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Post by theprez on Oct 2, 2021 16:05:14 GMT -5
Hello all,
I am trying to convert to DCC an F7 using a TCS AZL4.
The TCS board seems to fit good but the loco just start to run in the moment I put it on the track,
in forward direction with the light on. No answer to the commands to address 3 whatsoever,
also trying to resetting the decoder does not work, the loco just keeps going.... also quite smooth I have to say...
Any suggestion?
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Post by Rob Albritton on Oct 2, 2021 17:55:57 GMT -5
How experienced are you with DCC? Is this your first decoder?
Happy to help, just trying to figure out what level of advice to offer.
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Post by theprez on Oct 3, 2021 3:08:50 GMT -5
How experienced are you with DCC? Is this your first decoder? Happy to help, just trying to figure out what level of advice to offer. Hi Rob, I converted tens of Z locos already. As long as it does not requires soldering and wiring.... |
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Post by theprez on Oct 3, 2021 4:46:36 GMT -5
Made some tests... the decoder is ok on a GP-38.
What I found out is that the F7 chassis without any board (not the DC and not DCC) runs great in DC mode.
it never happened to me with any loco so far. Is this expected for the F7? Is there a shortcut somewhere?
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Post by tjdreams on Oct 3, 2021 11:14:25 GMT -5
Made some tests... the decoder is ok on a GP-38. What I found out is that the F7 chassis without any board (not the DC and not DCC) runs great in DC mode. it never happened to me with any loco so far. Is this expected for the F7? Is there a shortcut somewhere? If your F7 is running with out a board then YES their is a short. The motor contact tabs are making contact with the chassis. |
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Post by theprez on Oct 3, 2021 11:45:00 GMT -5
Made some tests... the decoder is ok on a GP-38. What I found out is that the F7 chassis without any board (not the DC and not DCC) runs great in DC mode. it never happened to me with any loco so far. Is this expected for the F7? Is there a shortcut somewhere? If your F7 is running with out a board then YES their is a short. The motor contact tabs are making contact with the chassis. Here the pics of the chassis. I don't see anything weird...  www.theprez.it/F71.jpgwww.theprez.it/F72.jpg |
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Post by Rob Albritton on Oct 3, 2021 12:11:42 GMT -5
If your F7 is running with out a board then YES their is a short. The motor contact tabs are making contact with the chassis. Here the pics of the chassis. I don't see anything weird... www.theprez.it/F71.jpgwww.theprez.it/F72.jpgI don’t see anything weird either. So now it is time to move on to an electrical meter. If you have one. 1) take the loco off the track. Use the meter to measure flow across the left and right chassis. Select either continuity or resistance (less than 10k ohms) and see if any power is flowing WITHOUT any circuit board installed (as shown in your picture) a zero reading is a good result. It means no short circuit. Now if your loco runs in DC with that configuration call a priest. You have a locomotive poltergeist. |
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Post by tjdreams on Oct 3, 2021 12:55:57 GMT -5
If your Chassis is running with out any board installed the motor has to be shorting out against the chassis halves otherwise it would not move at all. The brass wire i circled in yellow are connected to the red and blue power wires coming out of the motor itself Somewhere along the lines the wires have to be making contact with the chassis in order for it to be running. normalcy the board would contact the chassis and those wires. For DCC the motor wires must be isolated from the chassis and only make contact with the motor output on the decoder If they are shorting out it will not run on DCC and it could destroy the decoder  Several years ago i was trouble shooting a similar issue and after complete disassembly i found a solder blob was causing the short on one side and a single strand of wire making contact with the other. Even using my digital microscope I was unable to see the single strand of wire on the one side but the solder blob sure showed up I suspect you may find a simular issue with yours  |
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Post by theprez on Oct 3, 2021 13:56:47 GMT -5
I suspect you may find a simular issue with yours That was it !! I opened the chassis and pushed inside a solder blob on one side and the wire on the other side and now it runs great !! And yes, the meter reported a shortcut between the 2 halves and between one of the power pin and its own half of the chassis. This is the loco with the best movement I saw so far, just the sound is missing to compare with the equivalent in N scale  Thanks all for the help !! Alex |
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Post by tjdreams on Oct 3, 2021 18:38:23 GMT -5
I suspect you may find a simular issue with yours That was it !! I opened the chassis and pushed inside a solder blob on one side and the wire on the other side and now it runs great !! And yes, the meter reported a shortcut between the 2 halves and between one of the power pin and its own half of the chassis. This is the loco with the best movement I saw so far, just the sound is missing to compare with the equivalent in N scale Thanks all for the help !! Alex Glad you got it fixed and running. What do you mean sound is missing? I have sound in my AZL F units As well as my E units and some of my box cars sound pretty good too  |
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Post by BAZman on Oct 3, 2021 21:23:57 GMT -5
I think Alex was comparing the elderly permanent magnet motors of N (and Micro-Trains Z), compared to AZL’s coreless motors.
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