Helper Service- The Lights are On But... (TCS CN-GP Decoder)

umtrr-author May 10, 2021

  1. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    Just like I used on automobile/cycle wiring. Or you could use two round pole connectors. Both wires (+ & -) attached to one connector. Only problem is you have to get both male and female connectors together. So there will be extras.
     
  2. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Just chiming in with an "I have NOT yet solved the problem..."

    Actually, I've not gotten back to the problem! But the N Scale Weekend was fun and so was our return through Mister Rogers' Neighborhood... I mean, Pittsburgh.
     
    Doug Gosha likes this.
  3. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]

    As I think has been mentioned a couple dollar DPDT Center Off switch would take care of it all and you would go from DC to DCC with 'the flick of a switch' ;),

    Sumner
     
  4. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    If we were outside in 50 mph winds, I'd worry about the connections touching. :D So far the wires remain rigid enough to maintain their distance. I guess you can say they are also social distancing :ROFLMAO:

    As Mike mentioned insulated joiners are available and I use them all the time at work, but they are not needed in this situation.
    This layout is going on 15 years old and I've not had an issue and for me it's simple fast and easy. (y)

    Here is a photo of a older setup when I was sill using my MRC Tech II 1500 for DC operations.

    DSCN2232.JPG

    I know others have mentioned using a Double Pole Double Throw switch would eliminate having to swap wires, but honestly the 10 seconds it takes me to swap the wires is not an inconvenience to me. Also As I've noted before I just don't have the room to have both the DB150 command station and MRC 9900 power pack on my table at the same time. In the future when I do get my own dedicated train room and I have the room for both the DB150 and the MRC 9900, I'll probably wire up a DPDT switch and make the wiring more permanent. (y)

    At this point I have to apologize to George Irwin for completely hijacking his thread. Sorry George, we really went down a side track. Keep us posted on what you find with your current issue.
     
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  5. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Oh, no worries. I use a DPDT too.

    Besides, the farther afield we go, the less anyone will notice that I haven't gotten anywhere with this little project. And I have to finish the May UMTRR... did you see those Weathered Releases this month? :sneaky:
     
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  6. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    As a subscriber to your Unofficial Micro-Trains News Letter, I look forward to each months Release Report.

    I'm generally not a fan of weathering, but yes Micro-Trains does a very nice job in the weathering department.
    All I can say is so far they've not produced a weathered car I need for the layout, or I'd be in trouble.
    I'm glad they produced the Penn Central gondola fresh from the paint shop as I'm adding that one to my collection :D

    On a side note, very nice report on the car in the April Release Report, pages 5 & 6.
    I had to get the gondola for 2 reason,
    1. For the most part I model the Penn Central in the 1970's.
    2. I told the folks at the Micro-Trains booth at the N scale weekend in Altoona we needed more Penn Central rolling stock.
    I hope sales are good so they continue to produce Penn Central equipment. Yes I saw the double door Penn Central weathered boxcars, they look great. My wallet is thanking me, I do not need any double door boxcars on the layout :ROFLMAO:
    Now if they do a weathered 40' Penn Central boxcar I'll be in trouble :eek:
     
    Doug Gosha likes this.
  7. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    Thread drift is strong with this one!
     
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  8. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    OK, let's try to drift a little closer to the original post...

    Last night I ran out of bytes for the UMTRR so while awaiting a restock I did get back to the Geep.

    I split the chassis in half -- correctly, using the split frame, that is!-- without having to unsolder the decoder. I checked to make sure that there were no issues with the gears, and there were not as all turns freely when I move the motor manually. I did not see any possible shorts although I did not take the motor out of its frame. There was a fair amount of crud on some of the contact points, which I cleaned off.

    Result: No material change. On DCC, the correct directional headlight blinks as I advance speed steps and the motor moves a tiny bit. On DC, the lights strobe and the motor moves a tiny bit more than it does on DCC.

    So, the next step is to take the motor out of its frame and see what's up... although I believe we are converging on a blown decoder here.

    The good news is that I have tested two other TCS-equipped Atlas locos, both RS-1s, and they are running just great.

    Oops, my bytes just arrived so I can continue the UMTRR. That expedited service sure works great! :LOL:
     
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  9. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    I don't if it was mentioned earlier, and I'm too lazy to go back and read all those pages :LOL:, but you can try to put the DC boards back in and see if it runs well on DC. If it does, there's nothing wrong with the mechanism or motor. Then it's the decoder.
     
    Doug Gosha likes this.
  10. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Mike, I think we are all leaning in that direction, i.e. decoder issue. As a recap the decoder in question is the TCS CN-GP which is a split decoder that replaces both light boards on each end of the frame. These decoders exist somewhere between plug-n-play and hard wire as a little of both takes place with these decoders. At this point testing the locomotive on DC might be a little difficult if the brass wipers were trimmed off the brush caps on the motor.

    Another option since George has the model disassembled is to unsolder the decoder motor wires from the motor. Then test the motor free from the frame using a DC power pack and a couple jumper wires to see if the motor runs OK on DC.

    I'm thinking he will probably find the motor will run just fine on DC, meaning the decoder will need sent back to TCS for repair or replacement. I wouldn't worry about unsoldering the wires from the front board to the rear board, the only thing that will need unsoldered is the orange and gray wires that go to the motor brush caps.

    A couple of points, before sending anything back to TCS, fill out the appropriate forms on their webpage. Second they recommend sending the decoder back in a small box instead of a padded envelope, they must have had troubles in the past of decoders being damaged by the mail handling equipment.

    Let us know what you find George after you're done using up all your newly received bytes :ROFLMAO:
     
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  11. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    Hi George, Thread hijack time again :eek:
    Just received the current UMTRR and kudos for the last item listed in the report, what a great idea (y).
    As the popular online email application tag line goes, "You've Got Mail".
     
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  12. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Hehe, grammatical error and all!

    :D

    Doug
     
  13. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like that's the weekend project... oh, goodie, unsoldering. I'm much better with bytes than with a soldering iron. But I do believe that's the appropriate next step.
     
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  14. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Lack of Progress Report: No soldering irons, fingers, or decoders were harmed over the weekend... because I didn't get to the Geep. I was helping to get a new (and young!) N Scaler started with a layout, which included some "meatball surgery" (cf. "M*A*S*H") on a Bachmann C40-8CW that had lost its truck frames and therefore both couplers as well. It'll play until he can get something else, and he also has a Life-Like Chessie switcher, I forget which, that now has MTL couplers installed.

    Meanwhile, I talked to my friend who did the original install, who also suggested trying the motor and if it works, replacing the decoder. Maybe this week...
     
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  15. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    Has the speed step mismatch thing been thoroughly investigated? It's been a while since I encountered this, as I've since switched to ESU decoders exclusively, but I recall this mismatch being a real bugger to work thru (can't recall for sure if it was a TCS decoder, but I think it was). As I recall, it resulted in rhythmic blinking of lights when this mismatch was happening. Is this what you are seeing?
     
    Doug Gosha likes this.
  16. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, 28 steps on the decoder and 28 steps on the NCE Power Cab. Would that it were that easy...

    In other news, all of the other locos with TCS decoders that I have tested so far function as expected.
     
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