Post by jalbert on Jul 31, 2021 12:25:59 GMT -8
I have a new Atlas Master GP38-2 that is giving me fits.
The one I have seems to be a 2019 release DC/dcc-ready unit (it DOES NOT have pre-installed dcc/sound).
I took the shell off and I find an open 8-pin dcc socket (no dummy plug) AND a 21-pin connection next to it, with what looks to be a "dummy board" in place on the 21 pins.
Out of the box, it tested fine on my 3' test track with an old DC power pack.
The troubles started when I tried to attach a decoder.
There are no instructions at all in the box regarding connecting a decoder. Nothing.
Before going further, I use the Roco z21 wifi control system, running from a Samsung tablet. It has a great interface for programming, assigning engine numbers, etc.
I first tried pulling off the 21 pin dummy connector (at least I think that's what it is).
Then I connected an old TCS decoder to the board. The z21 said the address was "3", so I left it. It worked, the engine ran, and I should have let it go at that, but this decoder has poor headlight control.
So... next I tried a Digitrax DH12x (don't remember if it was 123 or 126). I tried querying for the decoder number (as I did before with the TCS decoder), and the z21 couldn't find it. Got a "programming failed because decoder didn't react". What the heck?
Well, I got to wondering, should that dummy 21 pin board be "in place"?
After all, as I said before, there were no instructions regarding dcc install included in the box.
So I put the dummy board on, and... SMOKE from the decoder!
Burned that one out.
Drat.
So, I took off the dummy board and tried another Digitrax decoder.
Well, same as the first one -- couldn't get or set the engine number due to a comm failure error as above.
I tried the TCS decoder again, and now it won't communicate, either.
Did I damage the unit's motherboard when the first Digitrax burned out?
As you can guess, I was getting pretty frustrated by this time.
I pulled the 8-pin decoder out, put the 21 pin dummy board back on.
Put it back on my DC test track and...
It runs, no problems, just as before.
Not sure what to try next.
Questions:
1. Does the 21 pin dummy connector always have to be removed when you connect an 8-pin decoder?
2. Does the engines motherboard require any "other changes" to disable the 21 pin connection and ENABLE the 8-pin connector?
3. If I can't get any 8-pin decoder to work, can I use a 21 pic "motor only" (non-sound) dcc decoder on the 21-pin connector?
If I can't get a 21 pin decoder to work, I'm thinking about completely ripping out the wiring and re-wiring the engine from scratch.
But one SHOULD NOT have to do this with a 2019-issue, brand-new engine.
Why isn't there a "sheet in the box" describing any particulars regarding connecting a decoder?
I've never had these problems before with other Atlas products (but then again, no other loco I have from Atlas has BOTH 8-pin and 21-pin connections...)
Thanks for reading.
The one I have seems to be a 2019 release DC/dcc-ready unit (it DOES NOT have pre-installed dcc/sound).
I took the shell off and I find an open 8-pin dcc socket (no dummy plug) AND a 21-pin connection next to it, with what looks to be a "dummy board" in place on the 21 pins.
Out of the box, it tested fine on my 3' test track with an old DC power pack.
The troubles started when I tried to attach a decoder.
There are no instructions at all in the box regarding connecting a decoder. Nothing.
Before going further, I use the Roco z21 wifi control system, running from a Samsung tablet. It has a great interface for programming, assigning engine numbers, etc.
I first tried pulling off the 21 pin dummy connector (at least I think that's what it is).
Then I connected an old TCS decoder to the board. The z21 said the address was "3", so I left it. It worked, the engine ran, and I should have let it go at that, but this decoder has poor headlight control.
So... next I tried a Digitrax DH12x (don't remember if it was 123 or 126). I tried querying for the decoder number (as I did before with the TCS decoder), and the z21 couldn't find it. Got a "programming failed because decoder didn't react". What the heck?
Well, I got to wondering, should that dummy 21 pin board be "in place"?
After all, as I said before, there were no instructions regarding dcc install included in the box.
So I put the dummy board on, and... SMOKE from the decoder!
Burned that one out.
Drat.
So, I took off the dummy board and tried another Digitrax decoder.
Well, same as the first one -- couldn't get or set the engine number due to a comm failure error as above.
I tried the TCS decoder again, and now it won't communicate, either.
Did I damage the unit's motherboard when the first Digitrax burned out?
As you can guess, I was getting pretty frustrated by this time.
I pulled the 8-pin decoder out, put the 21 pin dummy board back on.
Put it back on my DC test track and...
It runs, no problems, just as before.
Not sure what to try next.
Questions:
1. Does the 21 pin dummy connector always have to be removed when you connect an 8-pin decoder?
2. Does the engines motherboard require any "other changes" to disable the 21 pin connection and ENABLE the 8-pin connector?
3. If I can't get any 8-pin decoder to work, can I use a 21 pic "motor only" (non-sound) dcc decoder on the 21-pin connector?
If I can't get a 21 pin decoder to work, I'm thinking about completely ripping out the wiring and re-wiring the engine from scratch.
But one SHOULD NOT have to do this with a 2019-issue, brand-new engine.
Why isn't there a "sheet in the box" describing any particulars regarding connecting a decoder?
I've never had these problems before with other Atlas products (but then again, no other loco I have from Atlas has BOTH 8-pin and 21-pin connections...)
Thanks for reading.
