Dougjuk

I had similar issues when I first installed the DR5000. MY u shaped layout has an A side and a B side. A side used the DCC concepts Decoders with solenoids and frog juicers. The B side was mainly DCC concepts IP digital servos with one pair of solenoids. Also with 30 plus sound locos I was getting a rush at the start and a short even though there was no short circuit. After speaking with James at DCC Automation I separated the track from the accessories with the DR5000 towering the accessory bus and the track bus powered by a 5033 booster. Since doing that the system is rock solid starts first time with no shorts. The booster is set to restart without shutting off the whole system. Regards Doug

hi, Already tried that, Charlie from DC Kits just returned it to me and SW Digital were not really interested. So after a few more attempts it went in the bin. Put it down to experience. Doug

I have to admit this loco has grown on me, I am now happy with the two speakers and reblown the chip with Legomanbifo 24/1 sound. All the lights function well the sound is great. I have ordered some supplies so I will lightly weather it at some stage. Just a shame that Bachmann had not allowed just a little more space for a speaker. they could save money by not bothering with their own speaker. Nice model really like it, will try doubling it up later in the week with other 24's and maybe a 25. Will need to weather the HUO hoppers to go with it. Doug

Looking good for a full timetable run once we are free to meet up again. Doug

I had this problem until I realised that the four main screws are behind the bogies. Those other 4 are searing something else. Once the right screws are out the body just drops off easy. Doug

Phil, The result is not too bad to be fair, but up against the bigger speakers you can hear the difference. I have had confirmation from a reliable source that there are issues with reading and writing via the PCB of the newer stock. As an example it took 30 minutes to read the chip on my Low Programmer via the chassis of 24137 and it failed a couple of times. Take the chip out put it on the chip tester reads in very short time. Regards Doug

Hi Charlie, I normally do but the space is so limited in these new designs. Only managed a small Single dumbo and a sugar cube in the 24/1. Also there is no large metal chassis anymore just one big PCB. And I think there is an issue with that board. When I tried using my LOk Programmer via the loco it would not read properly. I had to take the chip out put it on the chip tester and it worked fine. That V4 I sent back to you that was all messed up came out of the new 24/1 when I transferred it over from one of my other 24's/ Its a complete backward step by Bachmann, not sure I will be rushing to buy any new Bachmann locos for a while. regards Doug

Hi Rob, Well thats certainly fits the description of our discussion, very impressed. I think the will give some fantastic opportunities for video and still photography once scenery is in place. I think Ian would be very interested in the particular area, also Ardlui. Not done anything mine, been spending time outside gardening just to give my head a break. Will speak later in week. Take care. Doug

Looking forward to seeing the progress. Doug

Having had the hard job of making the new class 24 sound better I don't think this model will be on my list. Seems Bachmann are removing the speaker space by installing a cheap and low sounding speaker. Will wait and see what the Heljan model looks like under the roof. Doug

Hi Andy, Well now that I have got this model and equipped it with sound I thought I would pass on my review of this part. Well this internal design is one step forward and two back. The light sockets are great and stops any issues with the lights working or not. However the backward step is the super large PCB which removes the chance of installing any decent size speaker. Gone is the recessed area for a speaker as in the older Class 24 models. The installed speaker has reasonable tone but is way too quiet and needed changing. I managed to install a Zimo small single dumbo speaker between the light sockets with some filing. I later also managed to add a sealed Loco small speaker at the other end to give a reasonable sound quality. The attached photo, shows the dumbo speaker in place with the Bachmann one taken out and placed in front. I do not have a photo of the second speaker. Regards Doug

Got my DR5000 back today and all working. i have 3 new sound chips V5s, went through the Lok Programmer leaving them on the short address of 3. I then used the DR5000 to write the long addresses, all worked fine. I still do not know what happened to my V4 chip which is now dead. Glad to have my system up and running. Doug

Saw Rob today, he was hard at it getting the Glenfinnan loop functional while a started a little driving. I did bring with me a Sutton Class 24 which was sent out from Oban on a test train before returning later in the day. I also got a couple of the timetabled trains moving before we called it a day. Rob needed to do some more work on the loop to get it fully functional.

My suggestion would be to use the iTrain forum, there are a couple of users on here but more expertise there. regards Doug

Another update. My DR5000 has been found to be working fine, it would appear to be something to do with the ESU chip. It still needs to be investigated but it appears that the ESU Lokprogrammer locks the long address preventing it being changed. This has been replicated. I await the return of my system. This will take a while to investigate but I now have a work around of moving back to the short dress first. Another great result from James at DCC Automation.

As an update. James from DCC Train automation has been on the case. He left no stone unturned going through the system, it may be that my box has a fault, it has gone back to him for full testing. Cannot fault the customer service.

Thanks he has been in contact via the Digikeijs forum. But this seems to be causing various experts a few problems.

firmware is up to date, getting some interesting comments on the Digikeijs forum. Looks like someone has seen similar strange behaviour with address writing and reading. I am going back via supplier to the Techies. Doug

The Bachmann speaker is on the side near the loco, now using a Single Dumbo.

Got mine today, been running it in and fitting sound. The Bachmann speaker was too quiet so I fitted a single small Zimo dumbo speaker.

Hi, I know some of you have mentioned a few strange behaviours with this control system, but has anyone had issues with the program track and addressing a loco. I have a new 24, 24137 and I cannot get the system to run the loco. I have set the address and details on my LokSound programmer and run the loco fine but the DR5000 will not recognise the address. If I use the program track on the DR5000 it can read the 4137 address but will not run the loco. I have tried reading and writing the address but still does not work. The strange thing is if I write the address as 3 it runs fine but no way will it work with 4137. I got out my old NCE Powercab and it runs fine on that as 4137 and is fully recognised. I even tried rewriting the address on the NCE and trying it on the DR5000 but no way. So the loco is set as 3 for now while I get it run in and settled. I have loads of other loco's on the layout all on the long addresses and they run fine, examples such as 4035, 7284. Really has got me scratching my head, I cannot find any settings to deal with this. regards Doug

A really good day of operating and discussing, once the track layout is finalised we can have another days running. I am getting used to the timetable and can say the more I understand the more entertaining it gets. Looking forward to the next day we can arrange. Once again great work Rob. Doug

I would love to go to the show, and was going to do so but as a small group we have decided to leave it. Even if you are fit and healthy right now, at this time of the incident is it worth the risk travelling all the way London and mixing with large groups of people. It is not like the common cold or the flu because at least with those there is some element of immunity, with this disease almost all of us are vulnerable to catch and transfer it. There will be more shows. Regards Doug

Looking forward to an operating session tomorrow, lets give that timetable a good run. Doug

More than happy to help, I would point out that the video only compares the sound. Some of the speakers would need metal work to get them in. For instance the large double dumbo which I tend to put in the fuel tank of a 37. The first couple of speakers were options suggested by Richard from Road and Rails.