My medications have cost me memory, and the latest instance is one I’m especially embarrassed about. I have a nice NCE system and five BLI locos, the throttle addresses for which are the engine numbers–except for the newest one, which is as yet undecorated. I gave it a number but had to return to the hospital and have since forgotten what number I assigned it. Can someone tell me how I assign a new number–in effect, start over–so I can get that loco running again? The happiness of great-nieces and -nephews depends on it, as well as my peace of mind. Please don’t be too hard on me; I know I should be able to find this out somewhere in the ProCab manual, but I’m still pretty fuzzy and would appreciate this shorter way to handle it. Thanks.
Been there, done that!
Maybe a complete system reset helps, but please make sure that you do this either on a separate programming track or you have taken all other locos off the track, before you do that.
During my digital days, each loco had a small sticker with the loco´s address stuck to the bottom of it …
No need to know the old loco number, simply key in a new number. This will overwrite the previous one.
You can read back the loco address on the programming track. I don’t have an NCE so I can’t give you the key sequence, but that’s what I’d do.
Been there with the memory.
Although my DCC use is limited to four locomotives I write the address down on a standard index card and then tape it to fascia above my Tech 6.
No doubt it easier to use the cab numbers but,I prefer my own address as a example
Summerset Ry SW1500 is address 66-the year SSRY bought the 615 new as a replacement for Baldwin S12 number 12.
I use a sharpie on the decoder, that way if I remove it from the locomotive it still has the number on it.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Hi there. Here are my two cents worth on this:
- Try to locate your NCE instructions and see what you need to do to program your locos.
- Also find your instructions for the loco you want to re-program. I assume here that you bought the loco new with DCC pre-installed. If not, you can probably locate it on the net (send us a message if you can’t, with full details of the loco). Your instructions should contain the CV information.
- With these in hand, you need to re-program your loco on a programming track (or on the main… see your instructions). You can do a reset as suggested. I would try to re-program the address, which is not a full reset.
- If you do a full reset, the decoder will have the address 03. That’s OK if you don’t plan on having other locos, but you should give it another number.
In all cases, you will need to program your loco to give it a unique number, and the bottom line is that you will need to find your instructions on how to do that. If you can’t find them, indicate to us the full name of your system and loco (BLI, wheel arrangement and date of manufacturing/purchase) and someone I’m sure will be able to help you.
Good luck, I think this will be an easy fix.
Simon
PS: I use the two first digits of my locos number for their addresses (ex: loco 6201 will have address 62). It makes programming a lot more easier. But this assumes that your locos all have different numbers (the two first ones).
I don’t know if this is strictly true in all instances, but if I were running the BLI refurbishing and repair facility, or overseeing it, I would insist upon a thorough once-over of the loco to ensure it is sent back to its owner in excellent order. In most cases, that would include a factory reset so that the techs don’t have to guess at an address.
Is it possible your new address is “03”…already? If you key that into your throttle and the loco responds, you know where home plate is in the dark.
Or, simply do a reset using QSI’s instructions available in their downloadable manuals. Or, as jalajoie has suggested, assign it a new one and record it on the side of the unit’s carton.
Put the loco on your programming track, On your pro cab press the prog/esc button 4 times . The screen will say use programming track. press enter. Next screen is prog trk and next line is 1=std 2=cv 3=reg press 1. First line will be manufacturer number press enter, then decoder version–press enter then active adr:long setup address press 1 for yes. Next screen will be the short address of decoder which if unchanged should be 003 if that is what you want then press enter. Next is activate this address 1=yes. If you want the engine to have a short address from 1 to 127 and have put the short address you wanted in the previous screen then press 1 for yes. If you want to use a long address from 128 to 9999 then press enter. The next screen will show what long address is currently in the decoder if all zero’s then no long address had been entered before. Enter the long address you want now. Next will say activate this address if it’s what you want press 1 for yes Then press prog/esc three times to exit programming . Then enter engine number and that should be it.
------------ Ken
What where we talking about? [%-)]
Oh, train numbers. My self I keep a spread sheet on the computer of my engines and road numbers and address for the engine.
Far as my memory, well by wife says I am wrong all the time so I guess it is pretty bad.
Getting old is not for the faint of heart.
Cuda Ken
Thank you, one and all, for the excellent fixes and the ideas for avoiding or minimizing future screwups like this. It all makes sense and I’m looking forward to implementing your suggestions. Until next problem…
Michael