Silky Track

So you think there’s a fault with the ADS? How can I be sure where the fault lies?

Hi, i'm using the one that came with the Z21. I have just disconnected the latest ADS Decoder and the power to the track went back to 16v and all other points seem to work correctly again. How do you think I should now proceed?

Sorry for the radio silence everyone and thanks to all those who have replied so far. Ive been keeping an eye on things over the week and it's quite odd. Sometimes its fine again and other times it isnt. I haven't changed anything at this stage either. I just tried it again and it's low again (down to 10v at track). I disconnected the power and put it onto a single loan piece of track to test that. Sure enough if comes out at 16v so I am happy that the Z21 is presumably ok. These are the current reading from the Z21 app too: Electricity on main track = 1185mA Current at the programme track = 3ma Filtered current at the main track = 1080mA Temp = 29 C Supply voltage = 19.8V VCC voltage = 11.2V Im going to disconnect the most recent decoder and see if that makes a difference now.

Will do it all tomorrow. Thanks again.

Thanks everyone for your input so far. The voltage tester I am using is the same one I used originally when I was getting a reading of 16v. I think first port of call is to disconnect the Z21from the layout entirely and connect it up to a lone piece of track and test that. I’ll do that tomorrow after work and report back as to what the reading at the track is. cheers Ian

Really sorry to sound dumb. How can I tell?

Hi all, I have a moderate loft layout approx 25ft by 8ft loop with 3 tracks and various sidings etc. I use Gaugemaster solenoid motors for my points and use 2x DCC Concepts ADS8SX and 2x ADS4SX decoders to operate these motors. These are wired from the main bus. All has been stable for a good year with no issues. I noticed when I first purchased the Z21 (a year ago) that the power across all the track was approx 16v and seemed very consistent. As I said all has been perfect until very recently. I added a 3rd DCC Concepts ADS8SX decoder to operate a new area of the layout I have been working on. Since then I have noticed that some of the other point motors no longer throw correctly and also the power to the track is now 7v rather than 16v. Could this be the additional decoder or would it be that I actually have an issue with the Z21 itself? I have also noticed that some locos no longer run smoothly and seem sporadic in their speed etc. Any ideas would be really great. I am wondering if a booster might help but don't want to spend the money on that to find it doesn't help. Also, I have no idea how much you should be able to get from the standard Z21 without the need for a booster. Any ideas would be great or if anyone else has had this issue I'd love to hear how you resolved it. Many thanks in advance Ian

....oh my god it worked! Thanks so much. That couldn't have been simpler!

Thanks very much both of you - now that you've explained it it seems obvious - but not sure I would have ever thought of it otherwise! Gonna give it a go now..... Many thanks again Ian

Hi. I’m wondering if anyone can help me please. I am using various ADS-8SX decoders on my layout all controlling peco solenoid motors via my Z21. All have worked fine and been easy to set up. However I have just installed my first ever double slip and just can’t work out how to get the Z21 and the ADS to work together correctly. The wiring is all correct but I just can’t get the Z21 to control the two motors correctly. The Z21 gives the double slip two addresses but I can’t seem to be able to separate these when trying to get the ADS to learn the addresses. I am using two outputs on the ADS but it’s not throwing the points correctly at all. It’s only doing the two cross-over configurations - not the other two configurations. Please can you offer any advice on this at all? I’ve looked online and can find virtually no help as all - especially on the Z21 site. Many thanks for any advice you can give as it must be possible to do this. I just can’t work out how. Cheers Ian