Had the day off today. Decided to test some of my DCC locos. All seemed fine when run on DC. Lights work F and R. I was happy.
Most of the Locos also ran fine on DCC but almost evreyone had a lighting issue. Mostly the rear lights didn’t function as they should. I have read the Digitrax Command control Starter set Manual (Zephyr) and mobile command decoder manual over and over again. I’ve changed CV 's here and there but had to reset to factory settings because I couldn’t get the lights working correctly. I’m still baffled. Digitrax website was of little help.
Is this a common issue with beginners or is it just me?
All my decoders except 1 are Digitrax FX3’s. I have P2K GP,7,9,45, Atlas Dash 8-40B, C424’s. guess I’ll just keep trying. Now NOT ALL have this problem, but some do.
Now for the “easy?” question. I have 1 Bachmann GP-38 DCC equipped (it was a gift). It runs fine in the “03” address. How do I change the address to “5003”. It is a 28 speed step decoder. Nowhere in the Digitrax manual that I can find does it say "How to change the address " of a non Digitrax decoder. There is a section 23 on Decoder Speed Step Settings , Status editing , but that’s no help. It didn’t tell me how to change the address.
I have no problem installing hardware. But programming…Sheesh!
If you installed the decoders, you may have blown the light bulbs if you didn’t put a resistor on the lighting wire harness…other than that, I can’t help with the changing of the address.
As far as I know, you should change all decoders the same way…according to the Digitrax instructions since that machine is doing the changing. First, place the locos, one at a time, on a separate programming track, and programme their new address in paged mode. Then, what I do is to repower the track after auto-shutdown (if the Zephyr does the same thing as my SEB DB 150), go into Ops mode, and programme CV29 with a value of 38. That enables dual current operation and makes the lights run the correct way…if the lights are functioning at all.
"Nowhere in the Digitrax manual that I can find does it say “How to change the address " of a non Digitrax decoder.”
I doesn’t matter that it’s not a Digitrax decoder. That’s why we have NMRA standards for DCC. Try page 18 of your manual, “Changing the Decoder Address.” I don’t know if the Bachmann decoder will support a four number address.
As to your lighting problem, without a lot more specific information I can’t help you. Most of my problems however have been a programming issues. You just have to keep plugging away.
Which specific locomotives had the lighting problems? Proto 2000 has had some wiring issues with certain locomotives in the past.
For example, the 8-pin NMRA socket in their GP38-2 is wired incorrectly. (The number board lights are wired to track power tab.) The locomotive runs fine on DCC. However, when you add certain decoders to the socket - specifically a DH163L0 - the track power overloads the lights (1.5V) then the decoder. A slight rewire of the socket corrects the problem.
If it’s primarily the Proto 2000s, that may be the problem…
Yea, that is a weird one. I know that if you have a decoder installed in backwards, the lights won’t work. However, that wouldn’t explain why it would work on DC and not DCC. [%-)]
I thought about that too. But the features clearly state (I’m reading this directly from the manual…“Current regulator-let’s you use loco’s original lamps with no modfications”
However I am currently looking at the original light bulbs…pretty difficult to see if they are blown or not. My eyes ain’t what they used to be , but they look OK to me.
I thought about that too. But the features clearly state (I’m reading this directly from the manual…“Current regulator-let’s you use loco’s original lamps with no modfications”
However I am currently looking at the original light bulbs…pretty difficult to see if they are blown or not. My eyes ain’t what they used to be , but they look OK to me.
I’ve got a new Digitrax decoder (DA150-something, I think) that was a drop in replacement for an NCE decoder that refused to program on an Atlas GP40 - I assume the NCE replaced the circuit board since it has the notches in the board to clip over the motor and all.
Anyway, it works and takes programming… but like you, the lights, which worked with the prior decoder and appear to be stock, aren’t working. Either of them. I dunno… but it doesn’t give me a warm fuzzy about Digitrax decoders. The only reason I picked this one is because it has a plug for a DSX sound decoder should I ever want to add sound the the unit as well.
The Digitrax LO decoders have built in current limiting for P2K locomotives. They are drop in decoders. Other models of Digitrax decoders to not have the current limiter and will blow a normal P2K bulb.
Ballantrae Road, it all sounds suspiciously like your whatchamacallit is improperly connected to your thingamajig; either that or your howzit has developed a hitch in its getalong.
I’ll ask one stupid question and then attempt to help. I assume that when you say the lights don’t work you do have F0 on, correct ? If so, you might want to pull down a copy of the Digitrax decoder manual. The lighting effects are controlled by a number of CVs but the most important ones are CV49 and CV50. Try setting both to to 0 and see if things start working normally. If not, provide more details including the values
I’ll guess confused because this is a confusing post. I went with him talking about most being P2K locmotives and then mentioning current limiting. This would be LO series decoders.
I hate the Digitrax FX3 decoders. They were some of the first ones I purchased and had nothing but problems with them. Since I don’t use the FX functions anyway, I replaced them with NCE D13SR, and Lenz LE104s. I’ve been much happier since.
There is a generic lighting “problem” when a 14 step decoder gets on a 28 step command signal. The even and odd speeds will be the same speed (making 28 into 14 steps), but the lights will be off for the odd speed step like 11, then on for the even speed step - 12 (or is it vice-versa?). That doesn’t sound like your problem, but I thought I would mention it anyway.
Did you try setting it on the programming track, hit “PROG” button until it says “PAgE”, hit “LOCO” button until it says “Ad4”, type “5003”, hit “CV_WR” it will flash and think a bit but finally just say “5003”, hit “EXIT”, move the locomotive to the real track dial up 5003 and go.
