Kato Thalys PBKA Digitrax DZ125IN install

[surfingstephens]

Having a frustrating time so I am pausing for some help and to walk a way from it a bit.   Here is where i am.

   -  Took the shell off sucessfully

   -  Installed chip as specified in instructions

   -  Tested and it seemed to program, light on, but no movement

   -  Pulled chip out, put dc dummy chip and tested.  It worked.

   -  Installed a 2nd DZ125IN chip and same results in the first.

   -  Figured I would try flipping over the chip the opposite way the instructions tell you to and....IT WORKS...wow really, great instructions.

   -  Ran a few laps all is good

   -  Put body on and it quit working.   Did that a few times on and off with same results.

   -  Decided that it might be pressing against the chip and causing the problem.   I pushed gently down on the chip with the body off and the train still continues to work fine.

   -  Put the body partially on and then as I press down the last tiny amount the lights go out...

   -  Litterly it is 1/32 of inch and lights out.   Somehow the body is inteferring with the electrical connection.

    -  Any suggestions on what to try??  Pictures to come shortly...   Love this relaxing hobby...sometimes...

[inobu]

surfingstephens,

 

Welcome to the world of N-Scale where small is huge.

 

1/32 is equal to 4.75 inches.

 

Just imagine driving with your car door open 4.75 inches or putting on a pair of pants 4.75 inches small on the waist line.

 

Chances are something is not snapped in place allowing the board to maintain contact.

[KenS]

In the second photo, the DCC decoder board looks to be angled up, rather than parallel to the lower board.  Is there some component, either on the train's board or the decoder board that's preventing it from lying flat?

 

This may be a case where some NEM boards will work, but just not this one.

[surfingstephens]

Well, normally I am more patient than most, but this train is truly a test.   First, the good news, I got it working perfectly.    What have I learned?  That n scale dcc is very "finicky".   I did figure out where my problem was by leaving the body off and then gently tapping on each of the four corners where the copper goes to the wheels and determining the one that causes the lights to go out.  The front left one was the bad one.   I then tried slipping a piece of copper between the board and the copper to shim to get a better connection.(if you look close at last picture you will see the copper shim.)  This actually worked for a little while then it got loose.   I then figured out that the grey color piece of plastic(see picture where it is taken out) that holds the entire board down needs to be pressed so that it snaps into place and holds the entire board to the copper well.   This probably worked loose as I was pressing the Digitrax board in.   This pretty much did the trick.  I needed to still be very carefull getting the body down successfully.    This is of course, a summary, because I literally worked on this train all day off and on.   I had the entire train disassembled at least one time.    

 

The trick seems to always be to get the board to press up against those copper strips well.  

[surfingstephens]

In the second photo, the DCC decoder board looks to be angled up, rather than parallel to the lower board.  Is there some component, either on the train's board or the decoder board that's preventing it from lying flat?

 

This may be a case where some NEM boards will work, but just not this one.

 

 

You are correct and good observation.  Yes it does sit at an angle because the 'stuff' on the board is against the board you plug into and does not clear it properly.  Plugged in okay though and the connection is very good, just not pretty.

[surfingstephens]

surfingstephens,

 

Welcome to the world of N-Scale where small is huge.

 

1/32 is equal to 4.75 inches.

 

Just imagine driving with your car door open 4.75 inches or putting on a pair of pants 4.75 inches small on the waist line.

 

Chances are something is not snapped in place allowing the board to maintain contact.

 

 

 

Bing!  The winner.  Your statement was correct.  The grey piece of plastic that holds the entire board down to the copper strips was not snapped in all the way...

[surfingstephens]

By the way, I have included lot's of pictures to help the next poor guy who tries to do this.  Chuckle.

[Guest Closed Account 1]

Never had any of these issues using a TCS EUN651 6-Pin decoder.

[surfingstephens]

Never had any of these issues using a TCS EUN651 6-Pin decoder.

I somehow managed to buy the Digitrax decoders when my intent was to stick with the TCS ones as suggested.   I would have to say that my issues had more to do with a lack of experience installing DCC (2nd attempt) than the decoder itself.   Like anything, with each time I do this I learn quite a bit and the installations become less difficult.   Still it should be noted that the Digitrax does NOT fit perfectly as the TCS does.