I am going to eventually run my layout using DCC, but I do not have the system to operate via DCC at this time. I recently bought two Kato engines on eBay that had DCC decoders in them. When I received them, I could not get them to run on my non-DCC track. Does this mean that the decoders have been "fried" by the previous owner? (I was able to get the engines to run once I removed the decoders and soldered the wires from the motor to the frame.) Is there a way to test the decoders without having a DCC system operational? I am not really familiar with DCC, and I would appreciate any help with this problem. Thanks.
The decoders most likely work, but are not set up to run in DC mode. This has to be set while programming the locomotive. Since all of our club locos always run on DCC, we never set the DC mode bit. If you know someone with a system, you can ask them to program it for you. Otherwise, run them as-is, and hang on to the decoders until you get your system.
If those decoders are NMRA compatible they should run on DC, but need to be "told" to do so by a DCC control unit. If they were built before NMRA standards came in then they may not work on DC. I don't know a way of telling them apart. The manufacturer is probably the best place to ask. As for purchasing a new system, check out one of the best at www.mrsonline.net When comparing systems look closely at features and available accsessories. Good luck, Art
upguy, I have a decoder equipped HO locomotive that I sometimes run on a friends DCC layout. When I operate it there I set the decoder to read the address I programmed into it. Before I leave I reset it to '00' address which tells the decoder to operate in 'analog mode', then I can run it at the club, or on another DC layout. This tends to make the motor in the loco 'hum' a bit when standing still, (it's a Proto 2000), but the DC layouts I operate on have 'dead tracks' where I park the engine when not in use. I would be willing to bet that the decoders in your engines have been programed to a specific address, you could have someone who has a DCC system do a 'status edit' and that will show you what address has been programmed into it, then you could delete it if you want to re-program it to either '00' or another address. Hope that helps. 2slim
