Need help on getting started in DCC-land. Have a new DCC-ready loco that runs fine in DC mode, but once ‘programmed’ in DCC on the Zepher system, all I can get to work is the light. Where have I gone wrong?!
When you say “programmed” what exactly did you do?
A DCC ready locomotive, does not mean that it has a DCC decoder installed. Did you install a decoder yourself, or is one installed in the loco?
What model and type of decoder is in the loco?
Most new decoders are set to an address of 03 by default. Unless you used the programming track to change the address of the loco, this is what it would likely be set to.
Try selecting the 03 address with the Zephyr and see if you have control.
This loco came with a decoder installed and in DCC mode. Has a switch under an access panel to switch easily between DC and DCC mode.
I attempting to program it on my programming track as directed in the system manual, and it appeared that it was pre-programmed with the last two digits of its cab number.
Its seems strange, as I can work my other DCC loco fine, but with this one, all I control is the light.
What brand decoder is this? By the switch to toggle between DC and DCC reference I’m thinking Atlas? If so, it may be set up for 14 speed steps, this would show up as being able to control the lights but not properly run the loco. If you can truly control the lights (select the loco address, pressing F0 turns the lights on and off), try doing a status edit to 14 speeds steps. With the loco selected, press the STEPS button until the display says S 14 and hit Exit. Then try it.
–Randy
Thanks for the advice, will try this and report back.
Tried the speed steps adjustment to 14 and still just have lights. Any other tricks to try before I return the loco to the hobby shop?
Some QSI equipped locos (Lionel, BLI, LL P2K) have a switch to reset the decoder to default values, but does not switch between DC and DCC. My Lionel Challengers are definately equipped this way, but I’m not sure about the others. Is it possible that what you have is QSI equipped, and that it has this type of switch? I don’t know the results of changing the switch then trying to run the loco, but since it is a reset and not a selector, I thought this might be a possibility.
you have an atlas loco , make sure the locos address is in fact the last two digits of the road number, i have two atlas dcc engines, one had number 3 which is default on digitax and other brands the other engine was last two digits . so i can read back my address and i don’t know if you can or not so programm the decoder as you want it too be and see if that cures your problem . it sounds like a wrong factory address.