ESU 73100 decoder problems

[woodone]

Been working on some Kato locomotives that the 73100 would fit into.
I have been having problems. With the decoder hooked up with test leads soldered to the decoder. Rail power in, motor power out, on light hooked up and the speaker connected.
With the ESU programmer I downloaded the sound file I wanted and the sound file uploaded into the decoder.
Now when I go the  cab to operate. I get zero- no sound or motor control.
Tried to operate with an NCE Power Cab and it tells me it can't read the decoder.
I tried the whole program again with the same results- This is on two brand new decoders- same problems?
Any thoughts?

[RBrodzinsky]

Is it failing on the tester, or in a loco?

[woodone]

Rick, It is just hooked up to the motor, speaker and rail input, because it does not fit into a decoder tester. But it does simulate a tester.
short jumper wires soldered to the decoder and then to the motor, speaker and the rail input.

[RBrodzinsky]

I am stumped then. If the sound file load worked, I don’t know what would then cause it to lose its mind.

Try a reset; then try to force a firmware update. But those are shots in the dark.

[tehachapifan]

Sorry if this is too simple and obvious, but the loco's address will default back to 3 upon sound file download (or is it upload?) in the event you started with a different address.

[Steveruger45]

I have just been having an issue with the 73100 decoder too.
In my case everything works except motor travel forward.
Sound works in both directions, bell, lights functions etc etc all work and motor does travel in reverse, just nada movement forward.
I think it may be a bad rectifier but not sure. Can’t see anything wrong or burnt or shorted out at all.
Did reset et al, put on tester and firmware is up to date, sound file ok.
On the power cab I do get can’t read cvs, but on the tester I can read them.
I’m stumped too.
I’m beginning not to like these decoders for a number of reasons including what Peteski said about them plus they are about as much work to put in as the micro select 73800.
I’d rather sand out shells I’m thinking.

[woodone]

When the programmer is finished prorgaming the file I do change the address. I also change a few things like motor speed , sound volume.
When I go to the cab to test, the address is already there . First thing I try is to sound the horn. If that works I figure that I have a good working decoder.
Is there a way to do a reset using the ESU programmer?
When I try using my Power Cab, it will not read any CV’s, so I can’ t do a reset with the Power Cab.
Steve, I am with you about using the select micro decoder (73800) .  After tinkering with fitting the direct into the frame and soldering the direct in place I think that I could have been done installing the regular Select Micro.

[woodone]

Answering my own question. I was able to get to CV8 to try a reset using the ESU programmer- Problem was that it read back can't read CV.
Tried more than one CV with the same results.
I went back to some of my saved sound files and did a complete update on the decoder using a previously used file..Guess what!!
Now the decoder works??
I am now downloading the correct file to the decoder to see what happens next.

[RBrodzinsky]

Jerry - and others, for future reference:
     In LokProgrammer, to reset the attached decoder, select "Programmer" on the menu, then "Reset Decoder..."   No need to worry about the CV

Certainly sounds as if something went wrong with the first programming load.  Glad to hear the decoder came back to life.

[woodone]

Thank Rick.
I will use that if I need to do a reset.
Where I am right now? I downloaded the correct file (the same one I had tried before). Again the decoder is dead!
Returned to my saved file and updated the decoder- Now it is working again.
Bad file?

[woodone]

I should add,  that the file I am trying to get to work is a 73845,  for an C30-7

[RBrodzinsky]

Yeah, something wrong with file. I would try getting a fresh download of it from the ESU site.  Have you tried loading it into a 73800 Select Micro?

[woodone]

Rich,
For all of my installs I download right from the ESU sound files. I don't store any on the PC thinking that if there is an update I will get the latest version when I down load a file from ESU's site.

[peteski]

In my case everything works except motor travel forward.
Sound works in both directions, bell, lights functions etc etc all work and motor does travel in reverse, just nada movement forward.
I think it may be a bad rectifier but not sure. Can’t see anything wrong or burnt or shorted out at all.
Did reset et al, put on tester and firmware is up to date, sound file ok.

If a bridge rectifier (one or more diodes were damaged) then that would affect the entire decoder (not just the motor).  That rectifier supplies DC power to the entire decoder.

If hardware is s a suspect in this type of a problem then the culprit will be one or more components damaged in one of the legs of the H-bridge which powers the motor.

[reinhardtjh]

Rich,
For all of my installs I download right from the ESU sound files. I don't store any on the PC thinking that if there is an update I will get the latest version when I down load a file from ESU's site.

There is still a chance that something got corrupted during the download.  ESU doesn't provide any kind of checksum to verify the files so there is no way of knowing should there be any corruption.  All you can do is download again and see if the outcome is any different.