BLI - EMD SW7 Switcher problem

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hi guys

I have a problem with a BLI Paragon + QSI sound EMD SW7 HO switcher running with NEC Pro.

I bought the switcher new about 18 months ago but haven’t run it because I’ve been building my layout. So, now I have got to the stage where I can run all my locos I have acquired over the last 2 years. I ran all my other BLI and PCM locos (steamers and diesels all with sound) and they are fine but this one SW7 switcher is not good.

OK, so I know the track is fine and the connections are OK because everything else runs and I have meticulously cleaned all the track but I have severe problems with this SW7.

It starts as #3. I address it as 9390, it seems to accept it (I have the audio CV62(?) enabled) and it doen’t recognise it 9390 only #3. OK, so I stick to #3. The bell is OK, the horn is OK but the headlight only comes on at the front regardless if it’s in FWD or REV. I step it to 128, it starts to pull away but stops dead instantly after less that half an inch, no sound, nothing. I then have to select #3 again. After about 10 attempts I finally got it to pull away and it is slow (I know it’s a swicther but in comparison to my other SW7, it’s very slow.)

I tried the horn and in short mode it is fine but now and again when I press the horn in long mode, it stayed on and on and on until I selected the bell. I stopped the switcher and it wouldn’t move again.

I then put the SW7 on a standalone track 36" long and it’s just the same.

Any thoughts? (I’m awaiting a response from BLI by the way.)

Cheers

Barry [8D]

2

It’s not accepting the change of CV29 from 2 digit to 4 digit addressing. After it accepts the 9390 and speaks the correct value, program CV29 to 34 (or 38 if you need it to operate on a DC layout as well). That should get you to where it is using 9390 as the address instead of 3.

–Randy

3

NCE systems do not like the verbal feedback from QSI when setting CV’s. Set CV62 to 0 to turn off the verbal feedback, then retry programming the long address.

Don Z.

4

Hi Don Z

Thanks for that. Yes, changed CV 62 to off and it acceptd the new address.

It ran for 400’ but is still occasionally playing up with stopping and the horn staying on. I’ll have to check over contacts and wiring,

Cheers

Barry [8D]

5

Barry,

Glad to hear my suggestion worked for you. Am I understanding you have 400 feet of run? Your terminology ‘playing up with stopping’…does that mean the loco will sometimes stop for no apparent reason? Please tell us more about your wiring…what size wire is used for the main bus? What size wire for the the feeders? How much space between the feeders?

Don Z.