DCC 101, Easy decoder testing (52)

[@the4000class]

Thank you for the frequent uploads I am new to DCC and your videos are very educational.

[@dkaustin98]

I have that ESU test board. I didn't know if I would ever use it, but one day it came in handy. I was installing a TSUNAMI 2200 Steam decoder. The red wire pulled out of the decoder. I contact George at Soundtraxx and he told me what to do to fix it. Well, when trying to pry the harness from the connector on the decoder board, I was using the backside of an Exacto blade, the white connector on the board broke free. I soldered it back on the board, replaced the red wire then decided I needed to test it. So, I had another TSU-2 Steam decoder still in the package. I hooked that up to the ESU tester. Everything worked. Then I hooked up the TSU-2 I broke. Everything worked except motor control. I am glad I tested it before reinstalling. In talking to George, I will be sending this decoder back to Soundtraxx for repair.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Good example of when you need one they can’t be beat!

[@Superseanbarry]

Great job! As usual. Where does the power come from on a NCE Power Cab? Can I hook up the tester to the track that is being powered? Thanks, JB

[@TheDCCGuy]

The DC wall wart provides the raw power for the unit. It plugs into the fascia panel which then feeds electrons to the handheld through the cable. The handheld contains both the command station circuitry as well as a booster. The DCC commands are generated there and boosted to the full track voltage and amperage after which it is sent back along the cable to the fascia panel where a connection to the DCC power bus is made. So thats where the power comes from.

[@oprekboy9693]

Dear ftiend, where can i buy the dcc & sound decoder you are using to test? Is that LAISDCC? Thank you..🙏😊

[@TheDCCGuy]

I buy most of my decoders on eBay.

[@chrisbailey9659]

I know it's a while back since you did this video but a question before I decide to buy one or not. Can you use the module like a program track,say finding an old chip and not knowing its address to reset it for example. Could you also program other cv's or is this just to check the decoder is working? Thanks Chris

[@TheDCCGuy]

They are just to check whether it is working. However you can connect it to programming track leads and do both. I have one on my computer desk and can attach it to my Sprog 3. That way I can test and program it using DecoderPro.

[@christopherbailey8817]

@@TheDCCGuy can you use it to test speakers too as my tsunami 2 used to play sounds until I replaced the sugar cube speaker. I have a tester on order at the moment so will be able to see if I have blown the chip or if the speakers gone. Is there a cv that I might of changed to switch sound off? I have used cv 8...8 and cv 4..8 but no result.

[@TheDCCGuy]

@@christopherbailey8817 It has a speaker built in making it easy to test the sounds. You might have turned the master volume CV down to 0 but I can’t think of any others. It likely can be repaired at a small cost even if out of the warranty period. As a last resort try the CV8 reset.

[@davidemery1773]

I have a ESU 5.0 that was factory installed. The loco ran just fine for over a year running on a DC system. Then converted to DCC Digitrax system and the loco ran for about 30 seconds on a single piece of track for testing. Now I still have sound and lights and responds to commands but the loco will not move in both DC mode and DCC. What happened?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Hard to say without examine the decoder. Did you try to change any programming? Were there any shorts on the track while testing it? You might try reprogramming the address and CV29 to see if that works. In the end you may have to try a reset, see your instructions.

[@davidemery1773]

@@TheDCCGuy is there a way I can PM you with pictures?

[@majchrke1]

I am in G scale and use Airwire decoders with battery power. Can I use the ESU tester to test my Airwire decoders? If not, what can I do to test a decoder. I have a GP7 decoder which I suspect has some probsems.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I have never worked with Airwire products so can’t help you on this one. I suggest you loo for a CVP forum on Groups.io , good luck-Larry

[@geraldjones2278]

I am thinking about getting a decoder tester and find your videos on them very informative, I was just wondering though on the decoder tester you were demonstrating, I could see the different connections for individual wires but did not see a place for the second wire on lights, There was a motor 1 and motor 2 etc but no place for a second lighting wire that I could see.

[@TheDCCGuy]

The screw terminal connector has spots for 4 additional function wires labeled aux1-4 and 4 small LEDs on the board that are associated with each, so you can test these functions.

[@rpiboy]

Hey @larry, could you run the decoder tester off of the Loksound Programmer and do everything through JMRI?

[@TheDCCGuy]

You got it a bit mixed up. The decoder tester is a physical device that can be used with your DCC system/program track, the JMRi/DecoderPro program, or the LokProgrammer program/device. You do not use the LokProgrammer with JMRI/DecoderPro. The decoder tester is really no different than a loco as it has sockets for decoders to be plugged into, LEDs to indicate functions, a speaker to test sound, and a motor to test the motor drive functions.

[@rpiboy]

@@TheDCCGuy Right, forgot that the ESU programmer only plays well with their own software. To your point, since the tester functions like a loco, why would it be any different to put a programming device connected to a computer as the track power feed to the tester. This way you could program and test the decoder without ever having it in the loco, then drop it in the loco when you're ready. This of course would not apply to adjusting speed curves or CVs but I beleive your reccomendation is to do that on the main where you have full voltage.

[@TheDCCGuy]

That is exactly what I meant in my first reply when I said it can be used with DecoderPro or LokProgrammer, both run on a computer.

[@jacovoorwinden3609]

Hi. I learned a lot from your videos on DecoderPro. Recently I have bought 2 cheap LaisDCC decoders of ebay. One I put in a Roco locomotive and it functions fine. The other one I put in a Piko locomotive and that one just won't slow down to the maximum speed set in cv5. And it is not the one decoder, because I exchanged the two, but the problem remained. The locomotive just drives around like a rocket on the loose at max throttle. What do you think, might be the cause and the solution?

[@TheDCCGuy]

First, how does it behave when operated on DC power without a decoder? If it runs well on DC then I suggest installing a name brand decoder to see if that fixes it. It might be that there is an interaction between the decoder and loco components that cause the issue. For example some decoder BEMF algorithms are sensitive to the electrical chokes found on the motors of some models. Take a look at video 79 for more on that issue.

[@jacovoorwinden3609]

@@TheDCCGuy Thanks Larry. It works well on just DC without decoder. And it works well with a LokPilot standard decoder, that I borrowed from another loco. I did remove 2 small capacitors, but there are still 2 small coils, one on each side of the motor. So you might be right there. I shall take a look at the video, you mentioned.

[@TheDCCGuy]

If you remove the choke coils you will need to add a small jumper wire in place of each as they are part of the electrical circuit. Since the loco runs fine on everything but the LaisDCC decoders I would suspect the feedback issue or some other out of spec component on them causing an interaction. I have several old Lenz decoders I would be happy to give you but it would probably cost more to mail them than they are worth.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing.👍

[@JohnAnthonyMcKenna]

Hi I have a plux 22 decoder on one of my locomotive (D.M.U. Area trains. There are no wires coming from it, it just plugs straight into the socket. they're made for Backmann. Tony, Liverpool England

[@TheDCCGuy]

Haven’t seen one yet but I assume they are pretty much like Next18 which plug into a socket too. Of course the 21 pin decoders work this way too.

[@DugmerJunction]

How do I get it to work with NCE power cab? I have tried selecting “use program track” which lets me program the decoder but I am unsure how to check functions, sound etc to see if the decoder works fully

[@TheDCCGuy]

Using a throttle for much more than changing an address or what I called the basic 8 CVs in videos 47 and 48 can be very challenging, which is why I use DecoderPro for that kind of thing. One of the NCE programming options is individual CVs and with that it asks you which CV and when you enter it then the system reads that CV and shows the value after which you can change it. However you have to know which CV to change and what to change it to. So you really have to do some homework. I did another video (#62) on how to use DecoderPro to calculate the CV values and then use the throttle to enter them so you might take a look at it.

[@DugmerJunction]

The DCC Guy i was hoping it was as simple as putting the sound decoder into the esu tester and you would be able to test the functions, sounds etc from the throttle. Thanks for the detailed reply👍

[@TheDCCGuy]

Ok, I didn’t see that in your question. If the decoder is not yet installed that is exactly what you can do. If it is installed then of course just put it on the track and hit the throttle buttons. You just hook up the programming track outputs to the input locations on the ESU tester, install the decoder in the correct socket, and you are ready. Make sure to view my other videos on programming tracks and also the NCE AutoSw for use with the PowerCab for programming.

[@DugmerJunction]

The DCC Guy, I have the program track wires going from the nce power box to the esu decoder tester. The 2 lights come on the tester when in program mode on the nce throttle, it allows me to set the address and change cvs etc. But when I press the function buttons for lights, fwd, Rev, or to start the sounds nothing happens.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Ok, you cannot control functions in program mode you have to be in track power mode to use them. Also if you are using a sound decoder with 6 or 8 pins you need to connect the speaker wires to the board using the long screw terminal strip. 18 and 21 pin connectors should have a built in set of speaker connections. As I remember the first two slots are for the speaker wires but check to confirm that. See if that works for you.

[@kaceykant8437]

just found your channel. It has been very helpful thus far is understanding DCC. Can you post a video on how to convert Bachmann dc steam locos to DCC? And/or how to trouble shoot some of the problems that may occur. I have a couple DCC on board and DCC ready Bachmanns that don't seem to function properly and can't find anywhere to solve the issues of not working. thanks

[@TheDCCGuy]

I have a Bachmann 4-8-2 that I put a decoder in and can quickly show how I did that so look for it soon. Basically I used a TCS motherboard with Keep Alive designed for this loco and a TCS decoder. Easy and fast install that avoids the potential problems.

[@mrchoo76]

Hello. I have a DCC Sound Genesis locomotive that doesn’t work. I put it on the track and the headlights and ditch lights flash.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Sounds like a short circuit warning. Check the wiring or call them.

[@jimpool6]

Video very informative. Can I assume that only new decoders can be tested in default no. 3. on Hornby Elite. Or can i test my corresponding call out no. to test. Help.

[@TheDCCGuy]

If I understand your question correctly then a new loco that conforms to NMRA guidelines should respond to address 3 right out of the box. Whether or not they also programmed in the long address is debatable, but I would guess not. It is an easy matter to reprogram the address s I showed in a previous video.

[@jimpool6]

@@TheDCCGuy Hi, hope your keeping safe. To simplify my previous question. Can an already programmed, up and running, decoder be tested as long as the correct address is used. Cheers mate.

[@TheDCCGuy]

It should be able to, but what exactly do you mean by “tested”. If you mean should it run and respond to commands when placed on the main tracks, then yes it should. If this is not working for you then out it on a service mode programming track and see if you an read back the 2 and/or 4 digit addresses. If all else fails do a reset to factory defaults. That will usually bring a non responsive decoder back to life as long as it is not damaged.

[@ratman0100]

So you have to know the address of the decoder in advance. Is that correct.

[@rjl110919581]

thank you for detail video set with the computer do setup on the decoder

[@JohntheTrainman]

Can this test Digitrax, NCE, and TCS decoders?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, it works with any decoder that has a compatible connector which as far as I know is all of them right now except the plug and play types as I pointed out. Basically all you are doing is using your DCC system to power the tester and that in turn powers the decoder. The neat thing is it has all the connectors right there, plus the power LEDs, and LEDs for the headlight and up to 4 additional wired functions. I have seen it advertised for as little as $44 plus S&H.

[@lawrencevarady5326]

How do you test drop in decoders ?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Very carefully. The only option I know of is install them, cross your fingers, and flip the on switch.

[@philipbecker2599]

Cannot get rid of dc on kato loco using digitrax cv29 values: thanks for the tutorial

[@TheDCCGuy]

What kind of decoder?

[@arnaud3299]

👍👍

[@struck2soon]

That "one thousand subscribers" is almost within touching distance Larry...

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yep, it goes up by about 3-5 subscribers each day so the end of the year is looking good! Thanks to all my subscribers-Larry

[@struck2soon]

Fingers crossed. I saw your acquaintance Alan Butler (ModelU) at a train show today, he is looking forward to his trip to the US next April!

[@TheDCCGuy]

Alan is a great guy who has really built an impressive business using cutting edge technology. I have several ModelU train crews in my GWR locos. I am not exactly sure where he is going to end up visiting in the US. I came up with several options including a trip to North Carolina near me but Pennsylvania has more options within a shorter travel window and it would be cheaper to fly to. I hope he can do some steam era train crews, they would look great in my N&W and other steam locos.