4091Dudley Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 higiven prior success and friendliness of people responding to queries, I was hoping someone could help herewhen I ask railmaster to read cvs, it is telling me all cvs are 255. From searching the site, that suggests that there is some sort of connection error. Given trains are running fine, I'm not sure how that can be. Equally, I've checked and rechecked the programming wires are in the correct terminals. Any ideas / other suggestions on how to fix?thanksdavid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St1ngr4y Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 higiven prior success and friendliness of people responding to queries, I was hoping someone could help herewhen I ask railmaster to read cvs, it is telling me all cvs are 255. From searching the site, that suggests that there is some sort of connection error. Given trains are running fine, I'm not sure how that can be. Equally, I've checked and rechecked the programming wires are in the correct terminals. Any ideas / other suggestions on how to fix?thanksdavidDavid,Are you using a separate programming track connected by wires to the programming output terminals of your controller? What type of controller are you using?Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4091Dudley Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Thanks Ray - I'm using elink plus laptop. I take all locos save for one being programmed off the track as I've not built a separate programming track yet. i simply switch the wires into the programming terminal of the elink david Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St1ngr4y Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Do you know what make of decoders are in your locos?Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4091Dudley Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Theyre various. Some hattons, some hornby. I'm getting the same 255 on all, even previously programmed, locos at present Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St1ngr4y Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Have you anything which you can use to test the output from the programming terminals - you should see a voltage when RM tries to read a cv.Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4091Dudley Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Yes - I have an ammeter. Presume across the track? As a simple, test, I have pullman coaches with lights in them. Those lights flash when rm is trying to read cvs. Therefore assume that there is voltage across the tracks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Use the contact us thingy within the programme to contact RM support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St1ngr4y Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 How are the wires connected to the track? Make sure you don't have any non-DCC power connectors attached. Try taking the Pullman coaches off the track when reading cvs. Do you have any accessory decoders connected to the track? I would strongly recommend getting a spare piece of track to use as a programming track, rather than switch the wires from your main layout.Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4091Dudley Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Thanks - no accessory decoders, tried taking pullmans off( no difference), wires soldered to tracks.yes - agreed. It's on my todo list. Am planning to set up a small separate track to use just for programming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 You really should set up a separate programming track for the best chance of success. It doesn't have to be a large complicated setup, just a single short length of track such as a R600 with a R8242 power clip will do, or a R8241 digital power track is all that's needed. Alternatively you can solder the programming wires directly to the rails of a plain piece of track instead. It doesn't need to be a permanent setup either, once you've done the programming it can be disconnected from the elink and put away until you next need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St1ngr4y Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Use the contact us thingy within the programme to contact RM support.David,I think I'm out of suggestions. Maybe you should try Poliss' idea.Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4091Dudley Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Thanks Ray - much appreciated. Will try that. Usually someone on here has seen the problem before and knows the fix! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I have seen this problem before, AND unlike you, I use a separate programming track piece..My workaround solution is to disconnect my wires on the controller going to main layout track output. Leaving JUST my programming track piece connected to the programming output of the controller..It's only a theory, but I believe the programming output is a very low power signal and it does seem to be affected by any noise / interference present on the main track output. Disconnecting the main track from the controller works for me and I can now read CVs correctly that previously returned 255. Maybe it will work for you too. It does mean that you will have to bite the bullet and use a proper programming track piece and not your main track for reading / writing CVs..I would really urge you (as others have also recommended) to use a separate programming track piece. It doesn't have to be sophisticated. I use an off-cut length of flexi-track with two short wires (600mm) soldered directly to each rail. The two short wires then connect to the programming output of the controller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4091Dudley Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Thanks Chris / Ray/ RJhave followed advice and set up an independent programming track. To be honest, i'd not particularly seen the point before. have now managed to get non-255 values. strikes me as odd though that it works when you do that but not on the main track. I can't see electrically how it's any different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Pleased to hear that you've made progress. We could speculate forever as to why it works on a separate track. Maybe the main track has more capacitance between the rails or induced voltage from nearby electrical equipment, we'll probably never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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