Just getting parts of my layout powered and running. I've pulled out some DCC loco's after sitting for 8 years. 2 have a runaway condition I've never encountered. One is a BLI steamer and the other is an Atlas Trainmaster. I've looked online and see that setting CV-29 to close off the DC switch can possibly correct this. My question is how the heck does one do that? If I set it on the track to program, it takes off like a jack-rabbit? Does anyone have any experience in actually fixing something like this? I see lots online about what causes it, but no one describes the actual steps to fix it. Thanks
Lo and Behold, I finally ran across this information that is exactly what I was looking for. Especially since this are probably QSI decoders. http://www.amhobby.com/products/tech/generic/dcc_rescue.html
Had a similar problem with my BLI steamer except rather than run away, it wouldn't run. Used programming track to reset to defaults and it runs fine. The BLI instruction book that came with it outlined the proper reset procedure.
Okay. &*#^$&&& !!!! Runaways. Someone w/ successful experience in fixing this bug PLEASE chime in. Searching around the web I find turning off the DC Enabled bit stops runaways and (resets) loco. My problem is... HOW does one go about resetting a loco, turning off a "bit" when I put it on the track it is hauling butt? How does one reset or change bits in a loco on the move as a runaway? Since I had my loco's in storage for quit a while, it seems that almost half of my loco's are doing this. How does one FIX a moving, runaway loco???
Put it on a program track, not mainline operating track. Also make sure the wheels are clean, for good electrical contact. You want the DCC program signal to be "loud and clear"
^Understand and will try. I will say a short while ago, I pulled out a Bachmann C&O H5 articulated I purchased back in '03 or there abouts. It was the first engine I ever installed a decoder myself. An old Loksound. Has a neat Doppler effect whistle, but the bell sounds like the devil. Anyway, that engine hasn't seen a live track for 9 years until tonight and it ran perfectly. It just hauled about 15 cars up a grade. A little Bull Frog on the wheels and it would probably pull 20 up the hill. Its just about 40% or so my engines haven't seemed to fair well w/ not having been run in so long and they are "running away".
QSI locos, at least in earlier iterations, do not program on a program track. Only on the mainline. You will probably have to resort to a hardware reset to accomplish said feat if your BLI are QSI equipt. Atlas also used QSI until just recently. This takes different forms but it usually one of two methods. Removal of the shell is required to accomplish this unless there is a dynamic hatch or similar that can be removed. Some of their locos have a 2 pin shorting strap that when removed and power is applied the decoder will reset. Reapply the connector and all should be fine. Then turn off the DC capability of the decoder. Other versions of the locos had a reed switch that bringing a magnet near is supposed to reset the decoder. I always found these to be fussy. Remove the shell and use a small jumper strap or a pair of small pliers to short across the reed switch while applying power. While powering up the decoder on DCC is supposed to trigger the reset, it doesn't always. For me it rarely did. To do the reset by whatever method is appropriate, power the loco up on a DC power pack. Then put it on DCC and program as required, especially turning OFF the DC capability. For a short address CV29 will normally be 2, a long address CV29 will normally be 34. If you need to turn the direction of the loco, add one to the value written to CV29. Lyle
