Good afternoon. I am new to electronics and DCC++. My hardware: Arduion Uno, Deek-Robot Motorshield. I have downloaded the Base software. I am attempting to run DCC++ with DecoderPro (newest production version). I can get DecoderPro to read the decoder chip in an Atlas GP38-2. When I attempt the run the locomotive on my program track or the main operations track the locomotive will not move. I have checked the power coming form my Railpower 1300 power pack. It is 21.56 volts at the Track DC terminals. Wwhen I test power on the track it is reading 0.050 volts. I did break the connection on the VIN Connect on the bottom of the Deek-Robot Motorshield. How do I get the required power to run my locomotive? Thank you.
A little confused, your wanting to run DCC but are using DC as power for your programming track? I'm not sure that will work. The other thing is you have 21.56 volts at the MRC 1300 (DC power source) but only .050 volts at the track. I don't know what the Deek-Robot Motorshield (RBM) is, or what it would have to do with the differing amount of voltage from power source to the track but if it does have something to do with it, and you broke a connection to do with the RBM then that connection would need to be fixed. If you are new to DCC, why don't you just connect your track power from your DCC system directly to the track and, albeit not the best solution, program your DCC engines on the layout? You would need to ensure that ONLY the engine you want to program is on the track though. Will be interesting to see what those in the know will have to say.
Hi! A couple of points; A loco will not run on the programming track - it is only for programming and reading data from the loco. You will not get a meaningful voltage reading on either track with a standard DVM, because it is a rapidly reversing voltage. For example my DVM only shows 0.09v on the DC range and 7.3V on the AC range. Have you tried testing the system using the diagnostic procedure on the GitHub here: https://github.com/DccPlusPlus/BaseStation/wiki/Diagnostics---D---Command Good luck! Jim
Do the LEDs on the motor driver turn on? If not, you need to enable track power. With DCC++, you should have track power to either the main or program output as long as the system is enabled(track power turned on) and the DC inputs to the motor driver have power.
Is this with the Loco on the programming track? if it is then you must be getting power to the track, and the motor driver board is working (at least for the programming track) Jim
If you use the DC setting on the meter, it will show what you're seeing......check that you're using the AC setting on the meter.
Most DMM's(digital MultiMeter) will not give a correct reading on AC. The cheap ones will read .707 * Vpeak, which is an approximation of RMS voltage for an AC sine wave. More expensive meters with true RMS capability usually do not have the bandwidth to read DCC voltages accurately. It is better to make your own DCC voltmeter with a cheap DMM and a bridge rectifier on the front end. If you use Schottkey diodes for the bridge your measured voltage will be about .5 to 1V lower than the actual voltage. It is possible to build a precision rectifier that does not have a voltage drop, but that's a little beyond a simple discussion.
