I’ve been operating my layout on DCC for a few years now and have never had any significant problems with the Digitrax DCC. I did convert the layout over from block DC and added enough feeders so that all of the track passed the “penny” short test. I’ve been running many different locomotives without problems over the entire layout for a few years.
This week I received a new DCC locomotive (with sound) and it runs nicely. However, on a couple of portions of the layout, it often does not respond to throttle or function commands right away. Sometimes it runs out of control until leaves that area of the layout. The problem does seem to be in areas that may be farther than typical from a feeder. Everywhere else it responds fine.
I’m going to try running the locomotive on a friends layout over the weekend, so that will be another test.
So, have you guys experienced this kind of problem before?
This sort of thing occasionally happens with “dual-mode” decoders that can operate on either DC or DCC. There is a CV to put the decoder in DCC-only mode. This often fixes the problem.
make sure the track in that area is very clean ,make it shine if your track is dirty it can intterupt the dcc signal, secondly maybe add another set of feeders to that part of the track ,
Also, sound locos can be more sensitive to the lack of adequate power. So, double/triple clean the track/wheels. We add keep alive caps to ours many times.
I ran into a guy today that says he had the same problem with a Loksound decoder equipped loco and was never able to stop it. His was a small layout with more feeders and soldered joints.
I also recleaned the track and loco wheels but it didn’t improve …
OK, here is the latest. Still having problems with intermittant running out of control on some portions of my layout. However, I have also noticed it is having more trouble going over some of my “dead frog” turnouts than would be expected. As I was cleaning wheels (again) and using contact cleaner on the truck/wheel contacts I noticed that the front truck would sometimes lose conductivity. The back truck would always work and the sound would be normal. However, the front truck conductivity would go in and out and when it was working, the sound from the speaker would produce a lot of static.
Could my problem be a bad front truck that is adding a lot of electrical “noise” to the signal and disrupting some of the signals to the decoder? If this is what is going on, I think I need to send the Heisler back to the manufacturer (Rivarossi/Hornby).
I don’t believe it is a bad truck, I believe, it is a poor, solder,joint to the pick-up,wipers,or to the decoder,causing intermittent power to the decoder…
If it’s under warranty and you’re satisfied everything is clean–I would call first then send back. You should not be having pick up issues with a truck, IMHO.
After an e-mail to Hornby customer serevice, new Heisler #3 goes back home to Rivarossi / Hornby (in Washington state) for a check-out and repair or replace.
When I get it back, I’ll remember to post if all problems are solved …
OK, just got a new replacement loco back from Hornby. Seems to be fine with front truck pick-up, which was a problem with the old one.
Also, it seems to stay under control and take commands ALMOST everywhere on my layout. It only loses command response in parts of the middle of my helix, but is good everywhere else. This is a great improvement compared to the loco I returned.
I’m going to go redo the “quarter” shorting test in the helix just to be sure everything is OK. As mentioned in the original post, none of my other locos are having any problems.
It is the same locomotive reviewed in the November issue of Model Railroader with a Dual-mode ESU LokSound DCC decoder.
I have tried the locomotive on a layout with a MRC DCC system with no problems at all! I tried it on my club’s layout with Digitrax and I get the same problem I get on my Digitrax DCC layout. So it is a LokSound Digitrax compatability problem? Anyone heard of this?
You said that they fixed the pick-up problem,which I recall,that was my suggestion,in the beginning,now I will give another suggestion,add feeders to wherever you are have problem’s,sounds like in some spots on your layout,you are relying on rail joiners for power flow,like in the Helix…Some, if not all DCC systems,with sound,don’t play well with power dead spots… But what do I know?
I missed this thread when it was first posted back in April, so it is interesting to read through it all now.
Did the manufacturer repair the loco or send you a new one? If it is a replacement, and not a repair, you have to wonder what was wrong with it that it couldn’t be repaired. if it was repaired, what was the nature of the repair?
Is this your only sound loco, or are there other sound locos running on your layout?
Interesting that it runs flawlessly on another layout. I doubt that it is a compatibility issue with Loksound and Digitrax even though it ran flawlessly on the MRC layout. Probably coincidence. What type of Digitrax DCC system are you running on your layout?
Hard to tell whether it is a loco issue or a track issue.
Let’s wait to hear your response to the other questions posed in this reply.
No matter what the quarter test tells you, if the problem only happens in one location and it runs fine everywhere else, the problem is in the track.
Reconsider the gauge of your bus. check all of your feeders, both length and size. Make sure the track is clean and all of your wire connections are good. If they are soldered, consider resoldering them. If they are suitcase connectors, consider soldering them. If they are crimp connectors, consider replacing them.
SOMETHING is compromising the signal, but not necessarily the voltage to your track.
Run the offending locomotive very slowly through the problem area and note exactly where the problem begins and ends. Examine that area very carefully. Consider adding a feeder in that area. Consider soldering the rail joints in that area.
My voice won’t add much to this, but I do agree that the rails are the problem if the problem happens at the same spot repeatedly. The engine’s performance is noticeably better upon its return, and they admit to having detected a fault. Fine. Now it seems to work well on other layouts. Well…great. It’s only the OP’s, and he says he now has it down to one location…? Well…I’m pretty darned sure he needs to get in there and do some metering, including during passage of the loco. Or, just pick up the soldering stuff and get at it.
Since it happens on two different layouts, it might not be a pickup issue. But I have several Loksound equipped locos, though not that specific one, that run just fine on my home Digitrax layout and on the club’s Digitrax layout. If there is some sort of comaptibility issue, it would be because of some custom programming done by Rivarossi/Hornby that isn’t done by PCM or Bowser. Exactly what that could be, is the question.
If this is a factory version 4 decoder I am wondering if the enabling of railcom in CV29 and CV28 is affecting the performance? I have had issues with older decoders on Railcom enabled systems. Does your Digitrax system have bidirectional communications? Just might be something to consider.