BLI/ Blueline locomotive & Decoder pro ???

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I tried to speed match a Blueline SD40-2 using accutrack speedometer and decoder pro.

Decoder pro was unable to read the loco .

I selected bway ltd Blueline diesel from the decoder choices, but unfortunately can’t make any changes to cv’s for motor control?

I mean the speed table doesn’t even come up?

Is this common with Blueline? Haven’t had any problems with any other decoders…

2

If I remember correctly most/all BlueLine locos did not come with a DCC decoder, even though they have sound. You were supposed to supply your own decoder. BLI gave a list of decoders that fit. See page 9 of the BlueLine Diesel manual: http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/manuals/Final%20BlueLine%20Diesel%20Manual%207.17.08.pdf

So it is possible that whomever had the loco before you could have installed a Digitrax, NCE, or some other brand decoder.

EDIT: I just downloaded the latest production version of JMRI and looked up the CV settings and it does not even list any default values for anything to do with motor control, like CVs 2,5, and 6. I think the BlueLine entries in JMRI are only for lights and sound. So this would seem to confirm that there is some other non-BLI motor decoder installed.

3

Maxman is correct.

I have a Blueline loco with a Digitrax DN143IP installed for motor control (and lights? I don’t recall…), and that’s how it works. In JMRI, it requires two roster entries - One for the Blueline sound, and another for the motor decoder you’ve installed.

In my case, I used the decoder lock on the DN143IP. With it unlocked, I set up the motor decoder how I wanted it, knowing that may change some of the sound CV’s.

Then I locked the motor decoder, which prevents any subsequent CV changes from affecting it, and programed the sound decoder.

At least that’s how I think I did it - I haven’t touched any of it’s programming since I set it up years ago. I do know I have JMRI roster entries for both decoders - I just checked. Wow, last updated almost 10 years ago (9/3/2007)!

4

Yes, the BLI Blueline series came with sound but you had to add a motor decoder to them in order to convert them to DCC. That’s why you weren’t able to change any CVs.

If you do install a decoder into your locomotive make sure it’s on BLI’s “compatible” decoder list. If it’s not you’re more likely to experience difficulty synching the sound decoder with the motor decoder.

Tom

5

I’m sort of assuming that there is a motor decoder of some sort installed because the OP isn’t saying that the unit is not running, he’s saying that he can’t speed match it. If that is truly the case, he needs to somehow figure out which motor decoder he has.

6

The Blueline series came with a factory equipped board for sound and lights. A second decoder needed to be added by the user to provide motor control.

Rich

7

Thanks to all,

I get that a second decoder needed for motor control, why isn’t DP reading the values of the 2nd decoder?

Will the Blueline locomotive work on dcc WITHOUT a 2nd decoder?

8

My guess is that it is trying to read both decoders and is getting confused.

9

It may be getting confused, as Maxman has suggested, or your DCC system isn’t up to the task.

What DCC system are you using, and can it read other sound decoder-equipped locos?

As for running it on DCC without a motor decoder, that’ll work only if your DCC system is capable of running DC locos.

Note: Edited for accuracy.

10

Check to see if the decoders are locked. I don’t think that CVs can be read if the decoders are locked. To unlock, CV15 should have the same value as CV16.

Rich

11

You first need to determine if 1) your locomotive has a motor-only decoder and 2) if so, which make and model is it? As mentioned, if it isn’t one of the ones on the BLI “compatibility” list then you might be in for a frustrating experience because the two decoders - BLI sound AND Brand-X motor-only - need to be programmed simultaneously in order for them work together properly.

Tom

12

Ok, so i opened up the loco, sure enough a Digitrax DZ143 IS in there too…

Made a separate roster entry, working fine!

Thanks to all…

13

Good for you. Problem solved!

One of the most difficult things to do in this hobby, in my opinion, is to have to remove the shell on the loco for investigative purposes. The shell is often a problem to remove, and detail parts can break off. But, sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Rich