I bought an Atlas GP40-2 with a factory installed Lenz decoder and I cannot get the thing to program. I am using a Digitrax Zephyr and Decoder Pro. I know some brands cannot be read by the digitrax, but I didn't think some couldn't even be programed. I took the Loco to my local shop and they programed with out problem on a Lenz system. Is there anything I can do or do I need to swap boards out.
I discuss this problem in one of the topics on my TB blog. Here is the link. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/blogs/viewblog.php?entry=568 Stay cool and run steam.......
Interesting post Cocknbull. I had the same problem with an Atlas GP40-2 that I bought off that "nameless auction site" a couple of years ago. Couldn't get the decoder to do anything other than go forward and back as well as turn the headlight on and off. Sent it back to Atlas after talking with them. When it came back it had the exact same decoder still installed with a note saying the decoder worked fine. I just assumed after talking to a few other people that I got one of the early decoders that did basically nothing other than make motion using DCC technology. Now that I read that you had some luck getting a similar problem to go away, and with Powersteamguy1790s related blog post, I am enthused to try again to get the decoder to so something other than wink at me. Brian ps. I have a Lenz system and for the most part like it. I am not very happy however with Lenz PnP decoders for the GP40-2 ,38-2, SD60 etc. as they humm like no tomorrow. Digitrax decoders are the way to to if you ask me.
I fixed it today. Apparently the decoder was shorting out because it sensed an over voltage situation. I think????? So I placed a 680 Ohm resitor across the programming tracks and BAM it worked just fine. I think this will be the last Lenz decoder for me. I too, prefer digitrax; altough recently I have had to solder the frame contacts to ensure a tight fit for rleiabilty on the digitrax decoders.
Usually Lenz decoders are very reliable. I've been using them for years. Your LHS had no difficulty programming the decoder. Stay cool and run steam.....
1K across the rails is the standard fix for programming Atlas/Lenz decoders from Digitrax systems. 680 Ohms obviously works too. I have the same issue with an Atlas GP40 , but will likely replace the bare-bones Lenz decoder with a more capable Digitrax decoder "when I get around to it".
The later Lenz-sourced LE063XF PnP decoders are far better than the earlier version used by Atlas. The fix for those is to remove the shell, separate the frame halves, remove the decoder, and place in the bin. Replace with a newer style, either Digitrax, NCE, TCS or even the newer Lenz LE063XF.
i had several gp38/gp40 with factory installed lenz decoders. they all have been replaced with digitrax ones. the lenz decoders went to the trash bin. didn't even bother selling them at ebay.
