Hello all, and merry Christmas! I was recently setting up an NCE powercab and I installed a decoder in my locomotive (KATO N ES44AC CP). After setting it all up the locomotive would not move! No matter what I tried, I reset the decoder (CV8), and looking online did not help. I honestly have no clue what is wrong. The locmotive receves commands to turn on lights and stuff, but no movement!! The decoder is a Digitrax DN163K1C.
Since the lights work, the decoder is obviously making contact with the frame. The most likely problem is simply the decoder not making contact with the motor tabs. With those decoders when you seat the decoder in the frame you have to make sure the motor tabs are inside the tabs extending down from the decoder. Another possibility is either the command station thinks the decoder is in a consist (and therefore not sending motion commands to the decoder address) or the decoder has CV19, the consists address, programmed (causing the decoder to ignore motion commands to the decoder’s address).
Did you cycle track power after programming? I would assume so, but I have found that so, so, so many issues are resolved that way.
That would be my guess as well.
Rich
That doesn’t sound like the OP has advanced to the point of having consists.
I vote for the motor tab contact. That presumes the loco ran before he/she/they/them installed the decoder
I went back and looked at the instruction sheet for installing that decoder. It’s a bit weird. I am going to change my guess to the motor clips as the problem. There may be insufficient contact between the motor clips and the motor contacts.
Here is the pertinent installation instruction:
Install the DN163K1C decoder by tilting it slightly as you insert the front corners into the forward frame clips. Press the decoder motor clips down over the motor contacts and slide the decoder board forward so the board’s corners are under the frame clips.
Rich
I have a KATO ACS-64 I converted to DCC. I tested it on my layout it worked the first time, but it didn’t work the second time. Three of the members looked at it and didn’t know why it was only making sounds but not moving.
Did you ever solve the issue?
No I haven’t.
Same decoder as the OP?
When you installed the decoder, did you cut clearance into the shell under the roof?
No I haven’t. The process made me uncomfortable when I saw a video on how to install a DCC decoder.
I would check to see if the locomotive runs properly with the shell off.
If it does not, unplug and replug the decoder to ensure proper connection. I highly advise that you own a corresponding decoder tester.
There is another thread (HO to N conversion) where a post indicates careful positioning of the shell is critical in a case like this.