I took my DT400 to the club and reprogrammed all my locos to 4 digit addresses. In the process I screwed up my P2K switcher. It used to be really slow and my daughter called it Speedy. Now, I turn the knob to 1 and it atkes off like a jackrabbit in hunting season. I know I must have changed a CV.
I want Speedy back.
Edit: I just got an MDC Climax. Anyone decoderize one?
Log onto the Digitrax Web site and download their Mobile Decoder Manual. It lists every CV used by most decoders, regardless of brand.
You probably need to reset this particular decoder to its factory default settings and then start over.
Depending on the decoder, it may not accept a 4-digit address and strange things can happen when you try to do so on decoders that can accept only 2-digits.
Early MRC decoders were examples of these.
Chip,
I have a Stewart Baldwin VO-660 switcher with a Digitrax DN143IP decoder. Since I have the Bachmann EZ Command system, I have no way of changing the CVs. The guy I bought the locomotive/decoder from preset CV54 to “ON” so that the switcher could be run in “switching speed”. All I have to do is press F6 on my Bachmann and the speed is cut by 50%. Without setting F6, my VO-660 could probably give Carl Lewis a good run for his money. My Digitrax decoder manual says,
“To turn on the switching speed feature, program CV54 to a value of 001/x01.” (The factory setting is 000/x00)
If my recollection is correct, you ended up installing a Digitrax decoder in your S1, didn’t you? Hope that does it for you…
Tom
Yep–It’s a Digitrax.
Well, according to the Digitrax Mobile Decoder Manual CV54 is the F4 Function CV. A value of zero turns off the FX effect, and a value of one turns on random flicker, so I don’t understand how this could be used to change the locomotive’s speed unless some CVs have been remapped.
You programmed CV02, start voltage, to some large number. Easiest thing to do if it’s a Digitrax decoder is program CV08 with 8 and reset the whole thing, then redo the address.
The MDC Climax is just a kitbash of the boxcab diesel. Or at least it was - I have an old 70’s issue of Model Railroading which has an article on creating one - along with a box motor and one other oddball. The current draw is fairly high and the mechanism isn’t the greatest, but there shoudl be plenty of room - the flywheel (if they bothered to update the Climax kit like they did the Boxcab) is optional and pretty near useless anyway, so leave it out and you’ll have tons of decoder space.
–Randy
cacole,
Is the Digitrax MDM a general statement for ALL Digitrax decoders across the board? I just read what was out of my DN143IP manual. Chip, did you use a DH123 or 163 for your S1? Would there be any difference in (re)programming the switcher speed using a different decoder - even from the same manufacturer. I’ll admit complete ignorance…
Tom
P.S. I’ll bet Randy has nailed the problem. I was just reading in the manual last night on how to achieve better low-end speed and action by adjusting the start voltages.
Like maybe 9100 (the raod number)
Thanks, I’ll look at it. I don’t even know if it runs at this point.
Hey Chip,
How did that Soundtraxx board work out for you?
~D
Wonderful. I think my son would like it too if I let him play with it.
The only thing is that to fit a certain amout of pressure is exerted on the board by the tender housing. It kept popping the decoder board out of the socket. I ended up taping it in place.