Digitrax DCS100 Kaput?

[kverdon]

i am afraid my Digitrax DCS 100 has gone kaput. I fired up the train layout and when I turned track power on none of the locomotives would move. The sound on one of my diesels kept revving up and then restarting over and over. When I disconnected the DCS100 from the layout and connected it to a test track, the loco I used would surge down the track cyclically speeding up and slowing down. Am I right in thinking it’s done for?

It looks like the only option for a replacement is a DCS240.  Can I used a DCS240 with my DCS150 as a booster?

Thanks, I think I just got some coal in my stocking.
 
Kevin 

[davefoxx]

Isn't there a battery that needs to be replaced from time to time in a DCS100?  I have no idea if that would cause your problem, but, hopefully, it's as simple as replacing a battery, rather than scrapping a command station.

DFF

[Mark W]

Isn't there a battery that needs to be replaced from time to time in a DCS100?

Yes.  And check the power supply voltage too.
The power supply is probably more likely to fail than the DCS100.  It could be that it's outputting just enough voltage to turn things on, but not enough to process them correctly. 

[rapidomike]

@kverdon  - It might not hurt to do a full factory reset of the command station.

From digitrax troubleshooting pages:

Follow these instructions to work with Option Switches in your DCS100/DCS200 and DB150 command station or booster:
1. Place the MODE toggle switch in the Center OP position
2. Press the "SWCH" key
3. Enter 3, 6 to clear the slots or 3, 9 to reset the unit to factory defaults
4. Press the "c" key (which is also the Cloc key). 
5. Now go back to the command station/booster and move the MODE toggle switch Down to "Sleep" and then up to "Run". 

If that fails, I'm sure digitrax can help you out. Looks like they can repair a DCS100 for a $35 flat fee. http://www.digitrax.com/support/returns/step1/

[kverdon]

Thanks all,

I did replace the CMOS battery and the power supply checks out but still no dice. I am doing a hard-reset by disconnecting the power and pulling the CMOS battery and leaving it out for a few minutes. We will see if that does the trick.

Kevin

[kverdon]

Well as the saying of the season goes “I bring you good tidings of great joy..” the hard reset WORKED! Things are back working. Have to redo all the consisting but I’ll take that over buying a new command station.

[John]

As long as you have to redo all the setups, if you can hook it up to JMRI you can then read the settings and save them in JMRI