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I have an HO GP30 that I bought DCC ready and installed the recommended ESU Lokpilot 5 decoder. I downloaded the ESUX file from Scaletrains and got it all going (after having to change the dip switches that were in the wrong position from the factory). Anyway, I was on another thread and realized that I hadn't tested the powerpack/stay alive function. So I turned the headlights on and lifted the loco off the rails. Lights went out immediately.
Fired up the Lokprogrammer software and took a look at the configuration file. None of the AUX ports was configured as powerpack control. ESU normally has this assigned to AUX9 but that was not assigned at all. And, it is dependent of the electronics board of the locomotive anyway.
If anyone has a DCC fitted GP30/GP40/SD7, could you take a look at your configuration and see what port is configured as powerpack control, please? Also, please confirm that your powerpack actually works. I tried assigning AUX9 to powerpack control but it didn't do anything.
Appreciate it! I wrote to Scaletrains in the interim and am waiting for a response.
There is a CV for power pack time. I use JMRI and remember setting the time to more than the default 0. I have three Scale Trains that I got DCC ready and they stay alive for 10 seconds or so after the power is cut. I also have LokSound 5 on a TCS motherboard and it works well also.
I set the powerpack time to 4 seconds but it doesn't do anything. I got a response from Scaletrains and basically got told to read the f-ing manual. No help.
The manual says that I need to set the dip switches to OFF for access to all the lighting functions and the powerpack. I'm assuming that I did that as I have access to all the lighting, but will go back in and double check it and then try to pull info out of the company.
I accessed power pack maintain time under the Advanced tab in JMRI. It was 0 and it didn’t work, I set it to 141 and now it works. I didn’t do anything with the dip switches but I’m also not using Scale Train’s profile since I no longer have class lights or beacons.
One loco I took the red class light LED and used it to illuminate the control stand but I don’t have a way to turn it on or off, it’s just on.
I checked the dip switches and as I was told to read the manual, it states to place them in the off position, which they were. I went into the advanced tab and cranked it all the way to 255. No change. Lights die as soon as I lift it up.
Wrote back to scaletrains and we'll see. Was a bit scathing.
I had it set at something like 170 which was 4 seconds and nothing. I have the same number plugged into another loco and it lives about that long.
I hope it turns out to be an easy fix. If Scaletrains can't help me, I'll go talk to ESU. They helped me with a different company's loco. I told him which make and model and he sent me the BEMF settings for it.
I reached out to ESU and they came back and said that I needed AUX12 to be assigned to powerpack control, which I did. Unfortunately, it didn't solve the problem, so I sent my configuration to them to see if I missed something else.
If this doesn't fix it, I'm not sure if I'm going to take the chance and send it to Scaletrains for warranty work. At this point, the loco works just fine.
