[zefram]

I recently ordered 3 Bachmann locos, but as soon as they arrived I had problems. I bought 2 DCC with sound, and one DCC without sound.

First, a quick note about my setup. I don't have a layout yet, I just have 2 meters of test track setup to play around. It has some switches on it, but for debugging I unplugged those in case there was a short. I have a Zephyr/DCS51. Other locos (BLI, Athearn, Walthers) are working just fine on this track.

The DCC without sound actually runs fine. But I can't access it with JMRI, and I wasn't able to program it using the Zephyr using either programming track leads or on the main.

The two DCC with sound locos just don't work at all. When they're on the track by themselves, there's no sign of life at all (using CV3).. that is until I turn off the power to the track, then they flash. When they're on the track together, they flash their lights 10 times. When one of them is on the track with another loco, they do the 10 flashes sometimes and sometimes make strange noises.

Then it gets even weirder for me.. When the working loco is receiving commands, sound seems to kinda work from the locos. When the working loco is moving at around speed step 5, the locos can operate. (?!?!?)

Does anyone have any idea what's going on??

For reference, the units I bought are:

#62808 GP9 DIESEL (DCC EQUIPPED) - Pennsylvania (this is the one that kinda works)
#65409 Conrail - NS Heritage - GE ES44AC - DCC Sound Value
#66803 CSX - EMD GP38-2 with DCC Sound Value

Thanks!

John

 

[mesenteria]

You can't operate on CV3. Or, did you mean Add "03"?

Bachmann locomotives are packaged differently. Is there any foam padding inserted someplace? Happened to me on a steamer.

Will one of them operate on Add "03"? If not, and you know you have track power that is DCC, do a reset. CV08 to "08".

Then, you MUST remove track power after pressing 'enter' and the loco jerks or whatever...lights blink. Remove track power after all goes still.

Restore track power and acquire Add "03". The locomotive should work. Then, using the correct procedure per the Zephyr's manual, set the address for the cab number. Remember that CV29 requires a specific value depending on how you want to configure the decoder for lights, long hood forward, long address vs. short address, as examples. Consult a Cv29 'calculator' available on line.

 

[Shdwdrgn]

Just for reference, there is actually a DCC group here, down lower.

I don't have a lot of experience with DCC yet but I can try to throw out some suggestions. You didn't mention if you had changed the address on each of the new locos? They all come preset as cab #3 and you need to change them to unique numbers. The error being flashes may be due to multiple units responding to the same cab number?

Have you downloaded the DCC sheet from Bachmann? Maybe the CVs are different from the previous locos you have. My understanding is that the Bachmann locos with sound are using a branded version of the Soundtraxx econami decoder, so that might also give you some more info to work with.

 

[zefram]

I don't have a lot of experience with DCC yet but I can try to throw out some suggestions. You didn't mention if you had changed the address on each of the new locos? They all come preset as cab #3 and you need to change them to unique numbers. The error being flashes may be due to multiple units responding to the same cab number?

Thanks for the idea about the DCC forum. I'll see how things go there, and then maybe ask.. but I'm kinda thinking it's a Bachmann problem, honestly. Like, I was hoping maybe they short out easily somehow or there's common knowledge about why the Bachmanns are misbehaving.

Getting back to your questions, when the loco is by itself on the track, it doesn't respond at all. And, when adding my BLI to the track which has been renumbered from #3, it still blinks..

 

[zefram]

You can't operate on CV3. Or, did you mean Add "03"?

Hahaha Yeah, I meant Address 3, not CV3. :goofball:

Okay, I actually figured out what was going on, thanks to you. I had wanted to make sure I tried everything I could to try and reset the loco. Nothing I tried would make the new locos read CVs.

As a sanity check, I tried out my BLI. I couldn't read from that too. So, I tried using a different set of wires, no good. I tried alligator clips... and I heard a strange buzzing (with nothing on the track).

Listening for what was buzzing, I found out the Piko clip that I was using to attach wires to the track.. Somehow, it was interfering with the DCC signal, and causing these trains not to work.

So, problem solved! Thanks for the help!!

 

[MichaelE]

How was a track clip interfering with a DCC signal? A track clip that provides power to the rails?

 

[zefram]

How was a track clip interfering with a DCC signal? A track clip that provides power to the rails?

Yeah, it's the Piko Track Power Clip. It apparently does not like DCC. Although, from that description it does say "Connection clip fits on any PIKO straight track piece to provide analog track power." I just had it laying around, after my cat ate the wires on the other connector I had - wires soldered to a track connector.

 

[Lemonhawk]

I don't know why some cats like wires. 2 of ours ignore them, one every now and then munches. What I found that seems to work is orange spray (Air Therapy brand in this case), seems cats have an aversion to orange flavor. About once a month I spray dangling computer cables and the HDMI, Ethernet cables running around the room. Easier than trying to run the wires in the attic, as even then you still need to protect the going into the wall and coming out.