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Help: Lenz Set 90/Digitrax Decoder Problem

Hello all!

I just upgraded from an Atlas Master DCC system to the Lenz Set 90. When I first powered up, I had 5 locomotives sitting on the tracks. One took off like a rocket in reverse and the others just sat still. I tried getting control of the rocket to no avail. Then I tried accessing the others - no luck - they don't respond. It seemed that all of the locos on the tracks during that first powerup had their decoders blown, while anything sitting on the shelf was fine.

That initial assessment has just been revised. I just tried running a locomotive from the shelf - as soon as I set it on the tracks, it took off in reverse like a bat out of Hades.

What seems to be the common thread - the ones that work are P2K locos with Tony's decoders. The ones that don't are modified Athearns with Digitrax DH21 decoders. All of them worked fine on the Atlas system.

Any thoughts on what's going on here and how I fix it?

Thanks, Larry

Reply to
Larry Z. Daily
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locos

I don't use DCC, but aren't the decoders specific to both the engine and the control system? If you change the control system, don't you also have to buy new decoders?

-- Bill McC.

Reply to
Bill McCutcheon

NO!!!

Any docoder should be able to run with any DCC system. The signal at the track is a standard signal.

No the throttle bus is a proprietary bus and differs between brands.

I have no idea why you have the 'rockets'

Howard

Reply to
Howard R Garner

tracks.

still.

running

system.

engine

I stand [actually, sit] corrected. Thanks for the correction.

-- Bill McC.

Reply to
Bill McCutcheon

Check if the rockets are programmed to operate on DC, the others maybe have operation on DC turned off. If so it suggests that the Lenz set is putting out DC instead of a proper signal, and if a reboot doesn't cure it then its faulty.

Keith

Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

Reply to
Keith Norgrove

When I've had decoders seemingly go 'berserk', resetting them has usually fixed the problem.

With most decoders, this is done by setting CV8 to 008.

Jeff Law Bigg & Orsum Railroad New Zealand

Reply to
Jeff Law

"-- I just upgraded from an Atlas Master DCC system to the Lenz Set 90. When I first powered up, I had 5 locomotives sitting on the tracks. One took off like a rocket in reverse and the others just sat still. I tried getting control of the rocket to no avail. Then I tried accessing the others - no luck - they don't respond. It seemed that all of the locos on the tracks during that first powerup had their decoders blown, while anything sitting on the shelf was fine. --"

Are you _absolutely_ sure you connected the SET90 correctly: It seems like you are feeding the tracks with DC, not DCC!

The SET90's LZV100 Command/Power Station needs AC in "U" and "V" terminals and track is connected to "J" and "K" terminals in the same connector block!

Does the handheld "seemingly" operate well? i.e. can you select addresses etc.

Are you sure you have not mixed "JK" to "LM" as LM is a kind of DC outlet of the X-bus (XpressNet)

Pekka Siiskonen

Reply to
Pekka Siiskonen

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