoders

Steve Zink Aug 13, 2017

  1. Steve Zink

    Steve Zink TrainBoard Member

    309
    55
    24
    Hello all,

    Really having difficulty with the TCS CN-GP decoders...I'm going to use a lot of them, as I prefer the older Kato frames on the GP30/35....The directions are pretty clear, the 5 wires aren't confusing, I'm isolating the two motor leads with tape.....Any tricks out there......My local hobby store will do the work for me but this is MY hobby....Feeling kinda useless right now.......
     
  2. mu26aeh

    mu26aeh TrainBoard Member

    270
    170
    18
    My last two I did I ended up tearing out and putting in Digitrax DZ126 using existing light boards ( in Atlas/Kato RS3/11 etc) Both showed no shorts but would not run or light. I sent them to a friend to check out, one was dead and another he got to run but could not control it ie it was full speed as soon as power applied. Unhooked, and wired in the 126's, and no issues in either engine. Both ran right from the get go with no changes.
     
  3. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    What is the difficulty you are having?
     
  4. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,806
    143
    The TCS CN-GP decoders work fine. Just dont use electrical tape to isolate the motor. I was a rookie once...lol
     
    wombat457 likes this.
  5. nscalestation

    nscalestation TrainBoard Supporter

    1,558
    9,262
    58
  6. Bob Horn

    Bob Horn TrainBoard Member

    444
    0
    20
    I have had nothing but trouble with them. Just pulled 4 from Atlas GP's and replaced the frames with DCC ready frames and replaced with DN163.
     
  7. Ghengis Kong

    Ghengis Kong TrainBoard Member

    477
    30
    15
    I have had only 1 successful TCS CN out of 3 total.
     
  8. Steve Zink

    Steve Zink TrainBoard Member

    309
    55
    24
    Okay,

    Now I don't feel too bad.....These are not difficult at all, but even the one that I sent to TCS a few years ago and they installed it then sent it back won't work correctly....And all it has done is sit in the box....I'm going to try another one tonight, I only require about 25 of these......

    AND thank you nscalestation, I'll put your site on my favorites for sure......
     
  9. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

    4,325
    1,424
    77
    I need a couple of these decoders too but with the mixed results that I see so far I'm hesitant to even try. Thus far all I have done is the drop in, replace the light board, decoders. Nothing too difficult. No soldering or frame modifications involved. The CN-GP was going to be my next step. Now I think I'll wait till others weigh in with their experiences.
     
  10. James Norris

    James Norris TrainBoard Supporter

    474
    11
    21
    Sometimes, and this can effect several other drop in decoders, the point where the decoder makes contact with the frame is not good enough so the actual power is not transferred to the chip as well as it needs to be. This is often cased by the chassis cast having a slightly larger gap where the decoder clamps in. I have found this with kato and atlas chassis as well. To over come this I flash a little solder on the pad and, if necessary file it down again to ensure a good tight connection. A bad connection on the TCS CN-GP can cause all the issues mentioned above. But they are great chips so its worth the effort. James.
     
    SP-Wolf likes this.
  11. Steve Zink

    Steve Zink TrainBoard Member

    309
    55
    24
    The sets I have installed all have had tight connections, I to have had to flash a little solder on a few....It's really the first step I check....But I certainly will check again.....I'll try another one tonight, as I didn't have time last night....I have nine more sets to try......
     
  12. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

    838
    1,618
    34
  13. Ryan Wilkerson

    Ryan Wilkerson TrainBoard Member

    678
    182
    29
    I've done three CN-GP installs into GP30/GP35 mechanisms. They are surplus to me now but are nice and heavy and run well.
    IMG_1521_GP30-35_mech_TCS_CN-GP_web.jpg IMG_1523_GP30-35_mech_TCS_CN-GP_web.jpg
     
  14. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

    4,325
    1,424
    77
    I was hoping have more people weigh in about these decoders. Maybe bumping this thread up will cause some others to comment.
     
  15. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

    5,685
    2,780
    98
    Except for the one I blew up, and TCS replaced, never had a problem with them
     
  16. Greg Elmassian

    Greg Elmassian TrainBoard Member

    325
    62
    17
    They are far the decoder I have to most often reset. I always use custom speed tables, and they have an internal bug that has been documented by myself and others. Besides not responding properly to the custom speed table, they often take off at max speed and can only be helped with a full reset.

    My Digitrax, Zimo and CT Electronik have no such issues.

    Greg
     
  17. bman

    bman TrainBoard Member

    489
    187
    22
    While I've not tried the TCS CN-GP(but I will be, oh yes, I will with a dozen older Atlas and Kato locos) decoders yet, I've had than my share of other TCS, Digitrax and Lenz decoders perform the max speed from a dead start routine. Since I only run DCC locos down on our club layout or on other club's layouts at train shows I haven't even tried to figure out the reason. It's a pain but a quick fix with the reset then reloading the speed table stored on the laptop. The few folks at the club who have installed the CN-GP decoders have been happy with them.
     
  18. Greg Elmassian

    Greg Elmassian TrainBoard Member

    325
    62
    17
    Yeah, I keep JMRI close ha ha! But this is the only decoder brand that I regularly have to perform a complete reset on when it goes wonky... and my test layout is a simple loop with no electrical weirdness...

    Greg
     
  19. Kriegwulfe

    Kriegwulfe TrainBoard Member

    10
    5
    2
    I tried one of these decoders. I tried for a few days to get it to work. The loco would program but it ran at one speed, backwards, or not at all. I tried adjusting CV's, full resets and checking the isolation. The only LED to work was the rear board one. I put the locomotive in the case without a shell as a constant reminder to never visit older Atlas locomotives ever again. I am not hating on TCS or Atlas, but for me it's a lesson learned.
     
  20. Greg Elmassian

    Greg Elmassian TrainBoard Member

    325
    62
    17
    They especially do not like high current motors, my guess is that it screws up the BEMF. That said, i have turned BEMF off and it did not solve the problem. Most decoders leave the BEMF sensing on all the time though, it's just the motor response that can be changed.

    Greg
     

Share This Page