BLI RSD15 programing

[jjb62556]

I have two of these engines from my wife and can't get either to program on my NCE program track. Any ideas?

[C855B]

My edu-guess is there is not enough power in programming mode. Sound decoders are somewhat notorious for that.

I'm also guessing that you're using a ProCab with the wall-wart power supply. Definitely not enough power. Solution is a booster.

[jjb62556]

I was wondering about that, but I do have the 5 Amp booster set up. I did order the DCC specialties Power Pax for the program track...The only ones I have trouble with is the BLI stuff. Just did 5 Atlas GP40-2's with sound , no problem...

[peteski]

I agree with Mike on the problem description, but he had the NCE stuff backwards.

NCE Power Cab is the standalone handheld DCC system which used a wall-wart. The wall-wart has plenty of juice to run locos, so it will have enough juice for programming in service (programming track) mode. But power supply is not the problem.  Actually I suspect that if jjb62556 was using Power Cab, he would likely be able to program that decoder.  Power Cab seems to have the extra "kick" in the service mode mode to program otherwise hard-to-program decoders.

I also saw your post on groups.io. Since that is a group dedicated to NCE, we'll see what they came up with.

This thread clearly belongs in the DCC section.
 

[jjb62556]

Peteski, I was hoping you would responed. You know more about this stuff than I will ever know..Do you think a booster is the way to go? I t seems I alway have trouble with BLI engines, But never programming before. This one does come with sound and capasitors any don't they draw a lot of juice to charge up?

[peteski]

Peteski, I was hoping you would responed. You know more about this stuff than I will ever know..Do you think a booster is the way to go? I t seems I alway have trouble with BLI engines, But never programming before. This one does come with sound and capasitors any don't they draw a lot of juice to charge up?

Yes generally BLI decoders are a pain to program.  I have few of their models, but I have not sat down and done much with them. As for capacitors, whatever is on them is about the same as on other brands of decoders.  It is not like a "real" Keep Alive module which can affect programming.

Yes, I think that gettign a programming booster is a good idea.  Maybe someone else with more experience with the BLI decoders will have some more ideas.  Programming on main is certainly a valid thing to try, but of course you have to be careful if there are other locos on the layout, and also you can't or should change things like the loco's address on main line.

[jjb62556]

I did order a PowerPax from DCC Specialties to try.  BLI seem to be a different bird...

[peteski]

Looking at your info on groups.io I guess I was mistaken.  I thought you had a NCE Power Pro system with the command station.  You do have a Power Cab wit a 5A booster connected to it.   I wonder if you were to disconnect the the booster and use the Power Cab as a standalone DCC system, hook up piece of track directly to the Power Cab Panel's track output, then try programming the loco on that track.

I also wonder if other owners of these models have problems programming them (on their DCC systems, and what brand systems they have)?

[C855B]

Yes generally BLI decoders are a pain to program. ...

Like I said in the other thread, mine will get a lap around the layout and then make a trip to the bench for installation of non-headache-inducing decoders, probably ESU LokPilot 5s. The Paragon 4 decoders will soon be featured in Trading Post.

Once I pop the hood on one, I'll determine if it's feasible to replace the speaker with weight.

[jjb62556]

Peteski, I'll give it a try...Thanks

[jjb62556]

 Got them working, Thanks all, Jim

[peteski]

Great!  What did it?  That will be useful in future troubleshooting.

EDIT:  I saw your message on groups.io.

Took the shells off both, push the button for a reset, all are working fine now..Thanks, Jim

What exactly does that mean Jim?  After a hard reset you are now able to program them on your programming track?!

[trainforfun]

Great!  What did it?  That will be useful in future troubleshooting.

EDIT:  I saw your message on groups.io.

Took the shells off both, push the button for a reset, all are working fine now..Thanks, Jim

What exactly does that mean Jim?  After a hard reset you are now able to program them on your programming track?!

There is a push button reset inside ???

[peteski]

There is a push button reset inside ???

Yes BLI decoders actually have a reset switch on board.

[C855B]

I asked this question in the other thread, but the experienced hands seem to be over here... how do you get the shell off? @jjb62556?

Oh - I discovered it doesn't like to acknowledge programming commands. It'll take them with JMRI at least, just not acknowledge.