Is it possible to 'find' the address on a DCC loco when the owner doesn't recall it? I purchased a DCC unit from a private individual that was supposed to have been reset to address '3'. When I try to select '3' on my EZ Command it's not responding, both on the Mainline and/or Testtrack. This is a Spectrum unit. I'm not even sure that it is picking up power from the track. All my other locos work just fine. How can I test this unit?

Thanks

If you know anyone with a DCC layout, using a more advanced DCC system, you could ask them to do a CV8 factory reset on the loco. That would restore it to the default '3' address.

Len

Thanks Len. I tried running it on a non-DCC track and it doesn't respond at all. I have a Bachmann EZ Command Dynamis system. Is it capable of resetting CV8?I'm guessing that because it seems DOA you wouldn't be able to do anything.

The previous owner may have turned off the analog conversion feature in the decoder that will allow operation on DC track. Occasionally, locomotives with this feature enabled will be tricked into thinking they are on DC powered track when they are actually on DCC, which has full voltage on the rails at all times. The result is a spectacular runaway that won't respond to anything except killing power to the track. If you disable analog conversion this can't happen. It doesn't mean the locomotive is bad.

I can't find the Dynamis manual on this site so I can't say for sure, But it should be able to do a reset on this decoder.

You might want to check and see if there's actually a decoder installed. When my repair shop was open, you wouldn't believe how many used locos that were supposedly DCC equiped came in with no decoder or jumper plug for DC operation installed.

Len

The EZ Command controller does not respond to decoder addresses...it programs locos from within

To find the address You will need to find a club or someone with a true DCC system

Quote from: JonJet on December 20, 2024, 04:48:05 PMThe EZ Command controller does not respond to decoder addresses...it programs locos from within

To find the address You will need to find a club or someone with a true DCC system

Are you sure about that? EZ COmmand runs locomotives on single digit addresses. How would it be able to do that if it didn't program them? I bet if you have a locomotive set up on Address 9 using the EZ Command, that I would be able to run it on address 9 on my Digitrax system. EZ Command may not be able to READ an address, but on some basic level it can PROGRAM an address.

My EZ Command will program a loco to any address I chose. If I use a 'Test Track' I can address a 4 digit address. On the 'Mainline' I can only address a 2 digit address. I just start at the address assigned to a new loco of '3'. This particular loco appears to be Dead On Arrival. Doesn't show any sign of life. It has gone back to the seller. But thanks to all for responding.

The answer is "yes" if you have the gear.  I have a bad habit of change the address and forgetting.  And I have a few decoders that like to reset to 2 address mode if they derail and short the system.   I have work bench with programing tack connect to a PC. I can read all the CVs in and see whats up.

The Dynamis can change most CV and can reset decoders.  I had to do a Web search for Bachmann Dynamis manual to find the info. 

Hello. I"m new in this roll and I wanted to know if the A-Z app is for all tracks. I just bought the Thunder Chief DCC Sound.
Can I use it?
Thanks hope you can help

Yes...I am sure about that

I still have loco's that are labeled with the corresponding single digit from My EZ-Command system

EZ-Command cannot change a CV - it reads from the decoder and assigns within itself

Quote from: JonJet on December 25, 2024, 12:08:59 PMYes...I am sure about that

I still have loco's that are labeled with the corresponding single digit from My EZ-Command system

EZ-Command cannot change a CV - it reads from the decoder and assigns within itself

Perhaps then you could explain then how it deals with this particular scenario. This is one I am certain Bachmann envisioned when designing EZ Command.

A person, probably a novice, buys 3 or 4 new locomotives with DCC on board. All of them come from the factory preset to address 3. These locomotives may or may not be otherwise identical, say a person got a deal on 3 GP7s and an RS3. How, pray tell, does the EZ Command tell one decoder from another so that it can "internally assign" an address that it doesn't program to the decoder. Because if it can't recognize which locomotive is which they will all run on the same address. The decoders came assigned default settings and should therefore be identical if they are all from the same manufacturer.
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There's no need to explain...

Bachmann's IP does it all by itself

The EZ Command controller cannot change a CV value


Do You think that the Auto-Reversing sets in N and HO scales change the value of CV 19 when they reach the end in order to go back the other way?

Quote from: JonJet on December 26, 2024, 09:13:47 AMThere's no need to explain...

Bachmann's IP does it all by itself

The EZ Command controller cannot change a CV value


Do You think that the Auto-Reversing sets in N and HO scales change the value of CV 19 when they reach the end in order to go back the other way?

The Autoreversing trolleys are not DCC. They never were. Therefore, it is a matter of having circuitry to reverse the polarity of the track at the end of the run. This is NOT to be confused with the autoreverser used to control DCC reversing loops. Those are not the same.


Apparently you are under the impression that DCC CV19 is used to control the direction a locomotive runs under DCC. It does not. One of the things it controls is normal direction of travel. For example if you wanted your GP9 or RS3 to run long hood forward as God intended, you could set uop the locomotive to run that way. But normal forward and reverse operation is controlled by the reversing switch on the controller, and CV19 is not involved in that.


I find the fact that you've told me you don't need to explain how EZ COmmand can control multiple locomotives independently without changing the address of the decoders, when no other DCC system can do this, to be quite telling. In truth, the real answer is that EZ Command, despite not being able to program MOST CVs, can change the address to the limited pool of numbers available, and can also change the normal direction of travel under CV19. Those, from what I've read in the manual, are the limits of its programming capability.

It has become apparrent that you are trying to explain things you do not understand, and that you'd be better off not spreading disinformation  to a forum with alot of people looking for accurate answers to these questions. I personally try to limit my answers to subjects of which I have personal, firsthand knowledge. Perhaps you should do the same.