norman

Read CV310 it should be 1 for sound on/off.

My two models are exhibiting the same problem under load the gear can be heard clicking and the loco does not move. Gaugemaster say they have no spares gears for these locos. Has anyone else had the same problem and more importantly how did they fix it?

I seem to remember some discussion on this when they first came on the market. My one has a problem when it seems that under load the pinion jumps a tooth or two. Has anyone experienced the same and has the problem been corrected?

On the original B4 thread a mention in one post was made regarding stay alive but there was no subsequent discussion.

Especially as it's an 0-4-0 there is a need to fit a stay alive but it's difficult to see where it would fit, perhaps in the side tanks. Has anyone done this?

I wonder why the EW&S logos are missing. Perhaps it's just that Heljan will not pay for a licence to use them or maybe DB Schenker just said no. It's a pity because otherwise the 73 looks good.

If F27 was already latched ON then pressing F28 would have no effect. You need to switch F27 off then F28 or visa versa of course. CV395 sets max volume on F28 - sensible to set it to the same value as CV266

The resistors are fitted on the same boards as the LEDs.

Here is the relevant explanation in the manual

Hi Nigel That's good to know, thank you. I have the ESU programmer and can read all the CV values ok. What do I need to do then to set the function keys for volume control please?

I have both Zimo and ESU sound chips fitted. With Zimo decoders you can control the sound volume using function keys, usually F27 sound volume reduces and F28 volume increases up to a defined maximum. This I find useful. Can the same or similar be achieved with ESU decoders?

Yes insulate the frog from the rest of the track work and provide a separate switchable power supply to the frog using either a frog juicer, or a micro switch linked to the movement of the points.

Charlie Why not set the standard key as F2 for the brake which is logical as even NCE controllers can then use the brake function. Or alternately provide simple instructions of how to swap F5 to F2 without cost.

The tool mentioned by Dapol was included in the class 121/122 releases. It is a U shaped springy metal with a right angled bend at each end to clip under the decoder. Works a treat.

A brake button can be set on ESU decoders too.

It could be just a broken wire in the lead. I suggest you open it up and check continuity with the DIN plug pins.

Reading CV8 gives the decoder manufacturer's ID always.

Setting CV8 = 8 will reset the decoder to the settings as set in the sound project which is what you want. It is possible to set the decoder back to the original settings when it left Zimo i.e. prior to the sound project being installed, I wonder if that's what you have done. CV #8 = “0”  NOT recommended (service purp. only) Default values of the CV table In DecoderPro the factory reset gives 3 options and unfortunately the default is CV8=0, so could you have done this?

You can use address zero on Digitrax too.

I have now fitted a Dapol 21 pin decoder and the analogue DC works forward and reverse. I then removed the Dapol decoder and replaced it with a Zimo MS440C sound decoder courtesy of Youchoos (just arrived - which only took 10 days to travel less than 50 miles with Royal Mail) and this works great forward and reverse on DC too. So clearly a problem with the Zimo decoder first fitted. As to running on address 0 on Lenz, I have used it for several years now and never had a problem and I think its just part of the urban myth that it should be avoided.

I've just bought a Dapol 45xx and its a really good model at a very reasonable price but behaves rather strangely on analogue DC. Needless to say on DCC it works very well and without the decoder it works normally on analogue DC. But on DC with a decoder fitted it works perfectly in reverse but does not move forward. I have tried it both ways on the track. It has been suggested that this is a result of the coreless motor. If I try to run it on address zero using my Lenz DCC with no decoder fitted it does not move. Very strange. I think that the suggestion that its because of the coreless motor is just a possibility but can anyone explain why this happens?

Yes, should work OK on DCC without a decoder.

If you do not have a DCC system try a local club, perhaps someone there will be able to help you. Set CV13=1 should do it. Alternatively, send the decoder to someone willing.