Continuation of my effort to have a running locomotive

Hi Sarah, Nick's post above is very good advice and simple enough to follow - for testing purposes, just twist the wire ends together once you've unscrewed them from the decoder (and maybe wrap a little bit of tape round each join so that you don't risk them touching each other). Forget your EZ DCC controller for the moment, all you're trying to establish is whether the loco's motor runs in both directions once disconnected from the decoder - as Nick says, just use your old DC controller.

Let us know what happens, we're all keen to hear! :)

Jon.
 
I have now been able to prove the loco does at least work. As recommended, and thank you for the suggestion, I set it up with my DC controller (with the decoder still wired in) and it works very well both forward and reverse.
I then wired up my voltmeter to the EZ DCC controller. On address 10 (Analogue Locomotive Operation) I do get a read out on the volt meter when on the AC scale. However I do not get a reading on any other of the 9 addresses. Then attaching the controllers wires to the locomotive with the volt meter still in circuit I again have a reading. So I do have power going to the locomotive at address 10 with the decoder in the circuit.
Unfortunately again I get no reading at any of the other 9 addresses.
How can I determine which address the decoder is set to please (or is that a silly question)? Or how do I set my locomotive to an address on my controller please? (Or another silly question?)
Thank you.
Sarah Winfield
 
[thought it didn't post this message, but it's a duplicate post after all. Deleted!]
 
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The DCC system should be putting out an AC-like signal to the track ALL THE TIME (unless you've hit an emergency stop function) regardless of which address button you select and regardless of the speed control knob setting. Even on address 10 the system is still putting out that same signal, just bending it a bit so that an unchipped loco can be driven.

Household/hobbyist voltmeters were never designed to read a DCC signal, the frequency is much higher and its not a sine wave like typical AC derived from the household mains. You may not get a true reading.

[edit] Just tried one of my small scale DCC systems with my digital multimeter, it does seem to read around 14V on the AC setting. However my old analogue moving pointer meter doesn't see much. [edit]
 
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Here's the manual for the EZ Command system:
http://www.bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/ez_man.pdf

Your EZ Command cannot read decoders to determine the address - for that you need a full featured DCC system with a programming track facility.

Your EZ Command can set decoder addresses but because it doesn't have a programming track facility it has to be done on the main line so you need to make sure there's only the one loco on the track.

As I suggested before, to get the decoder properly checked out you need to find a friendly local forum member who runs DCC and has decoder programming facilities, or perhaps a helpful model shop with such facilities? I'd be happy to help but I'm in the south-east corner.

Another alternative might be to remove the decoder and post it to someone who can check it over for you.
 
Sarah, which part of Dorset are you in?
 
Sarah, I think your Decoder is an LGB one. It can only have an adress between 1 and 22. Try each one till you get a responce. Still more likely to be No.3 as tgat is the default when a decoder is sold new.
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
Sarah, I think your Decoder is an LGB one....
JonD
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Hmm... don't think so Jon. Sarah quite clearly stated it was an LE230 V1 in the other thread, and the picture of the Stainz shows a decoder with screw terminals which LGB decoders don't have.
 
Definitely not an LGB decoder - plus there is the added problem that the EZ Command can only reach addresses 01-09, so if the decoder is set to anything higher then it's not going to work anyhow without the address being changed....

Jon.
 
Thank you for your continued support for me and my problem. Please feel free at anytime to cease your replies.
The latest situation is that I have set up my EZ controller with a digital voltmeter. On all address I am getting a reading of 17.8 however only on address 10 does this change when I turn the knob. Which is what you have been saying.
So, as I know the locomotive works and the controller works presumably it must be the decoder? (I appreciate this was suggested early on in this thread but I had to prove it for myself)
Is there anything I can do other than to replace the decoder, please? I am doubtful this is something I can actually do but will await your further comments.
Sarah
 
Given that you've had the loco running on your DC controller in both directions and with the decoder still fitted, this would seem to imply the decoder itself isn't physically damaged, it's probably just set to an address outside the range of your EZ Command.

Try following the instructions in the EZ Command manual to set the loco address - see the "Reference FAQ" section in that link I posted earlier. Start from "I don't know the loco address". Given that the LE230 is a rather old decoder it may or may not accept the style of programming instructions from the EZ Command but it's worth a try.

You'll need to make sure you keep a good connection while the programming is in progress - if you don't have any G track then use crocodile clips to clip wires to the skates while the loco is upside down. Usually the wheels do little jiggles when the programming is sent to the decoder, this is the decoder acknowledging the instructions being sent.
 
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ntpntpntp said:
Hmm... don't think so Jon. Sarah quite clearly stated it was an LE230 V1 in the other thread, and the picture of the Stainz shows a decoder with screw terminals which LGB decoders don't have.
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Oops wrong sorry! Looked like n LGB one.
JonD
 
Sarah Winfield said:
Although of a decrepit age, all my life I have messed things up. It's just the way I am hence my reluctance.
I'll persevere and hopefully something will come right.
Sarah
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Yep, that pretty well sums up the GSC membership :rofl:
 
Hi Sarah,
I'm in S. Somerset, between Chard and Axminster, I have some DCC experience as I use a Lenz set-up on the 4mm layout, although the garden line remains analogue. If I can be of assistance, PM me and we'll get something arranged for when I'm back in the UK in a couple of weeks.
 
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