Runaway Athearn FP7 w/Tsunami Soundtraxx

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I have a three months old Athearn FP7 w/Tsunami Soundtraxx. Itbhas been running great. I did change the number address to a 4 digit number and adjust CV3 & 4. Everything has been great.

Today the locomotive started moving on it’s on as if someone else was controlling it. It would even ring the bell, blow the horn, and reverse on it’s own.

I put it on the program track and tried to reprogram everything - to no avail.

All of my other engines are operating fine but, this is the only Athearn I have.

I am using a Digitrax Zephyr System.

Any ideas how to rset this this locomotive?

Larry

2

Do you have the original instructions= or how the sounds were set up in this locomotive.

You might want to visit the SoundTraxx web pages. I think that some where there is a settings page for Athearn locomotives.

To do a factory reset= program CV8 to 8 and remove the power for a bit.

This will set the decoder to a factory setting- you will lose any and all settings that were in the decoder if there were any made.

3

I think I still have the orginal paperwork - I’ll check. I’ll also try what you suggested about CV8.

Many thanks

Larry

4

OK-

I reset the system with CV=8 and LOCO to 03. Everything now seems like when it came out of the box.

Then I went back and programmed my 4 digit address and now the locomotive goes back to runnig away again.

???

Larry

5

If you’re using the long address I’d suggest you set cv29 to 34. Turn the DC mode off.

6

With a Zephyr, how are you programming the locomotive? Are you using a program track booster?

or using a resistor ? Doing this in ops mode?

7

I do have a seperate programing trcak standing alone from the system. I program in "dir"mode and I have the booster.

8

Set CV 29 to a value of 34 to disable DC operation.

9

Di you have any additional throttles besides the Zephyr console? You may have that address selected and set with the bell on and a non-zero speed. Unless you have a bunch of consists created, look in the back of the Zephyr manual on the Option Switch settings and close OpSw 36 to clear the memory on the Zephyr and see if the problem goes away.

–Randy

10

Randy-

I am in Savannah on business and not near my layout (near Atlanta). I do utilize a UT4R remote Throttle. The locomotive I am having the problem with is the same selected on the throttle. I think you may have hit on a fix. I’ll try it when I get back home.

Larry