LGB new to this DCC help?

John Russo said:
To program using the 55015.

1. Locate the red programming insert for the 55015 (Hopefully you have one). If you do not have one, game over.

View attachment 344365

2. Replace the regular operating insert with above.

3. Connect the yellow and green wires to the same power supply you are using to run the trains.

4. Connect the brown and white wires to the piece of track. (I recommend a 600mm length, i.e. two 300s or one 600)

View attachment 344366

5. Set the loco on the track

6. Turn the power on

7. Now comes the fun part. Do the folling EXACTLY as written.

8 Hopefully the 55015 is showing: C--

9. Press 5 then 1. The display should now show d -

10. Press 6 then 4. The diplay should now show d64

11. Press the Right Arrow button. You should hear a short faint motor noise from the loco and it should move forward slightly. That is the OK signal that the programning worked and CV 51 has been set to 64.

12. The Display should not show C--

13. Press 5 then 2. The display should now show d -

14. Press 1 then 2 then 8. The diplay should now show d128

15. Press the Right Arrow button. You should hear a short faint motor noise from the loco and it should move forward slightly. That is the OK signal that the programning worked and CV 52 has been set to 128.

It has been 10 years or more since I did this and I no longer have 55015 or MTS. I am a little uncertain how it handles the 3 digit setting of 128.

Assuming this works, remove the progamming insert and replace the operation insert on the 55015. Put the loco on your regualr running track, say three Hail Marys, Two Our Fathers and see if it works.

View attachment 344367


The link to the manual is here: https://www.onlytrains.com/manuals/55015_032004.pdf

See pages 58 and 60

John

PS: Now you see why we suggest using the Mac/PC.
Click to expand...
Hi John,

well this is interesting. Ok so I don't have a seperate insert with green and yellow wires and brown white for the 55015. Eek.
I can try and find one. I assume I will need this for my future expansion?

1. given I have at the moment just one loco.... do I need a programming track or can it be done on my loop. ?
not a problem making one.

So first I rang Dave and its out of his skill set so its down to me to learn programming. Obv with your help.

Let me get on to finding the programming module and then I will come back.

If i am to look at doing this via mac do I still need this handset insert? Just thinking that if not maybe the Mac route would be better for the future.


Thank you for your help its great.

Chris
 
John Russo said:
To program using the 55015.

1. Locate the red programming insert for the 55015 (Hopefully you have one). If you do not have one, game over.

View attachment 344365

2. Replace the regular operating insert with above.

3. Connect the yellow and green wires to the same power supply you are using to run the trains.

4. Connect the brown and white wires to the piece of track. (I recommend a 600mm length, i.e. two 300s or one 600)

View attachment 344366

5. Set the loco on the track

6. Turn the power on

7. Now comes the fun part. Do the folling EXACTLY as written.

8 Hopefully the 55015 is showing: C--

9. Press 5 then 1. The display should now show d -

10. Press 6 then 4. The diplay should now show d64

11. Press the Right Arrow button. You should hear a short faint motor noise from the loco and it should move forward slightly. That is the OK signal that the programning worked and CV 51 has been set to 64.

12. The Display should not show C--

13. Press 5 then 2. The display should now show d -

14. Press 1 then 2 then 8. The diplay should now show d128

15. Press the Right Arrow button. You should hear a short faint motor noise from the loco and it should move forward slightly. That is the OK signal that the programning worked and CV 52 has been set to 128.

It has been 10 years or more since I did this and I no longer have 55015 or MTS. I am a little uncertain how it handles the 3 digit setting of 128.

Assuming this works, remove the progamming insert and replace the operation insert on the 55015. Put the loco on your regualr running track, say three Hail Marys, Two Our Fathers and see if it works.

View attachment 344367


The link to the manual is here: https://www.onlytrains.com/manuals/55015_032004.pdf

See pages 58 and 60

John

PS: Now you see why we suggest using the Mac/PC.
Click to expand...
 

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well this is interesting. Ok so I don't have a seperate insert with green and yellow wires and brown white for the 55015. Eek.
I can try and find one. I assume I will need this for my future expansion?

Only if you wish to use the 55015 to program CVs.

1. given I have at the moment just one loco.... do I need a programming track or can it be done on my loop. ?
not a problem making one.

A programming track is typically just one or two sections of track. You could use your existing track but that is risky. You would have to be very careful to remove the regular power from the track before connecting the programmng wires. this is highley irregular and not recommended. Just get one or two piece of track, i.e long enough to accomodate your loco.

So first I rang Dave and its out of his skill set so its down to me to learn programming. Obv with your help.

Let me get on to finding the programming module and then I will come back.

Here you go: LGB G scale 55015 SPARE PROGRAMMER ( LOCOS ETC) | eBay UK

If i am to look at doing this via mac do I still need this handset insert? Just thinking that if not maybe the Mac route would be better for the future.

You would not need the handset if you use a Pc or Mac. Correct, it is the better way to go if you plan to expand and acquire more DCC components such as switch decoders, locos, sound unitis and other devices.

Thank you for your help its great.

Chris
 
Whilst the arcane programming, via your system may be beyond Dave...

Swapping the front and rear lighting wires, ought not to be?
OR
If the four wires from the decoder have been used to connect to the motor-block, then the green and yellow could be swapped. *

*This would make direction and lights match. But they would be 'wrong' for direction on the controller..
This can be corrected, but to do so means changing a CV, which as you are not able to read CV's, is fraught with danger.

I would recommend ignoring the programming 'dongle' for the 55015, and invest in something you can use with a computer.

PhilP.
 
PhilP said:
Whilst the arcane programming, via your system may be beyond Dave...

Swapping the front and rear lighting wires, ought not to be?
OR
If the four wires from the decoder have been used to connect to the motor-block, then the green and yellow could be swapped. *

*This would make direction and lights match. But they would be 'wrong' for direction on the controller..
This can be corrected, but to do so means changing a CV, which as you are not able to read CV's, is fraught with danger.

I would recommend ignoring the programming 'dongle' for the 55015, and invest in something you can use with a computer.

PhilP.
Click to expand...

Chris,

Phil makes a good point. If you are skilled enough to open the loco and access the decoder, all you have to do is swap the wires connected to the front and rear lights connection posts.

If it uses slip-on connectors, you would not have to do any soldering.

That would surely take care of the matter. Perhaps Dave is willing to do that?
 
The plot thickens.

It is possbile that Dave wired the lights correctly but the decoder's previous owner changed the values in CV 51 and 52. (I believe you bought this used)

Hence the advantage to be able to read the CV before changing.

If this is the case, then the CVs are likey already set to CV51=64 and CV52=128.

Therefore, they would need to be changed back to CV51=128 and CV51 = 64.

Further, if this is the case and you successfully programed the CVs as I described a few posts ago, it would not have fixed the problem. You would have simply progammed the CVs to the values they already had.
 
PhilP said:
Whilst the arcane programming, via your system may be beyond Dave...

Swapping the front and rear lighting wires, ought not to be?
OR
If the four wires from the decoder have been used to connect to the motor-block, then the green and yellow could be swapped. *

*This would make direction and lights match. But they would be 'wrong' for direction on the controller..
This can be corrected, but to do so means changing a CV, which as you are not able to read CV's, is fraught with danger.

I would recommend ignoring the programming 'dongle' for the 55015, and invest in something you can use with a computer.

PhilP.
Click to expand...
Hi Phil / Dave,

so you are saying chances are the green yellow wires from the decoder are the wrong way around. In that case back to see Dave.

However the Cv would still need to be changed? And you say i cant see this from the hand controller I have?

John any thoughts?

Invest in something to allow computer alterations? What would this something be, any advise?

John you make lots of sense re having a progamming track, i will do it that way once I know how to link up my mac I guess as you say its the way to go.

John, I do hope to get another loco and have four turnouts, so yes there will be other addresses digitally.

Yes you probably are a bit far away ..... ha.

I have seen a local club twice but not sure I've met the right dude to help as of yet.

So will go and see Dave tomorrow ..... and do some research on computer CV setting. Its a shame as I had hoped setting addresses would be easy.
Still at least its moving and its better than it was.

I kinda knew it would be difficult to star with.

Chris
 
John Russo said:
You can use a Mac to program CVs. You woud need to acquire either an LGB 55045 or a Massoth 8175201 (Replaces 8175101)

You then need to install any one of many software programs that run on a MAC and can program CVs.



There are other videos on YouTube.


55045/8175201 would connect to the Mac via serial cable. Then the 4 other wires on the 55045/8175201 are connect to a power supply and piece of track. Green and Yellow to the power supply and Brown and White to the piece of track.

Set the loco on the track and use the software. JMRI (Free $0) is one such software. JMRI: Downloading and Installing DecoderPro

For me, I use the Massoth Service Tool (Free $0) on a PC. Massoth Service Tool – Massoth Systems GmbH

It is easy to use and is obviously well suited to programming Massoth decoders.

The key thing is that you can read CVs and see what they are.

In my next post I will outline using the 55015. Arrrrrghhhh
Click to expand...


Chris my previous post explained how to use your Mac.
 
John Russo said:
The plot thickens.

It is possbile that Dave wired the lights correctly but the decoder's previous owner changed the values in CV 51 and 52. (I believe you bought this used)

Hence the advantage to be able to read the CV before changing.

If this is the case, then the CVs are likey already set to CV51=64 and CV52=128.

Therefore, they would need to be changed back to CV51=128 and CV51 = 64.

Further, if this is the case and you successfully programed the CVs as I described a few posts ago, it would not have fixed the problem. You would have simply progammed the CVs to the values they already had.
Click to expand...
Hi John

it is a brand new unused Massoth 8154001.
So we know its not had any Cv settings as afar as I know.

So are we saying the hand control wont show the cv details? So I will need to go the mac route?

Phil makes a good point. If you are skilled enough to open the loco and access the decoder, all you have to do is swap the wires connected to the front and rear lights connection posts.

If it uses slip-on connectors, you would not have to do any soldering.

That would surely take care of the matter. Perhaps Dave is willing to do that?

I am able to open it up I think. But perhaps I will go to Dave as he installed the decoder and has the experience of what is within Im guessing.

I am transferring some photos to see if it helps.
 
If you open it up, and post photos, we can tell you which wires to change over..

PhilP.
 
John Russo said:
Chris my previous post explained how to use your Mac.
Click to expand...
Sorry yes I see this now ... I will watch the utube you sent and think it through. Its a fascinating world.

Just saw a news article with our gov saying prepair for war on our soil. eek better get on with the train fast :-))
 
Remove the last photo..
We don't need to know how much you paid, your email address or mobile number..
:mask:

PhilP.
 
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