Atlas (Lenz) Decoder CV Question

[BCR751]

I have an Atlas N-Scale ALCO C420 I'm trying to program.  It appears to have some erroneous information for some of the CV's so I would like to reset it to factory defaults.  I've been told the decoder in these locos is actually a Lenz decoder.  I don't have any info for these decoders.  What CV is used to reset the decoder to factory defaults and what is the value to be inserted?

Doug

[peteski]

Yes, early atlas decoders were made by Lenz.  This might be helpful:  https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/sr201402_dcc.pdf

[Cory Rothlisberger]

The C420s came well after Atlas parted ways with Lenz. Should be an NCE decoder from the factory.

[BCR751]

Sorry Pete!

Doug

[BCR751]

The C420s came well after Atlas parted ways with Lenz. Should be an NCE decoder from the factory.

Any idea which one?  The decoder manufacturer's NMRA assigned number is 127 which shows as Lenz on the NMRA site.  This loco is about 8 years old.

Doug

[peteski]

Any idea which one?  The decoder manufacturer's NMRA assigned number is 127 which shows as Lenz on the NMRA site.  This loco is about 8 years old.

Doug

In
https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/appendix_a_s-9_2_2_5.pdf CV8=127 is  "Atlas Model Railroad Products".  According to Cory, it is probably NCE decoder made for Atlas.

Doug, What have you tried so far?
The document I attached to my earlier post shows Lenz ID as 99 and reset is to write 33 into CV8
For NCE it shows to write 2 into CV8
If no luck, for kicks also try writing 8 into CV8.

Here is another handy list of decoder reset procedures: https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/206367503-Master-List-of-decoder-resets

[BCR751]

In
https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/appendix_a_s-9_2_2_5.pdf CV8=127 is  "Atlas Model Railroad Products".  According to Cory, it is probably NCE decoder made for Atlas.

Doug, What have you tried so far?
The document I attached to my earlier post shows Lenz ID as 99 and reset is to write 33 into CV8
For NCE it shows to write 2 into CV8
If no luck, for kicks also try writing 8 into CV8.

Here is another handy list of decoder reset procedures: https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/206367503-Master-List-of-decoder-resets

Thanks Pete.  I must have mis-read the reset CV value 'cuz it didn't work.  I'll try again.

Doug

[BCR751]

Setting CV8 to '2' had no effect.  Setting it to 33 reset the decoder so it must be a Lenz device.  I can re-program the required CV's and the loco runs fine.  However, if I try to consist it, both it and the other loco run in the opposite direction of what's shown on the throttle. Maybe Lenz decoders don't play well with others.

Doug 

[peteski]

Setting CV8 to '2' had no effect.  Setting it to 33 reset the decoder so it must be a Lenz device.  I can re-program the required CV's and the loco runs fine.  However, if I try to consist it, both it and the other loco run in the opposite direction of what's shown on the throttle. Maybe Lenz decoders don't play well with others.

Doug

Well, one hurdle is behind you. 
Do both locos use the same decoder? Are you using advanced consisting (CV19)? What DCC system do you have?  Have you successfully consisted (using the same consisting method) other locos with other decoders?

[BCR751]

Well, one hurdle is behind you. 
Do both locos use the same decoder? Are you using advanced consisting (CV19)? What DCC system do you have?  Have you successfully consisted (using the same consisting method) other locos with other decoders?

Both use the same decoder?  No.  All the rest of my locos use TCS decoders.  Just the two C420's have the Atlas ones. (I think that's going to change soon)

Using advanced consisting?  Yes

System is an NCE PowerProR 5amp.

I've consisted most of my other locos with no issues, all with TCS decoders.  Just the two C420's with the Atlas(Lenz) decoders are giving me grief.

Doug

[peteski]

That info helps, but maybe I didn't phrase one of my questions correctly:

You have problem with the advanced consist going in reverse. Are both (or all) the locos in that consist using that "mystery" decoder you had to reset?

What I'm getting at is if some loco with another brand decoder in the consist is also willingly going in reverse of the throttle indication, that would point to the command station (or incorrect consisting) and not the old Atlas decoder as the culprit.

[BCR751]

I took the offending Atlas loco off the track and put another one on.  This one has a TCS decoder so both locos have the same decoder.  I set up an advanced consist and when I tried to run them, the both went in the opposite direction from the throttle indication.  So, looks like I may have another issue.  I should also mention I'm using JMRI to do speed matching.  I've done 10 locos with no issues.  This is the first time I've experienced the direction problem and it occurred following a consisting attempt with the Lenz decoder.

Disregard all of the above.  I figured it out.  When I was exiting out of the consisting routine, I inadvertently went right to "select loco" instead of hitting "enter" first to get out of consisting.   I tried the consist setup again, this time hitting "enter" before selecting a loco and all went as it should.  I do, however, still have the issue with the Lenz decoders.  I think I'm just going to turf them and go with TCS.  They are really old anyway and likely should be replaced.

Thanks again Pete for your help.

Doug

[peteski]

Glad to have asked some probing questions - good to know that you figured it out.
I agree that those old decoders  can be troublesome due to their limited functionality. I was surprised that they were capable of advanced consisting.

But if you used JMRI (Decoder Pro) why didn't it identify those decoders for you (and also provided a way to reset them).  I thought that Decoder Pro usually can automatically identify most decoders.

[Cory Rothlisberger]

Any idea which one?  The decoder manufacturer's NMRA assigned number is 127 which shows as Lenz on the NMRA site.  This loco is about 8 years old.

Doug

That's really bizarre. Wonder if someone pulled a switcheroo on you?

[BCR751]

But if you used JMRI (Decoder Pro) why didn't it identify those decoders for you (and also provided a way to reset them).  I thought that Decoder Pro usually can automatically identify most decoders.

I did query Decoder Pro but only got the response "check CV 8".  CV 8 is shown on the DP sheet as being manufactured by Lenz, i.e. CV8=99.  However, on the programing track, when starting a programing session using "Use Programing Track", it comes up with Atlas as the manufacturer i.e. 127.  I have no idea........

Doug