My programming track is separate and several feet from my layout. On the programming track I read and reprogrammed loco address and CV's 02 through 05. When I read CV 06 I got a d nr. Tried it again with same result. Tried to read the CV's that I had just programmed and got d nr. Tried to reset to default and got d nr when I tried to read CV 08 plus the headlight came on. What did I do wrong? Ben
I don't have your DCC system so I don't know what "d nr" is. Place the loco on the programming track and plug in the value for CV 8 that your decoder manual tells you for the factory default. Then see what happens. Note: The nomenclature for every system is different and you have to be more specific. Stay cool and run steam....
"d nr" means the system was not able to read the decoder. I tried programming CV 08 to factory setting and got "dn A" meaning no acknowledgement from the decoder. I also tried coating the back of decoder with Kapton tape. I'm not sure I know exactly how to do this. I put it all over the back. But this only got a reading of "d nd" meaning open circuit. Strange that the decoder accepted programming up to a point and then quit. Ben
Ben: What happens when the loco is on your mainline track and you call it's number up? Are the lights on? What loco is it? And what decoder is it? Is it an Atlas loco with a Digitrax DN163A0 decoder? Stay cool and run steam....
Bob, On mainline the headlight comes on but loco will not move. It's a Kato WP F3A, latest release. Decoder is Digitrax 163K0b. Ben
Open the loco up and make sure the contacts of the decoder are in contact with the two motor clips of the loco. They could have slipped out of position. Thats why the decoder isn't being noticed by the command staion on your programming track. If your decoder was "fried", your system would short out. Stay cool and run steam......
Bob, I double checked and the contacts are in contact. BTW, although it read my earlier loco address change it is not recognized on the mainline. It responds to 03. I tried reading the loco address again and get "does not read" but the headlight comes on while it is trying to read. I reread the programming on another loco I did today and everything reads properly. Ben Ben
I think Bob is on the right track. It's probably a contact issue. If your decoder is fried, the lights won't go on.
Does the loco run with address 03 on the mainline? If it does than it's not picking up 4 digit addresses. You must reprogram CV 29 to read four digit addresses. Use value 38 for CV 29. If your loco responds and moves backward when you have the throttle advancing, change CV 29 to 39. Ben, if your decoder was "fried" it wouldn't respond to address 03. Stay cool and run steam....
You can reprogram CV 29 on the main with address 03. Once you've changed CV 29, then put the loco back on the programming track and program in the correct loco address. Stay cool and run steam....
Bob, It does not run. And it will not read or write any CV. I'll try a complete reinstall tomorrow. If I had the use of my right hand I would try soldering the contacts. Temporary condition I hope. Ben
Ben: This is what you posted earlier to me: "It responds to 03". How does the loco respond to 03? Stay cool and run steam.....
Bob, Actually I misspoke. It doesn't respond to anything. The headlight comes on but will not go off with either F0 or reversing the direction control. I tried both address 03 and the address I reprogrammed which was 20 with same result. Since I can't read any CV now it might be stuck on an unknown 2 or 4 digit address. I'll have to get back to it tomorrow. Ben
Ben: Based on what your're trying to relate to me, I feel that my original diagnosis of the problem is that the motor contacts of the loco aren't properly contacting the decoder. A re-installation of the decoder is your best choice. Stay cool and run steam.....
Ben, Have you previously had the enigne programmed as part of a consist (MU)? I had a problem once where I cleared a consist, but one of the engines from that consist wouldn't responded until I also deleted it from the consist. It was kind of a wierd situation, I just happened into it and happened out of it, so it may or may not apply to you, but it would be helpful to know if you ever had it programmed as part of a consist.
Beaumont Yard, No, it had not been part of a MU consist. All this occurred on the first attempt to program after the initial installation. I was able to read and reprogram the first four CV's I tried. But after receiving "does not read" on the fifth CV, no further attempt to read or program worked. Bob and MK, I did a complete reinstallation this morning making sure the Kapton tape was applied properly, made sure the brass pickup rail was properly installed (on this loco it locks under the ends of the plastic housing), made sure the motor clips made proper contact and secured the plastic clip (very securely) with tape. No improvement except attempted CV reads received "no acknowledgement" from decoder instead of "does not read". Attempts to program on the mainline had no effect at all. This was a replacement decoder. Had the same experience with the original that was returned. This was only my 6th attempt at installing decoders. The first five were successful - no problems at all. I must be doing something wrong with this one but can't do any more. I returned the loco to DC operation and it works fine. May just leave it that way. Thanks for your suggestions, Ben
One thing that was not asked what mode are you in? I do all my programming in paged mode so that's how I will go with this reply. I have had this problem when programming in other modes and some CV gets programmed that messes everything up so I first make sure that the programming is in paged mode put the loco on the programming track and set CV 8 to 8 and then I put the loco on the main and test to make sure that the loco responds on 03 the factory setting then go back to programming as normal.
Ben When I first went DCC late in 2005, I decided on Digitrax, mainly that one of the clubs in the area was using that system. As a computer programer I was frustrated with the entry of commands through a hand held decoder. BOB alias PSG introduced me to Decoder Pro a open source program for interfacing to DCC systems. I purchased a loco buffer II from Tonys Trains as the interface between my DCC system and the computer. It makes programming decoders, address's, consists and speed matching much easier. Iam not saying it will solve this problem but it sure helps to eliminates mistakes. I once had two trains on the layout and accidntally changed the addree on both as the same. With ability to store loco info, it was a blast to reprogram each one. You might want to give it a try. By the way Paul may have a point check out the programming mode.
NOTE: The Digitrax suggestion below did not help so disregard it. I received the following suggestion from Digitrax Techsupport for installing 163K0b decoders in Kato F3's and F7's (decoder friendly versions). "The way this loco is made puts the motor contacts touching the left and right track pickups for DC operation. It is absolutely critical that the Kapton tape be used to ensure neither motor contact touches either track pickup rail in DCC or the decoder will be damaged. The Kapton tape must be tucked down between each motor contact and the track pickup rail to prevent the two from touching. I would remove each rail after marking it, filing a small amount of it away so the motor contact cannot touch it then reinstalling it with the Kapton tape over it near the motor contact." I dont know why this is not in the instructions since this decoder is specifically designed for the F3. But it is not. Also I don't know why they would be different from E8's and PA's except that on the F3 and F7 the ends of the brass pickup rails lock under the end of the plastic slot. Possibly this places more lateral pressure on the motor clips by the pickup rails. It makes Kapton tape's insulating qualities suspect if you have to tuck more of it between the motor contact and pickup rail. I haven't tried this yet but will in due time. I did two installations this morning, both following the printed instructions to the letter. The only difference in these and the one I tried the other day is these, I was able to read and program any CV on the programming track and on the main the light worked and could be controlled. Just no engine motion. Ben
