Two Planks Become One

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote: 

Up until now the current was quite happily flowing via the fishplate, usually I prefer to feed every length of track track, no matter how short, after dinner I connected that length of track, now to my surprise, Nothing and all the lights are on meaning no shorts ,

Looks like you've made more than one change Kevin.

Put the PCP back where it was on the inglenook and see if the problem goes away, if it doesn't then it's some other change you've made.


Ed

Hi Ed and interested parties. The latest sit-rep , as illogical as it sounds. I have just refitted the PCP to the Inglenook, not as though it should make a blind bit of difference,  but it makes me happy. Sad to say the 08 didn’t move, whether it is the Decoder or the pickups I don’t know. But it isn’t the Powercab, I ran my Dave Jones 02, ex GWR 57xx Pannier, and another Pannier, All ran okay. For my next trick? I don’t know which road to take as I am unfamiliar with this area of expertise.   Best wishes Kevin 

By "it makes me happy" Kevin, I assume locos now run across from the inglenook to the fiddle yard ok, apart from the 08?

If so. it sounds like the chip in the 08 is fried, but wait for a DCC expert to advise.


Ed

Hi Ed.  I didn’t go that far. After Breakfast or maybe after dinner, but, I cannot see why the connection shouldn’t be sound. Neither can I see a reason for the across baseboard connections causing the 08 to fail originally, it is completely uncharted territory for me.   Best wishes Kevin 

Thinking about it, easiest way to check the 08 is put it on the programming track and see if you can read the loco number.

Ed

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote:

Hi Ed.  I didn’t go that far. After Breakfast or maybe after dinner, but, I cannot see why the connection shouldn’t be sound. Neither can I see a reason for the across baseboard connections causing the 08 to fail originally, it is completely uncharted territory for me.   Best wishes Kevin 

Don't understand your reply Kevin, do the 02 and Panniers now run across the baseboard joint ok when powered by DCC


Ed

[user=1338]Ed[/user] wrote:

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote:

Hi Ed.  I didn’t go that far. After Breakfast or maybe after dinner, but, I cannot see why the connection shouldn’t be sound. Neither can I see a reason for the across baseboard connections causing the 08 to fail originally, it is completely uncharted territory for me.   Best wishes Kevin 

Don't understand your reply Kevin, do the 02 and Panniers now run across the baseboard joint ok when powered by DCC


Ed

Hi Ed I haven’t tried that yet, but I will, later ( after Breakfast). I’m sorry to say, but food comes first, then I can finish my morning medicines as per my routine. And then do the testing.  Best wishes Kevin 

[user=1338]Ed[/user] wrote:

Thinking about it, easiest way to check the 08 is put it on the programming track and see if you can read the loco number.

Ed

Hi Ed. I uprooted my programme track when I first had the short circuits, before Barry came over and found that it was one of my DPDT Slide switches that was causing the short. I will have to install a programme track on the fiddleyard now that I know where the short was and it was nothing to do with the programme track.   Best wishes Kevin 

Kevin - just sit down and take a breath for a minute !!!!

It's no good saying " I ran my Dave Jones Pannier and another and all ran OK" then saying you didn't go as far as crossing from one board to the other !!!

When you are testing, you need to TEST.  That involves running said loco over every single piece of track to make sure it's all live and working - in both directions.

Now, as it is, we're another 4 or 5 posts down the line with half the world scratching it's head wondering what the problem could be and you tell us you haven't actually run the loco !

Rant over.

Now, be a good chap and tell us EXACTLY what the situation is.  Does the pannier run OK on DCC or not ?

Have you set up a spare bit of track to check the gronk on DCC ?  Just any bit of track longer than the gronk will do - connect it to your controller, switch to "Programme" and try to read the address.  If that's OK, switch back to "Normal" and see if it will move - in both directions !!!

Then report back …………………….  BUT DON'T TOUCH OR ALTER ANYTHING ELSE !!!

Hi Kevin,

First paragraph of post 237 Yes/no? Is the 08 running, DC or DCC? Yes/no? Do other decoder equipped locomotives run OK? Yes/no?

Post 230 is to me unclear. As long as power to the PCP goes in where it should, and the track power comes out where it should, it doesn't matter whether it's jacks, plugs or sockets. Or even wires. Although it's probably prudent to go with what NCE supplies.

Nigel

Hi Petermac.  Thank you for your concern. “ I don’t believe it “ everything is just as it was, yet the fiddleyard is dead. I put both Locos ( one at a time) on the fiddleyard Set the Powercab Handset to programme it said “Cannot Read CV” then I moved over to the Inglenook, repeated the procedure and it “ Manufacturer 145 “ as both Locos are by Bachmann I can only assume that represents Bachmann. Not a mention of CV’s though? Or should I have gone further?   Best wishes Kevin 

Hi Nigel.    I have just replied to Petermac. The fiddleyard is dead. The 08 isn’t running. I did the programme track test. On the fiddleyard it said cannot read C/V’s on both Locos. On the Inglenook it said Manufacturer 145.Unfortunately  I have never learned anything about C/V’s,  I don’t know if there should have been more info on the screen or not please advise .  Best wishes Kevin 

Manufacturer code 145 is Zimo.. Have you tested for DCC power in the fiddleyard?   Multimeter in AC volts.
You did follow the instructions in the Powercab manual  under Programming procedures?

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote:

……………………………………………………….. I did the programme track test. On the fiddleyard it said cannot read C/V’s on both Locos. On the Inglenook it said Manufacturer 145 ………………………………………

You've lost me Kevin ……………….

What have the fiddle yard or inglenook got to do with this programming track ?  The programming track, for this purpose, should not be connected to anything other than your controller.

It's a completely separate piece of track solely there to test your locos on this occasion.  Just a single length of track sitting on a bench or table - nothing else - no fiddleyard, no inglenook - just a piece of track.

Disconnect your controller from your "plank" and connect it to this single piece of track.

Disconnected from everything else removes any doubts about where the fault could lie.

Assuming you have connected your controller properly and set it to "Programme Mode" properly, (I'm not an NCE man so can't help there), if your decoder is OK, you should be able to read the address of a loco placed on this track.  Of course, you should only place 1 loco on the track at a time.

If you can't read the address, then it's likely your decoder is dead - always assuming you have connected the track and controller properly and set the controller to "Programme" mode. :thumbs

Do that and tell us what happens.  Remember, we're not there watching so you have to make it crystal clear what's going on verbally.  Don't introduce any other "distractions" - keep it simple, clear and concise. 

Hi Ron. Thank you. I haven’t tested the Fiddleyard yet. But I did follow the Powercab procedure, press escape four times etc. But Being as the other Locos work, shouldn’t that prove the power.    Best wishes Kevin 

Hi Petermac.  Thank you again. When I first had the short circuits I lifted the programme track to  eliminate  it from the equation. And whilst I haven’t got a programme  track, as long as there is only one Loco on the track I can do my programming on either the Inglenook or the fiddle-yard .  Best wishes Kevin 

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote:

Hi Petermac.  Thank you again. When I first had the short circuits I lifted the programme track to  eliminate  it from the equation. And whilst I haven’t got a programme  track, as long as there is only one Loco on the track I can do my programming on either the Inglenook or the fiddle-yard .  Best wishes Kevin

Kevin,

Reading your latest tale of woe is painful, as you are getting some very good advice here and then ignoring it. Please read it thoroughly, particlary everything Peter said.

Disconnect your controller from your "plank" and connect it to this single piece of track.
 
Disconnected from everything else removes any doubts about where the fault could lie.

That is why a seperate pice of track is essential in eliminating any errors in your baseboards when determining the status of controller and decoder.

Have a cuppa and try again. We're all rooting for you.

Bill

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote:

Hi Petermac.  Thank you again. When I first had the short circuits I lifted the programme track to  eliminate  it from the equation. And whilst I haven’t got a programme  track, as long as there is only one Loco on the track I can do my programming on either the Inglenook or the fiddle-yard .  Best wishes Kevin

Kevin,

Reading your latest tale of woe is painful, as you are getting some very good advice here and then ignoring it. Please read it thoroughly, particlary everything Peter said.

Disconnect your controller from your "plank" and connect it to this single piece of track.
 
Disconnected from everything else removes any doubts about where the fault could lie.

That is why a seperate pice of track is essential in eliminating any errors in your baseboards when determining the status of controller and decoder.

Have a cuppa and try again. We're all rooting for you.

Bill

Thanks Bill ………………………… :thumbs

Hi Bill.  Thank you. But I am in the process of reinstating a programme track. But the thing that I can’t make out the 08 Shunter was running up and down okay and then out of the blue it stopped. It may be down to old age but I intend to get the fault rectified. It is about time my GP earned his money?   Best wishes Kevin 

Hi Kevin,

I seem to recall taking you through the operation of the Power Cab sometime ago. Along with lots of pictures. Sounds like it recognizes the decoder, but cannot read Cv's may or may not be ominous. The Power Cab has problems reading Cv's in some Digitrax decoders for example. No idea about Zimo decoders. Ask Paul.

You didn't answer my questions. Does the 08 run with DC? What about another locomotive. As Bill says, use a piece of track connected to nothing but the DC or the DCC supply for this sort of testing. Start from basics, be logical and work your way up.

Sounds like you still have a problem with the wiring and the 08. Tackle one at a time.

Nigel