Problems with bachmann digital commander set

Started by hi2468, December 22, 2018, 03:38:50 PM

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hi2468

I have had this set for awhile know and for some reason the red santa fe locomotive has stopped moving on the track,I have tried to take everythinh else off of the track but I still cant get it to work.But the weird thing is I still can turn the lights on and off on the locomotive.The yellow and blue GP locomotive that came with the set still works.I do not think that I have put anything on the track to short it out.But please help me out if anyone else has had this problem. When I put a DC locomotive on address 10 it still works also.

Please help me out
-hi2468

Hunt

Check for loose  connection -- the two wires connecting  the motor and  decoder.

If all four points have solid connection,  contact Bachmann Service for your options.


hi2468

I thought it might have been a loose connection,does anybody know how the wires could have became loose?Could it be because the locmotive pulls a lot of weight?

rich1998

If you say the lights can turn on and off, power is getting to the decoder. Do a decoder reset.
I have done that when the loco does not run.

If your DCC system sees the decoder ID that usually tells you the decoder sees the motor.
At least is has for me.
One time I put a sound decoder in a car just for sound and my Power cab would not see it until I put a hundred ohm resistor on the motor leads. Then I could see the decoder ID.

Rich

Hunt

Quote from: rich1998 on December 23, 2018, 09:04:12 PM
If you say the lights can turn on and off, power is getting to the decoder. Do a decoder reset.
I have done that when the loco does not run.

If your DCC system sees the decoder ID that usually tells you the decoder sees the motor.
At least is has for me.
One time I put a sound decoder in a car just for sound and my Power cab would not see it until I put a hundred ohm resistor on the motor leads. Then I could see the decoder ID.

Rich

Hunt

Quote from: rich1998 on December 23, 2018, 09:04:12 PM
If you say the lights can turn on and off, power is getting to the decoder. Do a decoder reset.
I have done that when the loco does not run.

If your DCC system sees the decoder ID that usually tells you the decoder sees the motor.
At least is has for me.
One time I put a sound decoder in a car just for sound and my Power cab would not see it until I put a hundred ohm resistor on the motor leads. Then I could see the decoder ID.

Rich

Rich,
While a decoder reset may get the locomotive in a runnable state -Rich you know or should know  ----- The Bachmann Digital Command set comes with the E-Z Command Control Center DCC system that does not have the capabilities or user interface of a NCE Power Cab . 
 
E-Z Command Control Center cannot do a full decoder CVs reset or look for and display a decoder NMRA Manufacturer ID. 




An aside --- There is to date an unanswered technical question - Does the E-Z Command Control Center even use an acknowledgment mechanism from the decoder?



hi2468

ok,do you know how to reset it with the bachmann digital commander?

Hunt

Quote from: hi2468 on December 24, 2018, 10:56:58 AM
ok,do you know how to reset it with the bachmann digital commander?

Short answer -  you cannot reset a decoder




What you seem to know as bachmann digital commander is the E-Z Command Control Center






A Bachmann E-Z Command Control Center does not support programming by user supplied CV number.  Thus you cannot use it to program CV 8 with a value of 8, which causes the decoder to reset all its CVs to their default value.





Using a Bachmann E-Z Command Control Center  --

Carefully follow the procedure REPROGRAMMING DECODERS WITH PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED DIGITAL ADDRESSES for locomotive's digital address is a number higher than 10, page 3 of the E-Z COMMAND Setup and Programming Instructions.  This procedure automatically changes a few of the decoder's CVs, which may get the locomotive to respond as it should.

Click Here for E-Z COMMAND Setup and Programming Instructions




Hunt

 hi2468,

What did you find when checking wires for loose connection?


hi2468

I have not been able to check the locomotive out yet,

hi2468

Does anyone know if the bachmann HO scale DC track swicthers go out,because I am starting to expirence problems with mine on my main train layouy.

jward

when you throw them, do you release the button quickly? You cal burn out the coils if you hold down the button too long,
Jeffery S Ward Sr
Pittsburgh, PA

Hunt

Quote from: hi2468 on December 24, 2018, 02:13:10 PM
Does anyone know if the bachmann HO scale DC track swicthers go out,because I am starting to expirence problems with mine on my main train layouy.

There are times when some people have problems with one or more of the components of a Bachmann turnout.  The problem can be product or user caused.

Someone may have some suggestions for problem fix  if  you provide more specific details of the problem being experienced  than, "HO scale DC track swicthers go out." Also include what you have tried to fix problem.

Hunt

 hi2468 ,

Bachmann Trains Online Store list 1 manual turnout as the type of turnout included with their Digital Commander HO train set.

"provide more specific details"  includes identifying the brand and type turnout with which you are experiencing problem.