Troubleshooting Digitrax DN163MO

[RDG_Rich]

So my very first decoder install has gone Super cough...cough.

I picked up a used Atlas Commander on fleabay. Today I picked up a digitrax board replacement for my Micro Trains FT.

Hooked everything up...

F0 works! I can turn the headlight on and off!

Too bad that's ALL I can do.  Loco doesn't move. The decoder instructions say look for a short between the frame and the motor leads. Okay...ummm I can't SEE any...kapton tape appears to be doing what it's supposed to...

The other interesting thing is the command station can't find the address of the decoder.

What next?

[Bob Bufkin]

Had the same problem with a Kato E-8.  Send it to Lee, he'll fix anything!

[mmyers]

If you have control of the lights, you have control of the decoder. What address are you using to control the lights? That's the decoder's current address. Look again for a bad connection between the motor posts and the motor terminals.

Martin Myers

[RDG_Rich]

That's the bit that I can't figure out.

The lights work on the default address (03) but when I go to programming mode, I get an error that the address is not found.

I guess I should get some batteries for my multimeter...

[Ian MacMillan]

Try reprogramming the decoder to see if somehow it "lost" something.

[RDG_Rich]

I've given up.

There is definately a short somewhere. The motor pad clips aren't getting any juice.  The thing that I hate most about this hobby is electronics and wiring, and before I let the magic smoke out, I just put the shell back together and put it in the box.  Hopefully our resident decoder dude is willing to do another install.

[Packer]

That's the bit that I can't figure out.

The lights work on the default address (03) but when I go to programming mode, I get an error that the address is not found.

I guess I should get some batteries for my multimeter...

decoder could be faulty, I have a Dh163IP that does the same thing

[mmyers]

It's a long shot but make sure the Commander is set on 128 speed steps.