Problem with ZTC 4007 8-Pin Decoder

[Crewlisle]

I have had one of these decoders installed in my Hornby LMS 8F for about 5 years.  I last ran the loco about 12 months ago with no problems.  Today I was giving it a test run on my rolling road when after running for about 15 seconds it stopped, restarted itself about 3 seconds later then repeated the cycle.  Movement and control was smooth and responsive when it was running.

 

What CV can I alter to get it back to its normal running qualities without it keeping stopping? 

[Butler Henderson]

Its the only decoder I have had that has self ignited, so it could be something seriously wrong and a replacement needed - is space is an issue try a TCS DP2X-UK

[Phil S]

Has the loco / decoder been stored at 'high temperature' - such as in a loft during the summer?   I have had experience of programmable memory being lost/corrupted under these circumstances ... not just in model railways, but broadcast TV equipment stored in a warehouse!

One of the first steps to try is to a CV8=8 reset (or other value if appropriate with some makes of decoder) ... and then to retest it as a default Loco 3 and then reprogram the original data back.   It helps with this if you used a Sprog and JMRI to log the exisiting settings an a computer - as this allows 'instant' recovery of all settings.

BTW, unlike an article in one of ths month's magazines, it is NOT necessary to be able to read CV values back on a system ... simply write the values you want .... and perhaps record them on a piece of ancient technology (paper) if you want to reload them, and aren't useing a Sprog and JMRI.

[Combe Martin]

I have lots of locos fitted with ZTC258 decoders (the 258 was originally called the 4007 and is identical) and I've had no such problem at all.  But I agree with the suggestion of doing a decoder reset by writing an 8 into CV8, and then re-writing the other CVs that you have changed.  Knowing these decoders quite well, I don't suppose you've changed many CVs.