Piko 32837 DCC with CS3

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LGB_Chur_Arosa

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Hello
I am having trouble operating the Piko 32837 which I just purchased with my DCC setup. I am using Marklin CS3+ to run my layout with mainly LGB locomotives., they all work fine. I was able to register the Piko on CS3 and operate the functions but the locomotive operation is a hit and miss. sometimes it works fine but sometimes it stutters on the track with light flashing. It’s not a contact issues as it does this on a very clean test track as well. There are other strange side effects as well for example popping sounds from the speaker when the locomotive is set to mute, or running at full speed when the system is first powered up. I attempted to read the CV’s so I could disable analog operation (I read on the net that might be the issue) but when I attempt to read the CV’s on my CS3 I get CV read error. I am using the programing track with stable power. I have been able to read and program other DCC decoders using this CS3. any ideas what could be going on
 

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Does the loco have a Massoth or a Piko chip?

I've run my Massoth chipped TEE VT 11.4 on a friend's layout with CS3, and had no problems....
 
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Hi everyone, it's SoundTrax decoder. after much measurement and also feedback from piko support this is a voltage issue not CS3. LGB decoders can work with up to some 27V peak to peak PWM but Piko shuts down above 20V (NMRA standard ? ). I measured the waveform on the tracks with my scope and it was exceeding 24V. Then Instead of the beefy Marklin G scale power supply I tried the 19V HO power supply for CS3 and everything is fine....the HO power supply is only 2A so I need to find a high power 20V transformer for my CS3 now for this locomotive.

Piko told me they use different decoder in their American locomotives that is strictly NMRA DCC standard and does not work on German layouts because the German decoders are less picky about voltage and can handle higher voltages

Hope this helps folks in similar situations
 
on another note, the Piko decoder / electronics as well as small construction details is definitely not in par with LGB hence the much lower price here in the US, In future I would probably just stick to LGB although I quite like this particular Piko due to the heritage of the model
 
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