DCC Controllers and Chips

Discuss your experiences with systems, decoders, installations, wiring, control and any general hints & tips you have found.
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John Donnelly
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DCC Controllers and Chips

Postby John Donnelly » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:41 pm

This is, no doubt, a stupid question but do DCC chips 'prefer' certain controllers?

My recalcitrant 08 has had it's limp fixed, has had a sprung axle added and new pickups added to all six wheels and, on the test track of the guy who sorted it for me, I've watched it crawl, almost imperceptibly, backwards and forwards along a 2 metre test track.

Having got it home and put it on the layout, the loco still stalls, apparently for no reason but starts again with the slightest nudge. The track has been cleaned as have, just to be sure, the wheels.

The loco is fitted with a Zimo sound decoder and my controller is a Gaugemaster Prodigy Pro whereas the controller on the test track was an NCE Powercab.

John

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Tim V
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Re: DCC Controllers and Chips

Postby Tim V » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:23 pm

No.

How long have you been home? Different humidity in different houses?
Tim V
(Not all railways in Somerset went to Dorset)

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John Donnelly
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Re: DCC Controllers and Chips

Postby John Donnelly » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:29 pm

Thanks Tim, I didn't think so but I'm trying to eliminate possibilities. I'd pretty much tried it as soon as I go home, about half an hour after picking it up.

John

Philip Hall
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Re: DCC Controllers and Chips

Postby Philip Hall » Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:13 pm

I thought I had the odd problem with with controller choice and DC!

Philip
Last edited by Philip Hall on Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Tim V
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Re: DCC Controllers and Chips

Postby Tim V » Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:57 pm

Of course, moving it could have dislodged the wiper pickups?

Have a look see if they are still making contact.
Tim V
(Not all railways in Somerset went to Dorset)

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John Donnelly
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Re: DCC Controllers and Chips

Postby John Donnelly » Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:00 pm

So, nine hours after getting home, running has certainly improved so perhaps you were right about the humidity...

John

nigelcliffe
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Re: DCC Controllers and Chips

Postby nigelcliffe » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:00 am

Track voltage varies between systems, this can have a small effect. But, I'd favour the "humidity" or "very thin film of dirt" theories, and a decent bit of running should sort that out.


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