It's enough to drive you nuts: DCS200 freaking out

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What is going on here?

[MK]

Disconnect everything and I mean everything to the DCS200.  Fire it up.  I'm going to guess that it won't beep.

Now connect one thing at a time to see if you get the beeps.  If not connect the next thing, etc.  I know that's a brute force approach but unless you can decipher the beep error codes.

[John]

https://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB505/command-station-audible-beeps-dcs100-dcs200-db150/#:~:text=The%20DCS100%2C%20200%2C%20240%20and%20DB150%20use%20several,loco%20address%20has%20been%20%22purged%22%20due%20to%20non-use.


I agree -- but with a slight change -- disconnect the last thing you added to the box first - then try to power it up ..    also make sure your cables are correctly built ..

Also - while the box looks nice - it's possible you have a heat issue

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yeah, I figured I'd go through the usual troubleshooting procedure like that.

It's just incredibly frustrating because NOTHING has changed since it worked the night previously. No new devices. Same throttles, same trains, etc...

I don't think it's heat. I just started it up so there's nothing residual AND there's a nice PC fan blowing air out of the box to keep it all cool.

I'll do some troubleshooting today and will follow up.

[Maletrain]

Yeah, I figured I'd go through the usual troubleshooting procedure like that.

It's just incredibly frustrating because NOTHING has changed since it worked the night previously. No new devices. Same throttles, same trains, etc...

I don't think it's heat. I just started it up so there's nothing residual AND there's a nice PC fan blowing air out of the box to keep it all cool.

I'll do some troubleshooting today and will follow up.

This sounds like a loose or shorted wire, if it worked since the last mods.

If you can't figure out how to fix it, it sounds like you might be able to write a "rap" to its rhythm - maybe something about Digitrax. 

[peteski]

It's just incredibly frustrating because NOTHING has changed since it worked the night previously. No new devices. Same throttles, same trains, etc...

Um, since it was working before, but not now, *SOMETHING* has changed for sure.  If nothing hasn't changed, it would still be working.

I had a chuckle since my job is troubleshooting computer problems, and that "nothing has changed" line is often stated by my customers.   Well *SOMETHING* has changed, you just don't yet know what.  Once we figure out what as changed, we can get it working again.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Um, since it was working before, but not now, *SOMETHING* has changed for sure.  If nothing hasn't changed, it would still be working.

I had a chuckle since my job is troubleshooting computer problems, and that "nothing has changed" line is often stated by my customers.   Well *SOMETHING* has changed, you just don't yet know what.  Once we figure out what as changed, we can get it working again.   

Hahahah. A very good point. Noting has intentionally changed.

[John]

Did you connect a ground wire between the booster and the BXP?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Did you connect a ground wire between the booster and the BXP?

No. I connected a "common return" 

[John]

No. I connected a "common return" 

should be the same thing ..

[Ed Kapuscinski]

should be the same thing ..

Well, it's KINDA the same thing, but you know that people get awfully touchy about calling the "return" a "ground" since it's not actually grounded.

[EL3632]

Strange thing to suggest, but have you checked the battery? There are the circular type of battery on the inside of these, and when they go bad they make the system do weird stuff like that.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Strange thing to suggest, but have you checked the battery? There are the circular type of battery on the inside of these, and when they go bad they make the system do weird stuff like that.

Funny, that's EXACTLY what @John and I were texting about. I'm going to try that today.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Status update.
Did the full reset (OP Switch 39): No change.
Replaced the CMOS battery: no change.

I get the same results no matter if the layout's various devices are plugged in or not.

I'm really starting to think that the command station is just borked.

Is there a way to test Loconet "quality"?

[mu26aeh]

I forwarded your video to Dave Trone who also uses Digitrax for his huge mushroom West Penn HO scale layout.  I'll let you know what he thinks