Hey Everyone
I got three problems:
I have three proto 2000 locos, I used a Digitrax Dh163Lo and NCE P2kSr, they have a light problem. All the lights are on!!
How do i fix this problem??
Thanks
Caso,
Which specific Proto 2000 Geeps are you referring to? This is always handy to know when initially posting a question looking for help. [:)] You are also in HO, yes?
Tom
Locos are as follows Ho scale:
Gp38-2 NCE P2ksr light issue
GP38-2 Digitrax dh163lo light issue
GP 9 Digitrax DH163Lo
All of these locos are proto and all the lights are on in both directions…
There is a lighting issue with P2K GP38 locos http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/loconews/life-p2k-wiring2.htm.
http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/2006/091806.htm
Jack W.
Caso,
I don’t think I ever come across someone who has more problems with their DCC system than you do. A bit advice:
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sit down and thoroughly read the owners manual for your system and for the decoder before installation.
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Check some of the various DCC sources on the internet not only for the best decoder for a given loco but to see if there are any known issues for the loco.
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Download DecoderPro and get what ever hardware is needed to connect your system to a computer to help you porgram your decoders.
jktrains
Are these “drop in” decoders, or did you have to wire anything to them? Are the decoders new, or did you by any chance get them from someone who had already programmed them, but who maybe took them up to upgrade to sound and sold/gave them to you?
Are the lights LEDs or incandescents? Are they full brightness, or dim when on? Are they on no matter which way the locomotive is going?
Did you manually change any CVs?
The manuals that come with the decoders are pretty limited, because they can’t really anticipate what engines you’ll be putting them in. However, the locomotive’s manual might help a bit. There may be a section on installing DCC, and, if there is, it should tell you if you need to add or remove jumpers on some of the circuit boards.
One possibility is that the decoder is plugged in backwards. If you’ve got a rectangular 8-pin socket on the loco that the decoder goes in, then this is a distinct possibility. They designed these so that the track power is on one set of opposite corners, the motor wires are on the other set, and the lights are on the sides. If you put the decoder in backwards, you won’t burn anything out, but the engine will probably run backwards and the lights may not work properly.
Caso,
Sounds to me that you have the white (forward) and yellow (reverse) light wires connnected together somehow - either mechanically or on the same pad. The blue wire is the common wire that needs to go to them both.
The light issues with the Proto 2000 GP38-2 have to do with the 8-pin socket being wired incorrectly. It’s fine if you are running it in DC. But as soon as you plug in a decoder and run it on the main, the number board bulbs short or overload the something and your decoder can go up in smoke.
It’s best to rewire the socket correctly and replace the 1.5V number board bulbs with 12V 40mA bulbs. With the DH163L0 decoder, your headlights will be fine but you still need to swap out the number board bulbs.
Tom
Caso,
Found another issue with the DH163L0 decoders when used in conjunction with the Proto 2000 GP9s on Tony’s Train Exchange web site:
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/loconews/life-p2k-ledlites.htm
Tom
I’ve installed the DH163L0 decoder in every single one of my Proto 2000 loco’s (over 50 at last count) and have never had any problems. The Digitrax DH163L0 decoders are truly a plug and play decoder, no soldering required. I’ve sort have become an expert on this decoder and Proto 2000 loco’s in general. The light issue on the GP38’s is in the number board lights. If you install the decoder without removing or rewireing those lights the loco will just simply not run. Your DCC system will sense a short circuit. No Proto 2000 loco’s come with LED lights installed from the factory. If you come across one that does have LED’s installed then it is not new and the lights were installed by a previous owner.
Caso, did you get your problems resolved???