I’ve spent the last several evenings installing decoders in locomotives with dissappointing results. All I really want to do is to get the engines to move forward and backward and turn the lights on and off. Well I can get them to move and change direction, but getting the lights to work correctly has been a frustrating experience.My latest misadventure is installing a Train Control Systems model A4X decoder into an Atlas GP7. I wired it up and sure enough it will go back and forth, but the lights are reversed. If it goes forward the rear light comes on and vice versa. The instructions even mention this as a possibility. It says to look at the value in CV29 and add a number or subtract a number and this should correct the problem. Quite honestly I don’t know how to find out what the value is much less changing it. I’m using the NEC Power Cab system and I’m sure that in the manual it explains just how to do this. I just don’t know where to look. I’m sure this is very easy, but its got me baffled. If anyone could help me with this I would be very grateful.
I have no experience with the decoder you mention, but this is a common problem when installing decoders.
You should be able to solve the problem by programming CV29 as suggested, I ususally use Digitrax decoders and they provide a look up chart for values and would be lost without it.
The other way of doing it I supposes is swaping the motor leads over so the motor and lights are correctly orientated.
Part of the problem is I have no idea how to program a CV. I’m looking through the manual now and I’m sure I"m looking right at how to do it, I just don’t know what to look for.
I think on the NCE you hit the program button on the bottom of the cab until you select the way you want to program ( on the main or programing track). The next choice i think is how to program one of which is CV. Then you type the CV number (29) and hit enter. It should show you the current value. Then type the value you would like it to be. I am trying to do this from memory (I have NCE Power Pro at home) but I am at work now. Good luck
I’m not really familiar with the NCE Power Cab, I’m a Digitrax man - I’m sure others here will be though it has a good reputation.
I’ve just downloaded the manual, the programming procedure starts on p36, and I think the bit your after is on p50.
All I can say after reading this manual - it nearly as badly written as the Digitrax one - what is it with DCC manufacturers that their manuals are so badly written.
Do you really have an NEC (Nippon Electric Company) Power Cab or is it a NCE (North Coast Engineering) Pro Cab – there’s a world of difference here because I have never heard of NEC making anything for DCC.
Now, for the programming of CV 29 with an NCE ProCab, read pages 42 and 43 of the manual for main line programming, or pages 52 and 53 for programming on a programming track.
And don’t forget, there’s a HEADLIGHT button on the ProCab that must be pressed to turn the light on and off. If the headlight comes on when the backup light should be, then your motor wires are reversed and will need to be switched around because changing CV29 to reverse the motor direction will also reverse the headlight function.
Yes, if you are using an 8-pin plug to install the decoder, the plug is reversed. Turn the plug around and things should work much better.
The plug is designed so if you stick it in backwards everything still works (no damage done), but the headlight functions will be backwards – telling you right away the plug is reversed.
To explain it in more technical terms, your black and red wires feeding power from the track are reversed. You can flip a bit in CV29 to get the decoder to “think reversed” but I find other functions that expect forward and reverse are also affected so the best solution is to just plug the decoder plug in the other direction. [swg]
I reversed the wires and now the light goes on in the direction that the engine is going. I believe the problem is solved. I knew it was something simple. Man, I STINK at this!!! I sincere thanks to all who offered help and suggestions.
It does sound like you need to reverse the motor leads to sync up the lights with the loco direction. Then if the loco runs opposite of the direction indication (lower right of PwCb display), then you’ll have to change the value of CV29, (0=direction is normal, 1=direction of operation is reversed). It’s a digital switch, Zero is one position and One is the other position.
Relax, nobody is a born expert with DCC, but I would recommend 1 thing. Your system came with a manual, READ IT! Put it in the “throne” room, read it at lunch, whenever you can. Your NCE system has a lot of features that are not all self expainatory. Find these little pearls, collect them, and you then will not only be able to fix your own problems, but you can wow and amaze your friends!
Just agreeing with Karl and others … read that manual.
There are so many cool things in DCC to fool around with … things you can tweak … etc.
And, if after you read a paragraph in the manual, you say to yourself “What the heck did that mean?” …join the club! Even the smartest people sometimes have to re-read, and then re-read again, things to understand them. That’s how they got to be so smart! Smart people also know that we all have to ask for help sometimes. So, ask away.
