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Author Topic: Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO  (Read 1796 times)

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RDG_Rich

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Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO
« on: January 16, 2010, 04:39:43 PM »
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So my very first decoder install has gone Super cough...cough.

I picked up a used Atlas Commander on fleabay. Today I picked up a digitrax board replacement for my Micro Trains FT.

Hooked everything up...

F0 works! I can turn the headlight on and off!

Too bad that's ALL I can do.  Loco doesn't move. The decoder instructions say look for a short between the frame and the motor leads. Okay...ummm I can't SEE any...kapton tape appears to be doing what it's supposed to...

The other interesting thing is the command station can't find the address of the decoder.

What next?
« Last Edit: January 16, 2010, 04:43:17 PM by RDG_Rich »
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Bob Bufkin

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Re: Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2010, 04:43:05 PM »
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Had the same problem with a Kato E-8.  Send it to Lee, he'll fix anything!
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mmyers

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Re: Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2010, 06:41:48 AM »
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If you have control of the lights, you have control of the decoder. What address are you using to control the lights? That's the decoder's current address. Look again for a bad connection between the motor posts and the motor terminals.

Martin Myers
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RDG_Rich

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Re: Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2010, 09:01:33 AM »
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That's the bit that I can't figure out.

The lights work on the default address (03) but when I go to programming mode, I get an error that the address is not found.

I guess I should get some batteries for my multimeter...
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Ian MacMillan

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Re: Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2010, 12:18:12 PM »
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Try reprogramming the decoder to see if somehow it "lost" something.
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RDG_Rich

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Re: Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2010, 12:34:45 PM »
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I've given up.

There is definately a short somewhere. The motor pad clips aren't getting any juice.  The thing that I hate most about this hobby is electronics and wiring, and before I let the magic smoke out, I just put the shell back together and put it in the box.  Hopefully our resident decoder dude is willing to do another install.

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Packer

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Re: Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2010, 10:37:00 PM »
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Quote from: RDG_Rich on January 17, 2010, 09:01:33 AM
That's the bit that I can't figure out.

The lights work on the default address (03) but when I go to programming mode, I get an error that the address is not found.

I guess I should get some batteries for my multimeter...

decoder could be faulty, I have a Dh163IP that does the same thing
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Vincent

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mmyers

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Re: Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2010, 10:30:23 PM »
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It's a long shot but make sure the Commander is set on 128 speed steps.
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