Unless my current problem is dealt with to my satisfaction. I was having problems with my DT402 throttle as it had a wonky display and the trains would not respond. This was an intermittent problem that kept getting worse. They told me to send in the throttle for repairs. One month later, I get it back. I haven't been able to do anything with my layout since then, so I'm eager to get back to work. The invoice says that they: "tested it for 4 days/reset codes/tested OK" and charged me $25 for their trouble. However, the throttle still acts just like it did when I sent it in. The display is still wonky and the trains are still unresponsive. The quarter trick still works and the train lights go on, but no response. I tried to call, but nobody was home so I left a message explaining my issue and leaving my number. Hopefully somebody will get back to me. Does anybody else have this sort of experience with Digitrax? This isn't just some decoder malfunction as I can't run anything without it. Completely, inexcusably pathetic. I guess I have to start shopping for a new system. The NCE stuff looks good, anybody have good experiences with them?
I am an NCE user and I am very satisfied with them. Customer service is very good. I have never had any problems with them. I don't know if any others have had problems.
I have a DT-402. If the battery does not have a reasonably good charge it doesn't work well. Could that be the case? Do you have any other throttles, and, if so, are they doing the same thing?
If your Loconet network is un-powered or under-powered that will often happen. I often use a battery just to ensure that the system (Loconet + throttle) has enough juice to not go loco.
If you go to this link and look at page 23... http://digitrax.com/ftp/DT402.pdf After you plug it in and initially get the gobbledy-guck screen do you then get a voltage reading between 9 and 15 volts? If not, then you may need more power to your Loconet network. Maybe a Loconet whiz will see this and chime in. What I am saying is that it may not be the throttle but the set-up that is screwing with your experience. Adam
I bring AUX 12V DC power to all my UP5s specifically to avoid this problem, and then don't have a battery installed.
Before you do anything rash in the heat of the moment (and I can completely understand your frustration) it sounds like you should take the advice of others in this thread and check the voltage. It could be that Digitrax heavily tested the throttle and it is fine and something else is problematic. Start by reducing everything to the minimum like a small strip of track, one locomotive, the command station, and the throttle. If that works start adding more parts of your railroad in until it stops. That's about all you can do short of finding someone with a digitrax setup that you could test your throttle on.
So how long ago did you leave a message with them? What part of the country are you located in? Don't give up the ship just yet. Ask to speak to AJ or Zana. And them only.
How did you determine that your DT402 throttle was at fault? There are a couple of ways to confirm that your throttle is at fault. Use your throttle on another system or use a different throttle on your system. If your throttle fails on another system or if a different throttle does not fail on your system then your throttle is faulty. If it does not fail on another system or a different throttle also fails on your system then your throttle is ok. That leaves two other possible components at fault, the command station or the universal panel. You can rule out the universal panel by plugging directly into the command station. If it fails then the command station is at fault. If it does not fail then your universal panel is at fault. If you do not have access to another throttle or system to perform these checks then you are shooting in the dark. Since Digitrax checked out your throttle and gave it the all clear I would start looking at your command station or universal panel and follow my diagnostics in the prior paragraph. Let us know what you find out. Jerry
It's working now. It's an intermittent problem, so I'm not sure how long it will last. I'm going to try bypassing the universal panel and see if that helps. Also, I'm going to put some batteries in once they finish charging. Yes, this has been very frustrating. I wasn't able to lay track or even troubleshoot some wonky turnouts for about a month and I was looking forward to doing both. Hopefully I can put my DCC issues behind me and find other problems to deal with.
Do you have a power supply for your panel. At our club, we have a bunch of UP-5 panels, somewhere around 12-15, and I think we've powered about one in three of them. We've had difficulty with the display always staying "wonky" on the big throttles (DT-400 and -402 series) at some panels and the two most successful remedies we've found are to power that UP-5 and use a battery even for plug-in operation. I use some rechargeable 9V NiMH batteries, which I re-charge after about 4-8 hours use just to avoid losing power during an operating session. Good luck!
I would be interested in a short "how to" for that, as I am just in the process of converting over to DCC, after fighting it, tooth & nail. (lol) I'd like to avoid any potential problems before they occur, as I am "electronically challenged" to say the least!!
JJ - each UP5 (and UP9x) panel has a DC jack, center positive. I have a run an auxiliary set of DC voltages (-12, +3.3, +5, +12 and common) from a PC power supply along the back of my fascia, so at each panel, I tap the common and +12 lines and go directly into the jack. I've stayed away from daisy-chaining the power between UPs
If it is intermittent, and works when plugged directly into the command station, you may also want to check the loconet cable between the CS and UP. All it takes is one bad crimp, or a broken conducter within the flat cable...
As Rick posted, the very first first thing to do is unplug all loconet cables from the command station. This is how Digitrax tests them at the factory. Plug the throttle directly into one of the jacks on the command station. If all works well, the problem is somewhere down the line in either a cable or a UP5. Doesn't hurt to have a good battery in the throttle. DT402 throttles use a lot of current and will pull down loconet voltage. BTW, AJ and Zana are at the NMRA National convention. Martin Myers
DO NOT USE ni/cd ! their voltage is too low ! either go for ordinary batteries or use ni/mh rechargeables. since this is an intermittent problem i would check the loconet wiring. might be that there's an intermittent contact between your panel and your booster. does the throttle act silly if connected directly to the booster instead of the panel ?
In order for the dt 402 to operate you must have a rechargeable battery installed. For more info join the Digitrax group on yahoo to get the right answers to your problems, Jim.
I've put in batteries and everything seems to be working. I've just torn up all my switches so I can switch to another brand (MTL to Rokohan), which should give me many programming opportunities, which is when most of the problems seem to start. So, what I've learned is that while I can buy Digitrax equipment, I have to remember to never use their tech support. I can live with that.
