Issues with Kato FL12n--Lights go Out and Consisting

[busdriver]

Hello Folks,

I have a Kato N Scale Pacific Surfliner set that is beautiful.  I just put in the FL12N decoder in the cab car to allow for DCC control of the tail/head lights.  I programmed the address to be 4 using CV1.  I changed nothing else. I put it on the test track, and the lights come on using F0, and respond to the direction requested properly.  However, I'm having a couple of issues:

1.  When I call up address 4 using my NCE system, I can turn on the lights using F0.  By selecting the direction, I either get the red tail or white headlights.  However, when the train is moving, the lights will spontaneously go off on the cab car and do not come back on.  I have to press the headlight button off and then on, for them to return.  I think this is caused by ever so slight power interruptions and the lights don't come back on.  My track and wheels are quite clean, and when I ran it in DC mode before the board was installed, the lights were flicker free.  Is there something I'm missing that could possibly keep the decoder wanting to have the lights on?

2.  I tried consisting it with the NCE advanced consist method so that it was tied to the locomotive.  I was hoping to have the lights come on with F0 and change direction accordingly.  However, nothing happens at all.....no lights.  I realize these decoders don't have much processing going on, but I thought it would respond to consist F0 commands.  Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Bryce

[peteski]

Your problem is not consisting specifically.  I also don't think they support advanced consisting,
I suspect the problem is with the intermittent power pickup in that car.  Kato electric pickup is pretty reliable, but the wheels and rail need to be impeccably clean.

If not, the relatively light cars, if equipped with a lighting circuit will show lots of flicker. I see that whenever most members run their Kato passenger cars on our club's NTRAK layouts.  Most are nto very fastidious with wheel cleaning and their train's interior lights  flicker like crazy.  I sometimes take one of their cars and clean the wheels really well to demonstrate how much difference that makes.

Anyway, when the decoder ends up with a very intermittent connection to the DCC signal, it will likely not be controllable, and will likely turn off when the connection is resotored.  Also, NCE system does not continuously send the function status commands to the decoder. It only does that under certain conditions (like when the status of the function changes).  Some other brand DCC system send continuous function status packets to all the decoders.  That fact can also be contributing to your problem.

You could try to:
1. make sure the wheels (and all the other contact points on that car are very clean. That means the bearing cups and axle points in the trucks, and the contact areas between the nub on the truck and the flat springy contact in the floor.

2, Add some weight to that car to try creating better contact with rails.

3. Add some keep-alive  type capacitors to the decoder. The decoder is not designed for soldering such circuit to it, but with some research it can be determined where to connect the extra capacitor.

I would say utilizing all three options would be the best way to make the decoder work reliably.

[busdriver]

Thanks Peteski,

I just cleaned the layout before running this train, and the cars all had their wheels scrubbed.  I'll try some weight to see if that helps and will check the hubs/springy contacts.  I don't know how to solder worth a darn, so I'll have to contemplate that option. 

I'm glad to know that I'm not experiencing something unique, but am a little surprised this is not a more "discussed" issue.  I watched a video about installing these decoders. He just threw it on the track, and it worked great.  Made me think I had something odd going on.

Bryce

[busdriver]

All working perfectly now.  2 things seemed to be in play.  I cleaned the axle ends and the pockets on the pickups.  Still had some issues.  The truck with the coupler was having trouble getting contact to the springy brass contact above it.  I put a tiny piece of foam between the contact strip and seats above it, and that put a light amount of pressure on the post.  That solved it!  Thanks for the ideas, Peteski.

Bryce

[peteski]

I'm glad the problem is resolved, and  if the decoder starts acting up again, you know what to  do. 
And yes, with only one truck picking up the power, I'm not surprised the pickup was intermittent.

I also believe that there should be no need to hard-wire the trucks.  AFAIK, those decoders are actually made by Digitrax, so they are really basic.
Also, ZIMO makes their version of that decoder (MX605SL).  ZIMO decoders IMO are much better than Digitrax.  It might not be as sensitive to short power dropouts.

As for why this problem is not discussed more often - I don't know. I suspect not many members here have interior lights installed in their Kato passenger cars or use the decoder for the cab car headligths.

[busdriver]

I agree with not hardwiring things---makes maintenance so much harder.

Bryce