Page 14 - NMRA Roundhouse March-April 2018

DCC Problems Explained
Ron Gager
Programming tracks are usually just fine, I switch one of my nearby sid- ings (ahem spurs) to be a program- ming track or a mainline connection, using a small switch. However, when working with sound locos life gets
a bit more complicated. I have an Athearn challenger with MRC sound and wish to change the address from factory 03 to running number 02. The Zephyr manual does not cover this need when explaining how to use OPS mode on the main line. Put the DCS51 into “Blast” mode by setting its option switch 7 to “c”. The user Manual covers this operation.
Then program the decoder on the main line using DIR mode. However you will get no read back information. They did not mention getting out of blast mode but factory reset is cov- ered in the user manual for when you have finished. Then I wanted to use a second Zephyr DCS51 just as a cab because my grandson and I prefer them to handheld types. Digitrax sug- gests – Set DCS51 option switch 2
to “c” which makes it just a booster, but do not connect it to the track at all. Just connect its Loconet socket to one of your UT5 Loconet sockets and you have another cab.
The MRC factory reset is a weird
one – Their makers code returned from CV8 being 143, they use CV125 enter 1 into it for factory reset.
Lenz now use CV8 = 8 (rather than CV8 = 33 as on my card) in their recent decoders.
14 ROUNDHOUSE - April 2018
DCC offers the opportunity to cus- tomise each loco to your prefer- ences. However, there may come a time when you need to reset to the manufacturer’s original settings. This guide is intended as a quick reference to help you.
WARNING This guide is not defin- itive. If in doubt refer to the manu- facturers’ instructions.
From the chart below, identify the manufacturer then change the CV’s as shown.
Sound Locos
With decoders custom loaded with sounds by yourself or any subse- quent sound inserter, such as Zimo, Digitrax, ESU, CT and others, a fac- tory reset may damage the sounds requiring it to be “re-blown”. If the sounds inserter did not set his own defaults a factory reset will re-set to the original decoder maker’s defaults and sound will be lost. Most sound inserting firms will set their own de- fault values creating no such prob- lem. See their documentation.
Tsunamis require the loco to be set on a powered track after resetting
to complete the process, after which lights flash 16 times. If you don’t see that, reset is not completed. Highly recommended is “DecoderPro”, a free download, which stores settings so they can be replaced. Many say they would not even touch a sound loco without DecoderPro. With some sound locos, lights or horn operating may indicate your success.
NOTE 1 Broadway, Atlas, Proto 2000 Lifelike and any others and also sound
steer cars (see Note 2) using QSI sound may use a “magnetic wand” which acti- vates a reed relay in the body to reset. Some have a removable hatch on the body, inside which is a jumper wire plug to disconnect and then replace as part of the procedure. See user manual. Or, QSI and Tsunami may need a booster on the programming track.
NOTE 2 If the reed relay reset fails in Broadway’s sound steer/hog/chicken cars which use QSI the decoder can be ac- cessed using running number/address 03 and reset by setting CV49 = 128, CV50
= 255, and CV56 = 113. It is suggested that you leave these cars as address 03. This works for Atlas Gold Locos with QSI sound but may need doing in OPS mode. If you are Digitrax or Lenz that means doing so on the main. Otherwise try using the manual reset for analogue users
with the magnetic wand with at least 10 volts applied to the track/wheels to work. Volume is altered by repeatedly operating or shorting out the reed relay.