I really don't want to be doing this!

S

Sarah Winfield

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My multi-meter says i have power on my rails. It tells me I have power at my locomotive wheels. My controller is on the correct address and I don't have a short. I've tried switching my controller on and off but with no luck.

I've checked everything I can think of but still my locomotive doesn't want to move?

I'm getting disillusioned with DCC. Personally I think it was easier to fault find with DC.

I would welcome members thoughts please?

Thank you,

Sarah Winfield
 
An intermittent fault between the Central Station and track, would be my guess?? - Didn't you have a problem with the feed to the track before?
 
Sarah, are you still using croc clips for your track connections, or have you got yourself some proper connectors yet?

Jon.
 
Will another loco run OK?

Have you tried connecting your track supply directly to your loco pickups? ie. is it the power pickup system on the loco
 
Zerogee said:
Sarah, are you still using croc clips for your track connections, or have you got yourself some proper connectors yet?

Jon.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid I'm using croclips still. I check these quite diligently. I don't like to firm up everything until I understand how things work. In this way I've a better chance of finding a fault if I know what might be causing it.

Bearing in mind what I started this topic with, a description of what I had checked and that I had determined everything that should have power did, I don't understand why the locomotive stayed stationary!

I presume that even with my croclips if I have a reading on my meter it means I have power to that part of my layout?
 
Thanks Greg. To answer your questions:-
1.. It is running on my layout.
2. No, it is on the main circuit.
2. It's not really intermittent. For example the locomotive will happily be chugging round but suddenly stop. The first thing I do, after I've checked for a short, is get my multi-meter and confirm I have power on the rails.

Usually everything appears OK but no matter what I try the locomotive still refuses to budge. I lift off the locomotive and try pushing buttons on the controller and when I put the locomotive back on the track more likely than not it will start to move again. It's the uncertainty which is frustrating.

Like I said in the title, I really didn't want to bother the forum again. Maybe this is something I'm just going to have to live with?

I've a R/C locomotive due and it'll be interesting to see how that behaves.

SW
 
Sarah Winfield said:
I'm getting disillusioned with DCC. Personally I think it was easier to fault find with DC.

I would welcome members thoughts please?

Thank you,

Sarah Winfield
Click to expand...

Precisely why I haven't gone DCC, and actively advocate getting to grips with DC before even considering DCC. Just my personal opinion, but, each to their own.
Call me old fashioned (but never call me late for dinner).
 
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Sarah, don't forget that your DCC system is a very old, very basic and low-power one intended for running OO layouts - I realise that you're just using what you already have, but it's never going to give you the performance (or, it seems, the reliability) that you would get from a modern system optimised for large-scale use. In many ways you're making things more difficult than they need to be by struggling with an unsuitable system...... things like still connecting your power to the rails with a couple of crocodile clips are really not going to be helping.
Not trying to be negative, but I started in DCC with an LGB MTS2 starter set, and right from the first setting up it just simply worked, and worked well.

Jon.
 
Jon, it wouldn't matter if I had the most expensive and technologically advanced equipment I'd still end up with a dog's breakfast. I have to do everything within my "railway budget".

Believe me there are actually people like me as I prove by just being here.

While I get frustrated I do quite enjoy watching my trains navigate round my garden when they are behaving.

SW
 
(comment not super helpful or needed Gavin don't you think?)

Anyway Sarah, do you have a second DCC loco? If this happens regularly, it would be a simple matter to isolate it between your DCC system and the loco. Almost sounds like the loco overheats and needs to cool off... that does not make sense of course, but strange.

Voltage on the tracks (thank you for measuring and reporting that) seems to indicate that the output has not shut off.

So one working theory is that the DCC system has heated up enough that while still putting voltage on the tracks, it is not sending proper commands.

So that is the reason I am asking about another loco. If when this happens you put a different loco on the track, if it runs, it's the loco if it does not, it's the command station.

This is the "divide and conquer" method of decomposing the problem into parts. (for you automobile buffs it's the pull the spark plug, if wet, it is electrical, if dry, it's fuel)

Anyway, please do not get discouraged, it can be determined. I forgot the system you are using too, sorry, if you could mention the DCC system you are using just for reference)

Best regards,

Greg
 
Sarah, picking up on Greg's comments above.... I assume that all the stuff you're doing at the moment is with your first DCC Stainz that John S checked/repaired for you - but haven't you also got two more DCC chipped Stainzes, newer models I believe, that you said you bought from Glendale Junction? Also, I think you bought that black LGB 0-6-0 Diesel which was already DCC chipped too?
Have you actually tested any of those on the track yet, and if so do they exhibit any of the same problems?

Jon.
 
Greg, I think Sarah is using an old Bachmann EZ Command system, a very early DCC setup designed for indoor OO/HO layouts - probably only delivering about 12 volts at a fairly low current (maybe 0.5-1 amp?), and with 9 selectable loco addresses via buttons on the unit.....

Jon.
 
Hi Sarah,

You can see by the number of replies you are getting to your challenges there is no problem in providing this assistance so I wouldn't worry that your are troubling anyone (probably the contrary actually).

I agree with Jon's comment above. The most frustrating thing for me on my system (or with any of my hobbies) is when poor or old gear constantly gives grief.
 
So, the current information on the Bachmann site says 1 amp... ok for single Stainz DC, but perhaps almost on the edge for unit with older decoder and as well pointed out, the lower voltage. The lower voltage should tend to try to draw more current, since people normally measure the Stainz current on higher voltage supplies.

Perhaps finding a used (low price!) EZ Command 5 amp booster would help? I might have access to one.... I'll have to see...

Has anyone used one there? In the US it comes with a 110v power supply, but hopefully there's a 230v option for the uk?

Greg
 
Hi Sarah,
Are you absolutely sure it's not a dirty track/pickup problem? As you know a Stainz does not have many points of electrical contact to the track. Your multimeter test probes are going to break through any crud/oxidation on dirty rails and still give a voltage reading. Rather than turning everything off/on or picking up and replacing the loco have you tried giving it a nudge when it stalls? This may push it past a dirty spot on the track. You can be fairly certain that was the problem if it takes off again!

Phil S.
 
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Gentlemen, you really are being so kind. That's the reason I headed my topic as I did.

Yes, I do have 3 other DCC powered locomotives. I don't seem to think about trying one of the others I'm too set on trying to find out why this one plays up. Possibly my reluctance to try another locomotive has to do with my upbringing, drive the one you have into the ground before risking another!

Plus of course there are so many reasons for my problems; and yes it is the one which was repaired though I would not cast aspersions in that direction.

The voltage reading is about 20 AC and, yes, I do nudge, chastise, encourage, goad and threaten it but seemingly to no avail.

Today is a new one and I'll have a second locomotive on standby.

Thank you, again.

Sarah Winfield
 
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