Problem with programming a TCS cn decoder on Digitrax

[soo]

Howdy,,I recently purchased a tcs cn decoder to put in my LL C 424. Got everything wired up. Went to program,, I get a NoAk message. Meaning decoder is not acknowlged.  Decoder works great on address 03.

This is the first tcs decoder I bought,,thinking I will not by any more.

Any one have any ideas???

Wyatt

[C855B]

Double-double-check that your motor contacts are isolated from the frame. Wiring a CN makes the job of DCC in a non-DCC frame easier, but still not mostly foolproof like a drop-in will be. I had a similar problem with the CN, and it was basically my fault, a motor tab had slipped out of place during reassembly and was contacting one side. Frame and motor must be absolutely, completely isolated from each other.

This problem is better than the alternative - I'll take chasing a wacky problem over letting out the magic smoke any day.

[soo]

Mike, I checked the contact areas. Wrapped the contacts with kapton tape. Maybe I just need a break. I don't know what else I can do. Maybe a dz125 is the answer. I was really hoping these would work,,oh well.

Wyatt

[johnhale]

I have dropped 10+ TCS CN decoders in various older locos. Every issue I had vice 1 was due to not properly isolating the motor (as pointed out above). I did get one TCS CN that was dead on arrival, I went to TCS's web site plugged it in and they sent me a new one.

I am a fan of TCS, I have TCS decoders, Digitrax, and a few others and I always opt for a TCS if I can. I also program using a Digitrax Zephyr, and I keep a load on the programming track just to program other types of decoders (like Bachmanns) also.

John

[Bendtracker1]

Howdy,,I recently purchased a tcs cn decoder to put in my LL C 424. Got everything wired up. Went to program,, I get a NoAk message. Meaning decoder is not acknowlged.  Decoder works great on address 03.

This is the first tcs decoder I bought,,thinking I will not by any more.

Any one have any ideas???

Wyatt

Wyatt don't give up on the CN and CN/GP decoders, these are great little decoders, but as C855 mentioned: "but still not mostly foolproof like a drop-in will be."

If it works on "03", what road number are you trying to program it to?  1,2,3 or4 digits?  Be sure you are programming it with the proper 2 or 4 digit settings.  If it's a 1,2 or 3 digit road number, remember that there are a limited amount of 2 digit numbers that you can use; "01-02", "04-127".  "128 and above" are set for 4 digit numbers.  There is a limit to the highest numbers though, Digitrax is something like 9983, not sure what TCS's is.

I had this happen recently to me when I was trying to program a three digit road number with four digit setting.  I was trying to program the chip with a road number of #120 as a 4 digit address and there was no response, so I reprogrammed it to 03 and it worked just fine.  After a phone call, my friend reminded me of the 2 digit & 4 digit number settings.  When I programmed it as a 2 digit address of #120, it worked just fine.

[soo]

John,,what kind of load are you keeping on the programming track? . Would the lack of motor frame isolation cause the " no acknowlement" error to pop up. ( NoAk). I even reset op sw 39, losing patience fast! I do know when I ran the orange and gray wires, I completely wrapped the motor contact area in kapton tape...thinking,,,I know I did not wrap the wire in the tape. I got out the handy dandy optivisor and looked to make sure there where no stray strands of wires touching anything.

  I called tcs this morning, they said it could be a contact issue. They recommended to add a little bit solder to the contact pads on the circuit board,,done that,,still did not work. I even completely re-did the wires,,,no luck.

  Allen, I savvy the decoder address thingy. I tried to prog an addy of 10 under the two digit address option,,still receive NoAk. I know the two digit addresses stop at 127,,,then you progress by setting cv 29 to accept 4 digit addressing. By using the cv calculator on their web site  cv17 =193 and cv18=146 gives the addy of 402.

  I can't program anything,,,keep getting NoAk. Driving me to get my BFH and fix it for good! BFH = big f'n hammer.

  I know i have seen the no-d on Digicrap,,which means,,,ready for this...no decoder. I don't get that...I just get NoAk. Might just turn it in to tcs and start from scratch.

Thanks for the help guys.

Wyatt

[davefoxx]

Wyatt,

Off topic (because that's what we do around here), but have you noticed the "right bracket" between the SD40-2 gifs in your signature of your posts?  If you take it out, I'll bet the locomotives will couple.

DFF

[johnhale]

Wyatt,
  I have not done a C-424 before. This picture is from spookshows website:

Is that the right loco?

John

[soo]

John,, winner winner chicken dinner!!!!

  yes that is the loco. I just filled a warranty claim with TCS,,will mail out tomorrow. Unless youse guys can figure it out before then.

  Thanks for all the help,
Wyatt

[johnhale]

Wyatt,
 There are three "hot spots" to worry about on this frame (that I am aware of).



Top right and Top left, make sure the connecting pads are firmly seated into the loco frame. Sometimes you need to add a dab of solder on the pad to make it "thicker" to get a tighter fit.

The bottom one is to make sure the truck wiper is not contacting the frame of the motor in any way (both sides) you may need to add kapton tape here to make sure.

Hope that helps,
John

P.S. I downloaded that photo from spookshows website and marked it up without permission. Please accept my apology.

[soo]

John , I did all those items you suggested,,still no workie. Man this is tiring.

Wyatt

[central.vermont]

Wyatt,

Been there done that friend.  The only thing that I would suggest is bench test the decoder out of the chassis. If you have a spare motor and some alligator clips with wire this would at least take any questions out of your installation in the chassis if it still doesn't work.

Good luck my friend, Jon

[Ian MacMillan]

Are you using a throttle or software? I have several TCS decoders that do not like being programmed from JMRI and will only take programming from the throttle.   It's weird.

[soo]

Jon, I have bench tested, and still does not work, mailing back to TCS tomorrow.

Ian, not using JMRI, using  DT402D and DCS 100. I just don't know what is going on.

Wyatt

[sizemore]

Did you try programming CV29 and then the address? If it works on 03 the wiring is solid and no short.

The S.