Unusual problem with DCC sound installation


Chef Waardevast

Chef Waardevast

Member
Good evening


Forgive me if I had posted this issue twice. I have come across a problem with one of my locos after a recent dcc sound installation. I purchased a tsunami 2 steam sound decoder and had it installed in a Bachmann GS4. The service guy who did the install programmed the loco using a digitraxx system I use an NCE power cab. upon receiving the loco I realised that head light does not work and the train runs in the opposite direction to the command i.e. back wards is forwards and vice versa. I can only get the headlight to work when I reprogram the train on the power cab but only until I switch off the loco. I have to repeat the process to get the headlight to work again. I can't do anything about the directional issues. Is this is an easy fix or do I need to send it to a service person again? Thanks in advance.


Also on another issue, I have 3 Proto 2000 locomotives I wanted to convert to DCC sound. The 3 loco's are an E6 and 2 E8/9's. One of the E8/9s and the E6 are DCC ready requiring an 8 pin decoder. Can someone please advise what decoder to install? I would prefer a plug and play as I don't really want to mess with hard wiring if I can. The third E8/9 has a motherboard that looks like it is not not dcc ready but I am unsure. I have attached photos. Again I really do appriciate any assistance.

Regards
Chef
 

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The direction problem is a simple CV29 change. I don't have my book available right now and I have to head out for a few hours. I think the headlight problem will follow when you correct the direction problem.
As for the Proto locos, a simple plug and play will work with a decoder that has the 8 pin plug. You only have to change the decoder address and you're off and running.
 
D&J RailRoad said:
The direction problem is a simple CV29 change. I don't have my book available right now and I have to head out for a few hours. I think the headlight problem will follow when you correct the direction problem.
As for the Proto locos, a simple plug and play will work with a decoder that has the 8 pin plug. You only have to change the decoder address and you're off and running.
Click to expand...

Hi Ken thanks for the post. Im not sure how to meddle with CVs I have tried going through my manual but it is a little difficult to follow as the explanation is vague. Any assistance will be appreciated.

Also is the loco in the photograph provided DCC ready? I couldn't find the 8pin connector.

Also, do you have a plug and play 8 pin decoders you would recommend?

Best regards
Chef
 
Looking at the picture, I don't see an 8 pin plug there.
I recently installed decoders in my ProtoPower E-8s and they didn't have the plugs. It's pretty easy until you get to the headlight and number board parts. I don't recall offhand what I had to do to retain the MARS light function but the flasher system is all on a small board near the front.
As for the direction, here is a link to a CV29 Calculator along with an address calculator. You'll have to study it for a little bit then it will all become clear and you'll have a thorough understanding of CV29 to do your own custom modifications of it.

DCC CV29 Calculator

The 2mm Scale Association Website
www.2mm.org.uk
 
CV29 controls lighting, direction of movement, and sensitivity to DC power to the rails, among others. Usually the best value for locomotives with 'long' or 'extended' addresses is the value 34. So many models of steamers have long addresses that 34 is a safe bet, AND it removes DC operation capability which eliminates start-up runaway locomotives whose decoders think the initial power to the rails is DC power, but at a full 14.5 volts.

At the CV29 calculator page, just look at the table of combinations of actions you want the decoder to impart to the locomotive, and use the one that matches your needs.

We're assuming the decoder is not defective............... or improperly connected.
 
Chef Waardevast said:
I purchased a tsunami 2 steam sound decoder and had it installed in a Bachmann GS4. The service guy who did the install ... upon receiving the loco I realized that head light does not work and the train runs in the opposite direction to the command i.e. back wards is forwards and vice versa.
Click to expand...
I would seriously consider the skills of the person who installed/programmed this decoder. That is a rookie mistake, and also seems it was not tested well.

Also on another issue, I have 3 Proto 2000 locomotives I wanted to convert to DCC sound. The 3 loco's are an E6 and 2 E8/9's. One of the E8/9s and the E6 are DCC ready requiring an 8 pin decoder. Can someone please advise what decoder to install? I would prefer a plug and play as I don't really want to mess with hard wiring if I can.
Click to expand...
Here a DCC decoder can be found to plug and play, the issue is the sound. Even if the decoder itself is an 8 pin plug, there is no room for sound on the 8 pins so the sound part will have to be hard wired. AND the harder part will be speaker placement and installation. Do these two already have openings or mounting locations where speakers can be placed?

This one claims to be drop in.
https://www.walthers.com/sound-dcc-...fits-life-like-proto-2000-r-emd-e8-e9-alco-pa

Soundtraxx recommeds a DSU2200 - total hard wire installation.
https://soundtraxx.com/products/tsunami2-digital-sound-decoders/tsu-2200/

The third E8/9 has a motherboard that looks like it is not not dcc ready but I am unsure. I have attached photos.
Click to expand...
Correct, that is not DCC ready. Will have to be totally hard wired.
 
Chef Waardevast said:
I have to repeat the process to get the headlight to work again.

Also on another issue, I have 3 Proto 2000 locomotives I wanted to convert to DCC sound. The 3 loco's are an E6 and 2 E8/9's. One of the E8/9s and the E6 are DCC ready requiring an 8 pin decoder. Can someone please advise what decoder to install? I would prefer a plug and play as I don't really want to mess with hard wiring if I can. The third E8/9 has a motherboard that looks like it is not not dcc ready but I am unsure. I have attached photos. Again I really do appriciate any assistance.
Click to expand...

Oh, one other thought. As I recall Proto 2000 locos of that vintage have 1.5V light bulbs. I seem to remember blowing lots of lamps when I was converting these a long time ago. Even if it is an 8 pin plug decoder, one needs to make certain that the headlight power out are for that voltage. Someone double check me out on this one, is my recollection correct on the 1.5V deal?
 
Iron Horseman said:
I would seriously consider the skills of the person who installed/programmed this decoder. That is a rookie mistake, and also seems it was not tested well.

Here a DCC decoder can be found to plug and play, the issue is the sound. Even if the decoder itself is an 8 pin plug, there is no room for sound on the 8 pins so the sound part will have to be hard wired. AND the harder part will be speaker placement and installation. Do these two already have openings or mounting locations where speakers can be placed?

This one claims to be drop in.
https://www.walthers.com/sound-dcc-...fits-life-like-proto-2000-r-emd-e8-e9-alco-pa

Soundtraxx recommeds a DSU2200 - total hard wire installation.
https://soundtraxx.com/products/tsunami2-digital-sound-decoders/tsu-2200/

Correct, that is not DCC ready. Will have to be totally hard wired.
Click to expand...


Thank you for the info. Speakers are are ok to wire and I found a local company who specialises in micro size speakers that have a great sound. I will only focus on the locos that are easy to convert because I run both DC and DCC on my layout so I will need a few DC locos as I operate both at the same time.. Thank you for the links as I was confused about decoder appearances to know if they were plug and play. If you look at he Walther's example having the those terminal on each side of the decoder gave the impression that it needed to be hard wired. This has been a great help thank you.
 
D&J RailRoad said:
Looking at the picture, I don't see an 8 pin plug there.
I recently installed decoders in my ProtoPower E-8s and they didn't have the plugs. It's pretty easy until you get to the headlight and number board parts. I don't recall offhand what I had to do to retain the MARS light function but the flasher system is all on a small board near the front.
As for the direction, here is a link to a CV29 Calculator along with an address calculator. You'll have to study it for a little bit then it will all become clear and you'll have a thorough understanding of CV29 to do your own custom modifications of it.

DCC CV29 Calculator

The 2mm Scale Association Website
www.2mm.org.uk
Click to expand...

Thank you for the post. I will check put the calculator. CV's have never been my strong point but I am relatively new to DCC. Its worth the time to understand it because I do love operating the system.
 
Selector said:
CV29 controls lighting, direction of movement, and sensitivity to DC power to the rails, among others. Usually the best value for locomotives with 'long' or 'extended' addresses is the value 34. So many models of steamers have long addresses that 34 is a safe bet, AND it removes DC operation capability which eliminates start-up runaway locomotives whose decoders think the initial power to the rails is DC power, but at a full 14.5 volts.

At the CV29 calculator page, just look at the table of combinations of actions you want the decoder to impart to the locomotive, and use the one that matches your needs.

We're assuming the decoder is not defective............... or improperly connected.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the post. The decoder was hardwired by a service man and I am uncertain of the quality of work as the decoder was hard wired and I haven't installed a hardwired decoder myself. All I know is it had these issues when I brought it home. I didn't approach the service man about it because he did send me videos of the loco operating on his system whilst he was testing and it operated and sounded great. So I figured it must be a set up problem. I don't know how to tell if the decoder is faulty. I am suspecting that a return is not possible as it will be difficult to prove the decoder is faulty and not a bad install I have had this problem with Bachmann UK on an issue regarding a faulty bogie. Any advice on this issue will be appreciated.
 
If your CV29 is set correctly, then the motor is wired to the decoder backward. It's just a matter of swapping the two wires.
 
Thanks for the post. I will need to open up the hood and see what it looks like. Could it be that I can enter the opposite value in cv29 to reverse the loco directional operation?Assuming this kind of function is possible?
 
Yes, but you determine which value from the table on the calculator site. It lists all combinations of services you want from the decoder, including running the locomotive 'hood first' if it's a diesel, or what lights you want activated, and so on. Go to the calculator, look at the combinations listed in the chart, and then find the appropriate value to programme into CV29. You do that in Ops Mode, or 'programming on the main'.
 
Chef Waardevast said:
Thanks for the post. I will need to open up the hood and see what it looks like. Could it be that I can enter the opposite value in cv29 to reverse the loco directional operation?Assuming this kind of function is possible?
Click to expand...
You can reverse the loco forward direction with CV29 but the head light will still be the opposite if the motor is wired backward.
 
Ah ok that is handy to know. I will add that when I run the loco (forward in reverse) the loco headlight does not come on. Yet the back light comes on every time when I go (backwards )with the direction button in foward. When I reprogram the loco on my power cab the headlight works in the appropriate directions but the loco still operates in reverse both directions. The headlight switch's off when I turn off the power cab and does not come back on when I restart the loco.

On the one hand I feel wiring may play a part in solving the issue. On the other I feel programming is the culpret due to the intermittent functionality.

I guess the best way to find out will be to start programming and see what happens.
 
I found this decoder its a great price I have used this type decoder in other locos that are 21pin and sound very good. Do you know if this is a 8pin decoder PNP that would work on the 8pin Proto 2000 locos I mentioned above? Also can you please tell me how to know the difference if its is not obviously stipulated in the description? Sorry I am newbie :).

hobbytechtoys.com.au

Soundtraxx 882004 ECO-PNP Econami Sound Decoder, Plug & Play Form Factor, Diesel Locomotives

This 2-amp, universal-style Digital Sound Decoder is suitable for a wide variety of models from HO to S scale.This decoder includes a connector to easily add a CurrentKeeper (P.N. 810140) to maintain performance over dirty track and switches.Learn More about Tsunami2 Features Product...
hobbytechtoys.com.au hobbytechtoys.com.au
 
Last edited:
D&J RailRoad said:
You will grow smarter about CVs too.
Click to expand...

Every time I post a question on this site I am learning something new. Its great! It's actually quite remarkable how much you all know. It helps new people like me learn and appriciate the hobby even more. Thank you for all your time, advice and positive contributions it is really appreciated.
 
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