I want to put a four function TCS lighting decoder in an S Scale caboose to control directional ditch lights and warning beacons. The only DCC Ive done before is drop in decoders in N Scale locos. Before I put this in the caboose, I would like to test it out. Is there any problem with hooking the power wires up direct to my Digitrax and testing everything before install?
I don’t have the same equipment as you. But I have direct connected a decoder to a DCC power unit before without any issues. Bob
Should not be a problem. I even made a test box to make it easier for me to do that. http://n-scale-dcc.blogspot.com/2011/02/building-decoder-tester.html In your case, you don’t need the motor part. Brad Myers Peninsula Ntrak / AsiaNrail My Blogs: http://www.n-scale-dcc.blogspot.com/ http://www.palisadecanyonrr.blogspot.com/ http://tokyo-in-nscale.blogspot.com/
Yes. Connect the track power wires to the red and black wires of your function decoder. Only thing missing is the track. Make sure that the all of the wire ends are isolated from each other while power is applied. Any contact will be a short and damage the decoder. Martin Myers
Good news and bad news. I got it all programmed up using my Zephyr. Changed the address, set all the CV's, and it worked fine. Installed it in the caboose, and NOTHING. Nothing when it is on the track, nothing when it is hooked direct to the Zephyr either on the regular track or program track. All I get is D NR. I've tried everything I can think of, including paging it to see if it reset itself. It has not, all I get is D NR Any ideas?
Could be a stupid question but I assume you have some sort of electrical pick up for the caboose wheels to supply power to the decoder? If so i would start with testing that and making sure power is getting to the decoder.
Tried that. D NR hooked up in the caboose, wired directly to the Zephyr on regular track outputs, and the program track outputs
