I had just purchased my Digitrax Zephyr starter set. I then purchased a Bachmann DCC on board, dcc equipped loco. I hooked up my bus, and feeder wires. The loco ran okay. But no lights went on. I was told to change my cv. But i am new to DCC, I don't know if the Digitrax decoders are the same that is in my Bachmann GP 40 loco. Are the cv's the same in all decoders? If with the Digitrax decoder, cv09 would turn on my lights, would that be true for the decoder in my Bachmann? Im not sure what kind of decoder is even in the Bachmann. Thanks, CAS
Have you tried turning on the headlight using Function 0 (zero) on your Zephyr keypad? Beyond that I don't know the answers to your questions about Bachmann decoders. Ben
No All decoders are not equal. You should have a sheet with the Engine that has the CV list. If not go to the bachman web page and download or do a web search for the CV.
No sheet that has the CV list. I did go to Bachmann web site, but no luck finding anything there about CV's. I will try to do another search at Bachmann's. Ok, found the the cv list for the DCC on board loco's from bachmann. Do i change the cv's from the Bachmann list' or the digitrax list? Thanks for the help. I'll keep you posted. CAS
Okay, i got my lights to work. Now if i can figure out how to change the default address of my loco. I tried the on the programming track, hit add4 - 3501 (new number for loco.) I still get d nd, or a bu sy. I then went and put my loco on the main track, went to ops. Added the new loco number, still got error message d nd. I even tried cv08, to reset to factory settings, still got error n nd. This is done on my Digitrax Zephyr starter set. HO scale. Im thinking about just buy a new Digitrax decoder, and try to install, and hopefully everything works out. Thanks, CAS
Only the CV's provided by the Bachmann decoder would have any effect. Did you try resetting to factory default settings by programming CV08 to the value on the Bachmann list? If nothing else helps you may have an inoperative headlight. Ben
I tried, but as soon as i entered CV08. It had a error d nd. I had tried on my programming track, in the page(program). And even in the ops(program), on the mainline. CAS
I don't know what else to suggest except phoning Bachmann service. If true to form you will probably get a new loco in the process. Ben
But before you do that, here is a suggestion from another forum if you want to try it: [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The Lenz/Atlas decoders are notoriously difficult to program with a Digitrax Zephyr. I had a few of the low cost Lenz decoders and a couple of Bachmann decoders that would not take programming from my Zephyr. Atlas and Bachmann decoders are actually Lenz decoders in disguise.[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In desperation I contacted the technical people at Digitrax. They suggested that I place a 1000 ohm, 1/4-watt resistor across the programming track. This 'fools' the Zephyr into increasing the program signal output.[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Whatever it does, it worked. Since using this little trick I have not had a problem programming Lenz/Atlas/Bachmann decoders.[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I have a picture of my 'programming resistor' in place on my programming track posted on my website. Once on site go to the 'How'd You Do That' page and scroll down.[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I'm certain this little trick will solve your problem, unless you have a 'dead' decoder. Unlikely IMHO.[/FONT] http://www.intergate.com/~acoates149/ Ben
I was playing around for the last couple of hours. I could change my idol, and speed. I also changed my 28 step mode. But still couldn't change the loco's address . I also just seen this after i did a chage decoder address search. I guess, and hope to run over to Radio Shack and pick 1 up. Hopefully this will cure my problem. If it does, i will have a few :beer: :beer:. If not, i will order a Digitrax decoder. Thanks Ben . I will be visiting, reading and enjoying your site soon. CAS
Great. BTW, not my website. Just found that suggestion using Google. Sometimes you see suggestions and wonder if they really work. Glad this one did. Buy a :beer: for Google! Ben
Hi Ben, Here are a couple of sites full of DCC info. http://www.loystoys.com/MiscHTML/dcc-topics.html http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/dcc/links.html Hope this helps,:thumbs_up:
Hi Ben, Sorry, guess I didn't read back far enough...should have been addressed to CAS! I'm still a newbie too!
Not a problem. I'm a newbie when it comes to DCC and my thanks was sincere. There's much been written about the subject. Someday I will have read it all. :angel: Ben
I have three Bachmann locos with factory-fitted decoders and am unable to change the loco address in any one of them with my Digitrax Zephyr. I searched the Internet to see if this was a known problem and found the suggested solution elsewhere. I tried it unsuccessfully. On the other forum, no-one actually said they had tried the 1K resistor across the programming rails; but here, at least, someone says they have had success with it. I'm sceptical, in spite of that success. I cannot see how putting a 1 K resistor across the track can work. I understand the problem is in the impedance (resistance, if you like) of the decoder being too high and therefore not drawing enough current from the programmer. Putting the resistor across the track certainly alters the impedance the programmer sees at the rails but does not alter the impedance of the decoder in order for it to draw more current - the programmer might deliver more current, but the decoder is unaffected. For information, I have one Bachmann, DCC fitted, BR steam loco I purchased direct from England. That loco programs without any trouble. The three with the problem are all US locos purchased from the US. Can anyone shed any light on how the so-called fix is supposed to work or why none of my locos respond to it?
The DCC signal is effectively a square wave and the decoder uses the changes in voltage to indicate the code bits being sent to it. So I think the problem the resistor 'fixes' is that of a high impedance load (decoder) not sinking enough current to allow the volts to drop, or drop fast enough, for the change to be seen as a 'bit'. The effect will depend on how the command station maker has built the driver circuitry, but it seems the Zephyr uses a not so good method - which one might expect with a budget system - whereas higher end systems probably drive the voltage more vigorously. The reverse problem occurred with some systems when sound decoders first appeared. The current drawn from the program track was too much, so the voltage was not enough.
Pretty close.. (for a 2 year old thread). In order to perform programming operations, the programmer first must realize that a decoder is there ("d nd" means "no decoder"). It does this by sensing the current drawn by the decoder. Lenz decoders (and others as well) simply do not draw enough current to be recognized. Adding a 1K resistor across the programming output lowers the resistance and causes sufficient current to be drawn for the programmer to say "Oh, there IS a decoder there!". This is not a Zephyr issue, as DB150s and DCS100s also exhibit the same behavior. The 1 K resistor is an old and well known (to DCC veterans) solution.
