Got a problem I think, Digitrax Zephyr

[UP2CSX]

Jum, you can solder the 1000 ohm resistor directly across the rail of the programming track. I then use a pair of alligator clip terminated wires to feed power to the programming track from the controls station. I also have another track with no resistor that I use for most decoders, as there are only a few that give the Zephyr problems on CV readback. You can program on the main track but you just use the normal track power wires. The programming wires only go to the programming track. The problems with programming on the main is that you can't readback the CV settings of any decoder, so you never know if your changes took. Try another track with a resistor and see if you can readback CV's.

Paul, at this point, I have agree with Crandell, there must be an electrical problem that is actually fixed by having the the trucks squeezed in the curve. I think your engine is actually running slowly on the straight sections and speeding up on curves because the curves is the only place it's getting full current. Time to open it up and try running it without the shell. You can sometimes see where there's a problem if you do this.

 

[jun_1.8T]

to the OP...sorry to hi-jack your thread but i need to solve this problem of mine..

ok guys....

this is getting so frustrating. i soldered the resistor on to my programming track. nothing happened. i tried 3 different resistors and same out come. i tried programming on the main track on "OPS" mode but no luck still. when i try to read CV values when in the programming track i come up with error code "d nA" which the manuals says that the decoder did not aknowledge. then when i try to write values on the CV's it seems like it is working but then it doesn't write anything on it. i cant even change the loco's address for both my locos. i mean both my locos are brand new and i dont think that both of them have bad decoders. do you update the software of the zephyr??? any ideas you guys have???



thanks!

 

[Al Silverstein]

Here are comments on a few observations dealing in part with your problem.

1) The Lenz LE062XF decoder does not have the factory default reset feature. At least non of the Atlas engines that I purchased ever had this feature. Over time I replaced all of those decoders with the Digitrax equivalent.

2) Different decoder manufacturers use different programming mode defaults. If one does not work I suggest you try another.

3) Speed changes can be the result of several different problems: lack of good contact to the power coming from the powering device (command station or booster), poor pickups that do not make good connections between moving parts, heat issues near the decoder can cause the decoder to act irregularly, drive train binding can cause strange movement, defective decoder can cause the problem, multiple throttles trying to control the same engine can cause unusual effects.

While DCC has eliminated the need for a lot of voltage control switches that determine the speed/direction control of a train DCC has introduced new issues that need to be attended to.

I suggest that you purchase a book on DCC in general like the one authored by Larry Puckett and published by Carsten's Inc by the name of Practical Guide to Digital Command Control.

I would also suggest that you create if possible a small test track that can be used for testing and programming decoders. I have found my little 24" x 48" N scale test layout very useful for the testing of a decoder installation and for the fine tuning of speed control.

The above are just a few suggestions that I give every new DCC user. You can never have to much knowledge or experience in any control system for a model railroad layout.

Al

 

[UP2CSX]

Jun, you can, by pure bad luck, have two bad decoders. It's happened to me...actually, I had three, all from the same run of Atlas U-33's...and they were Lenz decoders. It may be worth it to spend $21.95 on an external decoder tester. If you're going to be doing any work with decoders, control stations give you the bare minimum of information if there's a problem with the decoder, as you've already seen. The NCE decoder testor (http://www.traintekllc.com/product/NCE-DTK.html) will test all the functions of any decoder outside the engine. You can even program the decoder outside the engine and not do it all from the control station. It works with any 8 or nine pin decoder, and it has saved me from wasting time putting faulty decoders in an engine and then spending hours trying to figure out what was wrong. Your experience to date should show the value of having such a relatively cheap item available.