OK, I've got a problem that's making me a little nuts and would appreciate some help. I have 3 Atlas Trainmasters in which I have installed NCE N12A0 decoders. The engines run great with no problems. The problem started when I tried to reprogram the address on one of them and the decoder couldn't be read let alone be programmed. The engine runs fine, the lights work fine, it responds great on the layout. The other two trainmasters as well as the other 12 engines with decoders, program just fine, it's just that one. As I said all other engines read and program fine. I've cleaned and made sure my programming track is working OK. I've made sure the contacts(frame to decoder) are good, wheels are clean and, everything is in working order on the affected engine. Any ideas? Thanks, Dave :tb-mad:
Can you read the CVs Can you read the CV's? What system are you using? Some systems will require a program booster. Just to make sure you might want to hook up a set of jumper wires to the loco's track input wires direct from your DCC system- rule out the trucks and contacts on the loco. Just a thought.
I'm using a Digitrax DCS50. I checked the trucks and wheels carefully but I will try the jumpers today. I can't read CV15 or 16 at all. I get the "d nd" display on the readout no matter what I try to read, just as if there's no decoder at all in the engine. Weird because it works fine on the layout at the address I originally programmed it. Thanks for your response guys, I appreciate it. Dave
From the manual (my italics): CV15 Decoder programming lock “KEY”. This CV is always programmable even when “locked”. CV16 Decoder programming lock ID. When CV15=CV16, programming is unlocked and the decoder will respond to programming commands. If CV15 is not equal to CV16 then decoder programming is locked and it will not program (except CV15) or read. So if CV15 got changed accidentally it would prevent most activity, including read, but still work as a decoder.
Try to reprogram first to factory default , if I remember it's cv08 to 008 but check to be sure . Then after , you should be able to program it to your taste . I had that problem once and this settled it .
:thumbs_up:OK, problem solved. I'll post the fix in case anyone else has the problem. My thanks to Woodone and Mike Sheridan for their responses. Took the jumpers and hooked them right to the programming track. Hooked the other end to the engine wheels, No joy. Then took off the trucks and hooked them to the contact strips, No good. I then hooked the jumpers directly to the frame and, Bingo! Read fine. I removed the contact strips from the frame bent a little kink in the center of them and pushed them back into the frame. Although they didn't appear or feel loose they apparently were and weren't making good contact. Put it back together and it programs like a champ. All I can figure is that the programming voltage was not strong enough to overcome the poor contact but, while on the regular track, the track voltage was. A strange one for sure but, problem solved. Thanks again guys. Dave
Didn't mean to snub you with my thanks to the helpful posts. I just posted my reply before I read your post. Thank you. Problem was, I couldn't reprogram anything at all. It wasn't even recognizing the decoder at all so I couldn't reset to factory defaults or check values on CV15 and 16. But, problem solved and thank you for your response. Dave
My mistake , you could not have been able to program factory default , I will take note of what you did with the alligator clips , bad contact usually comes from my LL units .
I'm glad it's helped but, we can thank Woodone for his tip on using the jumpers. This whole site has saved me more problems than I can count and, given me some great ideas too. No matter how simple or basic a fix might be, there will always be someone who didn't think of it or, overcomplicated a simple thing (number 1 guilty of that right here). That's what makes this board and the people that use it a wonderful thing. God Bless America, Dave
I've had the same problem. Is there a minimum voltage that I should not go below - or a maximum I should not go above in order to attempt to program a decoder. Thanks. ...don
Hi Don, I use a dedicated programing track so I don't worry about voltages on the main when programing. I have personally found that to be easier for me. I can't give you an accurate answer to your question but, I'm sure that someone here will respond. If there's an answer to be found, someone here has it. Try posting your question in a new thread, someone will have an answer for you. Good Luck, Dave
I've had this kind of programming issue with a few Digitrax decoders. I simply connect a small 12v light to the program track and that does the trick. With the light connected there's enough resistance that my Zephyr can actually see the decoder. This usually occurs on units of mine that don't have a light.
A very handy tip. Maybe that was the problem all along. I'll have to make sure that the light is on or, connect a bulb like you suggested if I have the problem again. Thanks.
Dumb question here.... Is the bulb to be in series or parallel with the LZV100-to-tracks? Thanks. ...don
Connect the light to the track separate from the loco, hot wire to one rail, nuetral wire to the oter rail. The thing here is to have the program track pull enough power so the system will see there's something there.
