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NCE P2KSR decoder problems.... Track and electrical/DCC
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New member 3 posts jp8851 New member 3 posts
jp8851

First post guys, so be kind.... Been a train hobbyist for a couple centuries, (well about 50 years on and off). I've been too busy work wise for the past 10 years and been inactive but now retired I'm back in full bore. My club went all DCC a few years ago and now I'm busy installing decoders, some sound, most not, to the locos I intend to run at club. Most have gone without much trouble but I bought 4 P2KSRs to install into a couple of these that I might keep. 

The first loco I tried was an unused GP30 that had never been out of the box. I read the precautions about the globes and set about disconnecting them with the plan to replace them. While removed I thought I'd check out the decoder. But when I attempted to program them on the NCE Power Cab's program track method, I couldn't read the CVs and failed to get anywhere. I have had a couple DOA DASRs so thought I might have another but double checked I had pin 1 aligned correctly. They were. So I grabbed another decoder and installed that... Same problem. 

I've reinstalled the DC board and checked the loco runs and it goes fine although I thinks got a cracked gear.

Before I try any other locos and the other 2 decoders I have, anyone got any ideas about this? Pretty sure I'm not responsible for the issue. But I'm open to anything worth trying. I don't have a decoder tester. 

Cheers and thanks for any help...

John
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jlrc47 Regular poster 401 posts
jlrc47

More info please

  • Who is the manufacture of the GP30?
  • Is it DCC ready?
  • Do you have a decoder tester, like NCE's DTK?

If not DCC ready it most likely needs the motor isolated from the frame.

gniture1.png 

Amherst Railway Society   HHJ YouTube channel

 
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jp8851 New member 3 posts
jp8851

Hi Joe, It's a Proto 2000

Hi Joe,

It's a Proto 2000 GP30 and DCC ready, the P2KSR is made by NCE specifically for Proto 2000 hence the name. I didn't have a tester when I fitted the first two, but since bought an ESU Decoder Tester like this...

http://www.esu.eu/en/products/decoder-tester/

My LHS prefers these... Even has an on board motor to test drive. It has a 8 pin NMRA input. I tested an MRC decoder I know works and it runs and programs fine. So I put both P2KSR decoders on the tester and same result. It cannot read the CVs on either. So I put a third decoder on the tester... Same thing. I tried the default number 3. But also no response. I'm at a loss except to send them back to NCE's agent here in Australia including the fourth unconnected one to test. Still if you have anything to add, I'm interested.

John
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jlrc47 Regular poster 401 posts
jlrc47

Will it program

John, Can you program the decoder?  I have had decoders that won't read a CV but when I program it, then it will read the CV.

I found this on another forum. I don't know if this could be an issue for you.

Quote:

"Some of P2K's engines have a wiring defect that affects decoders.  Here is the text:

Life-Like GP38-2 locomotives have an additional lamp added for the number boards which, as wired, causes problems on DCC (it does not adversely affect DC operation).  Since the bulb is wired to the gray (negative motor) pin and the black (track pickup) pin, your DCC system will see this as a short circuit.  Disconnect the bulb from both pins and wire it to one of the function leads on the decoder to solve this problem. 

 

Jim"

 

gniture1.png 

Amherst Railway Society   HHJ YouTube channel

 
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Larry of Z'ville Frequent poster 984 posts
Larry of Z'ville

When your testing the decoders

The loco is not involved, right?  

I had the opportunity to get a couple of four packs of NCE decoders. They weren't the P2K version.  They are the version that looks like a light board.  I do not have the number handy.  

Right out of the sealed pack two were bad.  Would not drive the ESU tester nor could they be read in program mode.  The other pack of four had one bad one.  The others tested fine.  I returned them and got two new packs of four.  

The new ones tested fine.  Four of these new ones were installed in Proto locos.  They worked great and I have not had any complaints.  My conclusion at the time was a bad series of decoders.  I'm sure they all have them, but it is frustrating when you get one.  

Larry

So many trains, so little time,

Larry

check out my MRH blog: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/42408

 or my web site at http://www.llxlocomotives.com
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jp8851 New member 3 posts
jp8851

Joe, I can't program them at

Joe, I can't program them at all either in a loco or on the ESU tester.

Larry, you are correct for the third one... It was never plugged into a loco, just the Tester. And like you I recently bought a couple 4 packs of DA-SR decoders and had 2 DOAs, one from each pack. They will get replaced by NCE. But these P2KSRs were separate, not a 4 pack. Hard to believe these all came from the same batch but quite possible I guess. 

I've written to. NCE seeking their thoughts too. I guess we'll soon see what they suggest.

Thanks guys...
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