Hello everyone, I just recently installed two Digitrax DN163K0A decoders in my Kato PA-1 locomotives. I believe that I installed everything correctly according to the directions from the sheet. I isolated the metal strips and had to add a small foam piece to hold down the contact to the decoder. I cleaned the very dirty wheels. So, yes it will run with DC although the light on both locomotives does not work. But, they are flashing whenever I programmed them and tested them again after I cleaned the wheels. So, it is receiving power to the motor on DC. And the decoders can be recognized by the DCS52. All of my functions are on and my decoder is set to an short address so they will match the locomotives. The CV is 55. I am not sure what exactly that I am doing wrong or missing. I am thinking that maybe there’s a function that is turned off and I don’t see it. I am stumped on this one. Anyone who Has installed this decoder into a similar or exact locomotive. Please enlighten me. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Does it move when writing or reading the decoder. Kind of very small jerky steps moving forward. Sounds like the decoder is getting current but the motor contacts aren't contacting the decoder and sending current from the decoder to the motor. It would only take one of them not making contact to cause the problem. Sumner
Yes, Sumner it does the little jitter with the light flashing. This is what is confusing for me. It’s doing everything that it’s supposed to do whenever you add an address or testing it. Did I over isolate it? Before I just taped the area as suggested. Then I added some more tape to the bottom of the decoder between the strip and the board. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Try recalculate CV29 and reprogram it. I had in the past the odd occasion where it did funny things with the address. Have you checked if the lok address is the same as you have programmed in?
Yes put in the values for CB17 & 18 and see what the current address is..... http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29 calculator.htm Also check the value for CV 29 and see if the long address has been set... https://www.digitrax.com/support/cv/calculators/ From what you said above it does look like the motor is getting current since it is moving during programming. Maybe it is that the address has been set to an unknow number or it is long address and the decoder is set for a short address or the other way around. Use the calculators above and you might find the problem. Sumner
So whenever I programmed it for 55 I should have kept it on 29. Hmm I will have to dig into this tomorrow. I will let y’all know what happens. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Did you try to run the engines on address "3" before making any changes? Are you sure you programmed the primary address ("short" address or ad2) and not the extended address (ad4)? Although Digitrax will not let you control an extended address below 128, it will actually let you program one. I don't know what you're saying here. Did you mean the address is 55 or did you do something with CV 55? The first thing I would try is to do a decoder reset (for Digitrax you program CV 8 to 8) and try to run it on address "3".
This was it! I wasn’t aware of Digitrax addresses on short addresses will not run as 0074 in long. I put 55 in the cv 29 as55 this was the mistake! I am so used to punching in 55 and having long addresses. With these both being 73 & 74 it changed the value to 23. Never noticed that before. Thanks Robert for pointing that out! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
For now, these two beautiful PA-1’s will be pulling freight duty on the Bouzolle subdivision. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Glad you/they are up and running. I'm not familiar with programming with Digitrax. Does it let you see/read the individual CV values? I personally use JRMI's DecoderPro and love it for programming and also like that I can build my roster and keep that in order. Also run EngineDriver on an Android phone and call up loco's via either their address or off the roster which makes it nice. If you aren't using it I'd strongly suggest looking into it. I also bought the LokSound programmer for some sound decoders I'll be adding but haven't used it yet. Sumner
Thanks Sumner! Neither am I familiar with programming Digitrax. Nor do I have JMRI. I only have apple in my household. Obviously! The DCS52 gives me a base reading of the decoders. It will let me change the value of the program. This is why I had issues. I normally run a four number value for my locomotives. These two are only two digits. Instead of running 55 on the cv29 I had to reset it. Some odd reason it didn’t respond to 0074 or 74 in the 55. Once it went to reset. The light was working after reset and I knew I was good to go. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Okay then, I was told different. Only thing is that my system is not updated. It’s an older system. I will search for the program for Mac. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I wholeheartedly recommend JMRI! I use it on Linux (Raspberry Pi), but it runs on Win & Apple too (not sure about new Apples w/ARM processors). Your Zephyr has a USB interface built in, to communicate with the computer running JMRI. JMRI can also use your computer to serve WiFi throttles or smartphone throttle apps on your own home WiFi network (so you don't have to swap your phone back and forth between WiFi networks for layout and home use).
Just one other suggestion for the Kato locomotives, it is much more reliable if you solder the motor leads to the decoder for the PA units, F units, E units and P42 Genesis and the F40PH locomotives.
Very true. This is how that I do it. Use the tip of a toothpick and put a little paste flux on the pads of the decoder and the underside of the tab from the motor. Tin the pads on the decoder with a very small amount of solder. With a toothpick, push the tab down against the solder on the pad and hold it there. Touch the top of the tab with your soldering iron. As soon as you see the solder melt, lift your iron. Continue to hold the tab for a few seconds with the toothpick. Then do the other side.
I noticed a little spring in one of the decoders between the contact strips and the decoder itself. Yes, one of the locomotives was not getting power to the motor due to this. So I used some 15mm x 15mm x 2mm foam pad and placed it on top of the plastic tab that holds the motor contact strips down. I will eventually go back and solider the strips to the decoder later on. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
