Why I must always use a programming track

As I had no locos at all standing on the layout today, I was a bit lazy and decided to set up a loco that had a new decoder installed on the main track instead of on a separate programming track. I couldn't see why it wouldn't work because the loco was standing on an otherwise isolated section of track, but work it didn't! :shock: I couldn't change the factory-installed code from 03. I thought for a little while that my controller had become faulty and I was on the verge of contacting Hornby for advice.

Before doing that, I thought I should do all the checks I could. I set about reprogramming a couple of my known-to-be-working locos, but nothing happened. The controller indicated that the new codes were being passed to the loco decoder, but they just weren't registering.

I then hooked up the controller to a short section of spare track which was not physically connected to the layout in any way.

I put the loco with the new decoder onto this section of track and sent the new decoder address. It worked perfectly! :???:

I can only put this down to maybe a couple of things; the Hex frog Juicer - but I can't see that making any difference, or the bus terminator I installed recently - but that should enhance the DCC signal. :???:

It matters not really, because the problem has been resolved, but I must ALWAYS use a separate programming track, and I advise others to do the same.

Perry

Perry if memory serves me well ,the select does not program on the main, only the elite does that.
lol::cool:

I don't know if Select programs on the main or not but programing a loco address on the main is not supported by many DCC systems.
 I know NCE does, Lenz does not, ECOS does not. Other systems I am not sure about.

 Ian

[user=15]owen69[/user] wrote:

Perry if memory serves me well ,the select does not program on the main, only the elite does that.
lol::cool:

Weird. I wonder why the difference? Still, as long as I know……:thumbs

I'm probably going to upgrade the controller eventually, but I haven't decided which system to go for. Maybe there's no need whilst this one works OK, because I'm only controlling shunting moves in a goods yard and locos moving around an MPD (or I will be when I get the MPD track laid!). I won't have a continuous run or even a run of any length. I rather doubt that I need more control facilities than I already have.
I'm not into sound decoders…….yet. ;-)

Perry

I think that the frog juicer could be the problem. The Select does not have a separate output for a programming track, but will only program a decoder if that is the only thing drawing current from the Select at the time. One section of track, or the whole layout, makes no difference as long as there is just one decoder attached at the time of programming. Could be an accessory decoder or a loco.

The juicer does draw current from the DCC bus, so that will fool the Select.

By the way, the entry level Bachmann controller, EZ Command, does program on the main. There can be many locos on the layout, and the controller has first to be told the current address of the decoder to be programmed. The controller can only change the address of the said decoder, but it is actually programming on the main.

That's both interesting and informative.

Thanks, Geoff. :thumbs

Perry