ELECTRIC RR DC COMMANDER

If the engine comes up in conventional mode it usually means lack of TMCC signal. Assuming the base is connected and on before you apply track power then there is a problem with the antenna wire or radio board.

Pete

If you have other Tmcc engines give them a try, this is to check Tmcc signal. If signal is OK I will suggest to jump the run/program and make sure your switch wires are in the 2nd and 3rd posistion.

Bill 

Did you install the antenna wire on the DC Commander?  Like Norton says, if the loco comes up in conventional then it is not seeing the TMCC signal.  Did you power up the Command Base before applying power to the track?  The signal from the base must be present at the time the track is powered up or the loco won't see it.

I will try the Antenna in the one slot in the morning. Electric RR states that their is a very small chance of defective parts but it is a possibility. Bill, when you say jump the switch do you mean a wire from the 2 slot to the 3 slot? I did try other engines one was fine the other no bell or whistle, It did run with the CAB1. The switch wires are correct.

Hey Bob, Yes I checked that before I run the power up on the zw.  I may relocate the command base to see if that helps. I have three tmcc engines two from the mid nineties and one from 2011. I have been having problems with the older ones the 2011 is fine.

Good morning guy's.    this morning I ran my TMCC engines with no problems. All three responded to all commands. Next I moved the antenna to the screwed post but no change still in conventional mode. Lastly I removed the prog/run switch and placed a jumper into the two and three slots on the board still in conventional mode. I have gone over the entire change and I can't fine anything out of place......

Time to swap the R2LC and see if the problem follows the board.

I would try what Gunrunner said, swap out the R2LC. Stephen I have a question, where did you locate the antenna wire, also when you're testing this engine out, is the shell on or off.

Alex

Hi Alex, I had the antenna on the slide on pin I moved it to the screw on board #1 post I believe, and the shell is off. John, when you say swap the R2LC is this a  common  board for the older TMCC Steam engines? The board is in the Tender or Engine?   Steve

Steve,

   If changing the R2LC as John suggested, as long as it is in a module system, if that don't help you might have to return to ERR for a replacement. Do you have sound installed, when the engine starts in conventional, will it race at warp speed as soon as placed on the track and power is applied  or the first turn of the remote. One last question, what engine number did you asign the engine.

Bill

Steve, one more point. If the R2LC is receiving the TMCC signal it doesn't matter what position the prog/run switch is in. In program mode it should not move period. In run it should not move until you address it. The slide on post is the correct location for the antenna wire. It does sound like the R2LC is bad as noted.

If you have another TMCC engine with modular boards you could just swap in another R2LC before contacting ERR.

Pete

Bill, I have not installed the rail sounds board or the speaker at this point. I wanted to program the engine first. I did things very slow on this application it being my first. I was assigned #1 so I did not try and change it until the problem started. I have two 1995 steam engines. C&O Hudson and Boston&Albany do you think either of them has the same board?  Steve

Steve,  Those early Engines would have LCRU not compatible with a swap with an R2LC, unless they were upgraded to ERR equipment.  G

Thank you G, you saved me some work, I do appreciate all of the help I have received from all of you. I'll send ELECTRIC RR an e-mail and call them on monday. I will put up a new post when I get it resolved. Thank's again,   Steve

Steve,

   I would connect the sound board temporarily and try reprogramming, listening for the conformation sounds. When you do the reprogramming start by trying to add a new engine number and then the feature code. You should get a horn blast after pressing set when assigning engine number and after setting the feature code.  As George pointed out, those engine are different.

Bill

Bill, I will try that later today but it leads me to ask more questions. If I put the engine in PROG it will take off when I apply power to the track. If I put it in RUN I can power the track and have the engine in natural but you can't program it in RUN correct????? 

If the engine takes off in PGM mode, you're pretty much dead in the water until you solve that.  That's indicating it's in conventional mode and not seeing the TMCC signal.

Steve,

   I think you might be trying to program in the run posistion.

Bill

Hi John, Yep I can't get past the switch. 

Bill I have tried it in both,but I am 100% sure that I have the switch in the right position. When I put it in PROG it locks itself in forward and takes off like a jet more like a funny car last night it did a Wheelie In the PROG position.   Steve

Steve,

   If you jump pins 2 & 3 that will be in program mode. If the engine takes off when track power is applied then it would be the Radio. If not try assigning the engine code and feature code. Also this is a DC commander and not the Cruise Commander, correct.

Bill

I tried the jumper in the 2 and 3 post this morning and it took off. DC commander. By the way I went to your web site it looks great I will go back later.Another question,In the application that I did there were no grounds to the frame the commons on the motors were used if a smoke unit was being installed that was to go to the frame.

Steve,

  I think I am lost. Are you saying the that two of the motor leads are connected to the frame for ground.

Bill

Steve, I see you live in NY. if you are near Rochester, email me. Check my profile for my address.

Pete

No, the motor commons are connected to motor they were not moved. There are no common/grounds to the Frame of the engine. I was just wondering if there was suppose to be a ground on the frame that might cause the problem.

Pete, I live in the Hudson Valley near New Paltz. I would guest about 4 to 6 hrs to you.

Steve, 

You do have the AC common connected to the frame or trucks.

Bill

I have one wire on a screw that picks up the center rail one on each truck. Nothing else to the trucks or frame. The motors themselves are on or connected to the trucks.

If you're talking about the case of the motor, that's usually a good ground.  Obviously, Bill was concerned you were wiring one of the motor power leads to something, that would be a large no-no!

Yes John, that's what its called, boy I make things difficult because I don't know the correct terminology. Thank's  gunrunner.

I think everyone has covered all bases, see what ERR has to say. It's not often you get a bad ERR product but it happens. Also thanks for the compliment on the web page.

Bill

Once again, thank you, all of you.   Steve

Steve,

  Let us know what happens.

Bill

Steve, That is usually how Williams does it but it has a wire attached to a screw that connects to the motor mount/base.  That would have gone to the Williams reverse board as AC common.

Tough when your first doing this and you get a bad part.  G