I’m hoping someone here can help me with a small problem. Let me start by saying that I’m really really new to DCC. I just purchased the new MRC Prodigy Advance system and it seems to work fine. I have 2 Atlas Master GP38’s and a BLI E7 and they all work wonderfully on the new DCC system.
Here is my problem…
I just converted 2 new P2K GP38’s from DC to DCC by installing the Digitrax DH163LO decorders. I programed then with a 4 digit address and left all the other values at 000 just as I had done with the 3 previous engines. Both of the P2K engines won’t work on the layout now. The only thing that does work is the headlights. When I reverse the direction, the lights reverse correctly, but the engine doesn’t move.
I just used that same model decoder on a P2K GP-9 which I received for Christmas. All works just fine, so the problem must be peculiar to the GP38-2 as indidcated on Tony’s web sight. Good luck in resolving your problem.
Yes, it is specific to the GP-38. Althought here are other issues with other P2K locos, either early GP-9’s or GP-7’s have a dead short from pin 3 to 7, which is OK so long as your decoder doesn’t run a function line to the (usually) unconnected Pin 3. Which is STILL ok as long as you never activate said function, the dead short will instantly blow it out. Although I have 3 GP-7’s, two from the second run and one from the first, and none had this problem.
The S-1 switchers should have the motor PROPERLY isolated, as it ships the one motor brush is grounded to the frame and can cause a problem should the loco ever derail and one of the wheels come in contact with the frame, poof, there goes all your magic smoke.
There’s probably others. Tony’s and other web sites mention them all. You’d think by now they’d be able to get this right…
You aren’t kidding… this is why I make it a point to check with my meter, even if there IS a socket provided. These sort of problems are what make people think DCC is so complicated, and scares aware first-timers. You CAN get it right, just look at the recent Stewart units. Thet use LEDs for lighting, but you can still just plug a decoder right in, the resistor is already provided and stays in the circuit for DCC operation.