Fitting R8247 decoders

[badgers]

hi DI hi back again, help

fitted two r8247 point decoders, but after fitting , cannot get them to work ?. RUN PROGRAMMES AS PER ELITE manual, but been on youtube and after you program is , there is more, now i am total confused,1. will it work with old type points,or only with new ones, stripped back too one point and one unit, but still no joy.

[Chrissaf]

There are two aspects to this which the content of your post doesn't answer.

Are the points not working because there is a physical issue, either wiring or installation method with the way you have installed the kit.

Or is your issue due to a configuration or operation method mistake.

The "RUN PROGRAMMES AS PER ELITE" comment in your post, does not make any sense to me as there are no 'RUN PROGRAMMES' capabilities in an Elite. What exactly do you mean by this sentence? You say it is as per the Elite manual. Please state the manual page number, so the content of that page can be reviewed for relevance & applicability.

Probably more likely that your issue relates to configuration or operation using your Elite, but in the absence of you filming what you have done and how you did it, and posting a link to it on YouTube, then all you can do instead, as we are not looking over your shoulder, is write a 'step by step' description of what you have done including what is connected to what and what buttons have been pressed in what order.

In case it is just a basic error you have made, then here are some edited highlights.

First of all, out of the box, the R8247 is configured with DCC Addresses 1 to 4.

This means that your wiring and installation of point motors can be tested using these 1 to 4 addresses BEFORE you try to change them. So why not try these DCC addresses to see what happens. If this test doesn't work, you can't assume that your installation is wrong because your attempts (if any) to configure addresses may have changed or corrupted them [see factory reset comment further below]. As previously said, this is a test that should be performed straight out of the box, not as an afterthought after tinkering.

Unless you particularly don't want to use addresses 1 to 4, then the first R8247 can be used "as is" out of the box to operate Soleniod point motors. Therefore it only becomes necessary to address the second R8247 as 5 to 8.

Firstly the R8247 is configured by connecting it directly to the 'PROG' output on the Elite, then follow the instructions starting on page 58 of the Elite manual.

It would also be useful to know whether the R8247s you have sourced are Version 2 products.

If you write 8 to CV8 using the Elite, then that will factory reset the R8247 and reinstate the original 1 to 4 addresses. In your situation, this is probably worth doing so you can test the 1 to 4 addresses as previously documented in this reply. Once you get them working on the default addresses, then it is easier to focus on the configuration of them to different addresses. In other words, take a logical and methodical approach to diagnosing your issue.

Note that to test the 1 to 4 addresses, the R8247 needs to be connected to the Elite 'TRACK' output.

[96RAF]

Just to add a bit more to the previous answers.

When programming R8247s you need to connect them initially to the Elite Prog terminals, then select Menu, then Acc not Loco, then Direct, then Address Write - enter 1 for the first module or 5 for the second module (assuming you want to use port addresses 1 to 4 and 5 to 8).

Tip - connect a solenoid motor to port 4 and set it at mid stroke. When the Elite has programmed all four ports the solenoid will click over. As you set it mid way it can go either way.

Once initially programmed if you then repeat the exercise, but read the address rather than write it you should get a read-back of 1 for the first module and 2 for the second module. These are Group address, not the port addresses you wrote. The Elite converts them for you when you select Acc.

You can now connect them to your Track to operate them.

[badgers]

hi sorry about the delay, but thank you for your help, will work on that what both of you have said, one thing I can not find out is what is the size of cable to use, have ended up with various sizes, but is there a guide to different sizes anywhere and what part to use them on.

[Chrissaf]

Personal opinion others might disagree.

Firstly, it is much better to use 'stranded' wire for everything and not 'solid conductor'.

Many on here strip out individual wires from T&E electrical cable, but these are 'solid conductor'. It is just about acceptable to use T&E 2.5mm wire for a DCC main BUS under the baseboard because it is thick and not likely to be subject to vibration and movement. But for thinner wire use AND/OR locations where wire movement is likely, then 'stranded wire' should be used. Solid conductor wires are susceptible to vibration / movement induced 'metal fatigue' breakages.

Stranded wire is easier to identify and buy if searching for the XX/YYmm specifications, where XX is the number of strands and YY is the diameter of each individual wire strand in mm.

OK that is the background, these are my suggested uses.

1. 7/0.1mm - Wiring for internal loco decoders.
2. 7/0.2mm - Droppers from track to a BUS.
3. 7/0.2mm - Low voltage / current wiring for accessories such as LED lighting and signals.
4. 16/0.2mm - DC Analogue controller to track connections.
5. 24/0.2mm - Wiring for 3 wire Solenoid Point Motors.
6. 32/0.2mm - Main DCC BUS from controller to track droppers [7/0.2mm]

Note that 16/0.2mm is very similar in size to the brown and blue wires used in 5 amp rated electrical flex cable.

[badgers]

thanks for your information , must be a lot of people who are the same as me so I am now pleased and have some idea