Hi, I just got a P2K SW 900 off ebay. When I put it on the layout, it ran and had some “engine” sound. The volume seemed pretty low, and I couldn’t activate any other sounds except for the horn which was also pretty low volume. I’m running a NCE powercab BTW. Anyway, I tried to get in and adjust some cvs and now the loco does not respond to anything at all. This loco did not come with the “wand”. I have tried resting a small magnet on the hood where the paperwork indicates, but this doesn’t seem to do anything when I try to reset the decoder to factory default. I have downloaded the QSI manual but at 468 pages, it’s a bit overwelming to this DCC newby. Not even sure it is correct for my loco. Any Ideas??
Scroll through your manual until the last few pages of the DCC section (the first section pertains to DC operations only). At the end of the section detailing which CV’s to change for whatever effect you desire, there’ll be a restore or reset instruction. You must assign a particular value to three (3) different CV’s in succession in order for the decoder to reset. Note that you must also turn off track power completely and then reapply it in order for the reset to take place. When you restart the locomotive, you’ll probably have to give Address “03” a single throttle speed step to get it to wake up if it’s a Paragon 2 or a Paragon 3.
Thanks for that fast reply Selector. Should I do this on the programming track or the main? Also, should I shut off power to the whole system after entering those 3 cvs, or just toggle the switch to the track?
Well, I tried, on the programming track, cv49 to128,cv50 to255,and cv56 to113. on the first and last cvs the display read cv cannot be read. I entered the values anyway. I shut off/on track power and still a dead loco. I have three other DCC locos on the layout that all run fine, so I’m pretty sure it is a decoder issue. Not sure what to try next…
I guess back to my first thought, this is a used loco, it ran when I first tried it out, then somehow I screwed up the settings. The users manual in the box mentions a magnetic wand to reset the decoder. The wand didn’t come with the loco from the seller. I tried a small magnet where the drawing indicated. Is there something “magic” about this “wand” or should any small magnet work? Right now, I get no response in either DC, or DCC. I had the shell off the loco and didn’t see any loose wires or other obvious issues.
The magnetic wand is used to reset the decoder on DC. You need to be on Dc for it to work The CV reset sequence you used on DCC also works. Some say the DC reset is a stronger rest than the CV so it something you’ll want to try if you have proper magnet and a DC power source. If the seller did not list it as having problems, its probably ok.
QSI can have some quirky start up sequence issues (simiulating an locos starting up from sleep) so review the manual about start up or sleep mode. IIRC, pressing F6 twice might wake it up.
Also, I dont think you can just rest the magnet on the hood. it needs to be waved over the reed switch about a quarter inch above it for just a moment. The loco should verbalize “reset” if it resets.
Thanks doughless, So, will ANY magnet work, or does it have to be that P2k “magic wand”? I wasn’t aware that it only worked in DC, so I’ll go back and try that again, but I need to know if any magnet will do, or if I need that special one. Somewhere around here I have a magnetic wand for Rapido passenger cars, but I looked, and you know how that goes…
And magnet should work, but super strong magnets like the rare earth types, the kind where a tiny magnet can list 100 pounds - they may magnetize the contacts and keep them closed, meaning the loco will be in a perpetual reset and you’ll have to clip it off to get the loco to work.
I was just looking at the manual again and it looks to me as if the wand is to be used in dcc mode. ( place wand over area indicated on diagram. switch on track power, holding wand in place, enter a function ;ie; f10 until voice indicates reset.)
Just for kicks, enter programming in Paged Mode (no other locomotives on the rails). Acquire CV 08 and input a value of “08”. Exit programming. Remove power from the rails, then repower the rails, acquire address “03”, and see if you get a live decoder. If this works, it’s not a QSI.
ANother way to get conmnected if you don’t know what the address actually is. First, take all you other locos off the track. Now select address 00 and enter the programming on the main mode. Program CV1 to 3, and then program CV29 to 6. Now exit programming mode and try to select address 3 and see if the loco runs.
My layout has been dismantled for a while so I’m out of practice with the QSi decoder, but I’m sure the wand reset was designed for DC. The 3 CV reset series is the DCC reset.
Other questions:
Have you tried pressing F6 twice? Or read the manual for “sleep” mode.
Does the loco move at all, and you just have a sound issue? (you may have just set the master volume CV to 0)
The NCE system allows you to read the address of the loco. Read the first few pages of the NCE manual…NOT the QSI manual…and you might find out that you re-addressed the loco with your fiddling.
Also, the NCE manual explains how to find the “manufacturer number” which should confim that it is a QSI. IIRC, 113 is QSI
The idea that the NCE powercab is displaying “cannot read CV” for two of the three CVs of the reset sequence is concerning, but I don’t think it is a fried decoder issue. Its more likley a programming issue.
While the display “cannot read CV” is sometimes a sign that the decoder may be fried, as Doughless suggests, it is not always a sign of a fried decoder. My NCE programming track often (well maybe not often) displays “cannot read CV” for no good or apparent reason on a perfectly fine decoder.
Thanks to all you guys for the help. I had no luck doing anything while hooked up to my NCE system. Today, on a whim, I hooked up my old MRC “tech-6” which is kind of a cross of a dc and dcc system. It has a reset function by pressing (shift,9,9.) Well, wouldn’t ya know, that did it! Sure am glad I didn’t get rid of the old MRC!!!
Good question. I haven’t gotten to that point just yet. I’m going through the QSI manual (all 468 pages!), and printing out the sections that I may want to have handy on the layout. I should have a handle on it this weekend.