Loco problem

[Mathew]

I need help! My loco is not running in DCC mode. I have a atlas master GP40 with the factory board which can run both DC and DCC. I just hooked up my power wires, solderd to the track. On DCC the loco does nothing but my tester shows the track is getting power. I switched the jumper in the loco over to DC and it works fine. My thought is the board has gone bad but heres the thing. The last time I had it out on the track it worked fine, put in back in the box, brought it out today and now it dont work. Maybe someone here can help me figure this out.

[DRGW 5398]

By any chance did you do any DCC programing to it last time you had it out, like with a different system than the one you use on your layout?

I programmed a Atlas Master unit on my home layout for a friend, then when testing it on his layout it would not respond to anything other than DC.

[Mathew]

Its still set to the factory settings and Ive used it with the same system I first tried it on. I even tried resetting it but that didnt seem to work either.

[DRGW 5398]

Do other DCC locomotives work? Maybe the problem lies within your DCC system?

[Mathew]

That crossed my mind too, it being the system its self (I hope not though). Right now that is the only DCC loco I have until my other one returns from the "shops". I hope its not my system as I cant afford to replace it right now. I got lucky with this one as it was. Ill probably have to wait until I get my other loco back before I can see if it does the same thing or what will happen.

[montyvox]

You know that is funny- I have a Guilford GP40 from Atlas, the same master GP40 that you have, and I had the same issue.

Except what was funny, when I brought it to my hobby shop where I bought it, it started to smoke like an 0-4-0! The board was replaced, but the engine still doesn't run right.

I'd be curious what happens to your's as well. My friend at the LHS put a new board in, but it still doesn't run.

I'm not sure what my next move it.

Thanks
Matt

[Mathew]

I tried it on the programning track and it dont seem to work on that either. The controler says its sending but the loco dont move or anything (not sure if its supposed to or not) Im not sure what it is. Ive tried resetting it multiple times and no luck, on both the main and on program. I may just have to break down and get a new board from atlas and see if that does the trick.

[DRGW 5398]

Since you have only one DCC loco at the moment and can't test the other one with DCC, are you sure your track is getting power? On my system I once had a small kink in the wire that actually caused a break in it.

Have you tried a non-DCC locomotive on your layout? Just to test this theory.

[Mathew]

I just tried a standard DC loco and for the most part it runs across the track fine. It does seem that in some places on the track it acts like its not getting enough voltage and slows down or comes to a complete stop but when I move the DC throttle more it picks right up and goes. There was one strecth of track that it completly stopped on and wouldnt move but the Altas unit didnt do that on that same section. As far as how many volts the track is getting I dont know, I dont have one of those testers. The one I have just lights up if theres power available. With that being said, I switched the jumper in the Atlas unit over to DC and it didnt do that, it ran just fine.

[artur]

you should get your self a multi meter, you can get cheep ones $10 or $20. this will help you find dead spots and voltage drops on your track, you can also switch it to do a conductivity test and check all your wires inside the loco and solder joints. its a very helpful tool for trouble shooting.

[CIOR]

I had this with 1 of my Atlas engines and mind you over the years I have had at least 20 of them.
Only one ever had this issue and it was the decoder itself!

I junked the decoder and put a TCS in there. Dunno why, but I have heard this over the years now.

[diesel]

have you looked to see if some of the wires have come loose from the board? In any case, the Atlas board is not the best. A TCS or NCE decoder will be an improvement in any case.

[Mathew]

Yep, just checked all the wires and the best I can tell there all connected. Its still not operating on dcc so I guess like everyone said, a new decoder is in order.

[CIOR]

Ya, I suggest it. I think the dual mode concept was nice when it first came out. It was designed to get more people into DCC without the fuss of changing the engine out. However I was told privately that there is a surge issue that will eventually zap the decoder.
I'm sure this is what is getting all these decoders.
I've heard guys that have never had a issue, others put a new out of the box engine down and it doesn't work!

I've got many of them....

[Mathew]

Just an update on this. I just got two more MP15 units in which are DCC. Ive tried them and they will work up to a point. they work for a few minutes (or seconds) and then the screen on my controler goes blank but they keep going so Im coming to the conclusion that its my DCC system which stinks cause if that truly is the case then Ill be out of the game for awhile, at least until I can save up the money to find another system.

[diburning]

I've had an Atlas MP15DC that ran fine on DCC, and ran fine on DC, but the decoder smoked because I forgot to move the jumper plug back to DC. After that happened, the DCC system would detect the engine as a short across the tracks.