96RAF Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Info in the first link suggests it boosts current as they say they didnt have to shut down lights, sound, etc, which NMRA specifically talks to as being off for service mode programming second link is better as it says the boost is to charge caps and then the current is limited to 200mA which is the NMRA spec. Third link talks about adding a low ohm high watt resistor for some types of decoder, a fairly well known fix already, used to prevent ringing affecting normal programming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzy Bear Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Well, I got my Powerpax and it made no difference.Got a brand new piece of Peco flextrack, soldered wires to it, direct connection from elink prog outputs (no relay or switches) and no difference.The only thing I could think of is that it came with a US power supply that outputs 15VDC and all I have here are 12VDC supplies. I am going down to the local electronics store to see if they have a 15V pack but can't see it making a difference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzy Bear Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 15V supply didn't help. More money wasted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelrow Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Well now are we back to where we started, or is it down to location. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 I'm sorry it didn't work for you Fozzy. There must be something fundamentally different with those Euro decoders. Hopefully you will be able to return for a refund, and only be out of pocket for postage costs..I was very particular to say in my caveat that you need to have some CV reading function, before adding the PPAX..Its a pity you have eLink, if you had an Elite. You could download JMRI DecoderPro (FREE) and use that with an Elite. DecoderPro seems to work with just about every decoder brand on the planet. One of the tests I did, but didn't document in my original post, was to read the CVs of my Loksound decoders with that combination (DecoderPro + Elite). So I confirm that DecoderPro software can communicate to a Hornby Elite controller. But there would be no guarantee that the Elite would fare any better with your Euro decoder CVs even if being used with DecoderPro. Note: eLink communication protocols are propriety to Hornby and not listed in the DecoderPro pull down controller selection list, whereas Elite is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzy Bear Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Yep, I was thinking it might be a elink thing. The two engines I have trouble with are a Trix (didn't work) and the the Hornby Pendolino, which is most surprising.No big drama as the Trix runs well (on address 3) and the pendo was free but is just junk (bits fall off it, stops and starts at random so maybe thats why it was free!) so it will be a "display" unit on my shelves.It was only about $100 for the PPax and I have spent more than that on beer on a big weekend so no biggie. It may prove useful in the future.I have many Hornby engines and love em but the Pendo is a complete dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 I tried the eLink as a straight swap for the Elite in Rocrail and got some odd results, so I guess there is a comms disparity going on somewhere, maybe more than just the baud rate.Don't give up. Just put it on a list - 'to be investigated' when I have the time and the money to buy the kit to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 The fact you have to tell RM which controller you are using as well as the baud rate may be a clue here, how you might resolve it without knowing the Comms protocols the 2 use, another matter entirely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzy Bear Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Well, the Powerpax has started to earn its keep. I just bought a 2nd hand loco with an unknown decoder. Couldn't read it, plugged in the PPax and read it perfectly. turned out to be a Lenz something or rather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choralc Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Well that's a bit of a win Fozzy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Phew that's a relief.......would hate to think that I inadvertently recommended a wasted money purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigskybirds Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 The Hornby DCC controllers especially the Elite are not cheap so one would expect them to work consistently in writing CVs, sadly as I found out they do not or at least the more recent build models did not work for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ullswater Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I've decided to go for a Powerpax - thanks for the detailed analysis Chris.Digitrains are the only UK supplier that I can find either still in business who can provide them - thye are out of stock but have two on order from the US and I have reserved one of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Good luck....I hope you get the same positive results I got with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzy Bear Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 The ones from the US come with a US power supply. It was useless in Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 @Fozzy Bear.In light of the content of this thread you might want to review my reply in the Elite 1.43 Firmware topic.https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/forum/post/view/topic_id/17056/?p=3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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