Slow Progress....

bluedot
New Member

Posts: 9

Slow Progress.... Sept 29, 2019 17:44:47 GMT

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Post by bluedot on Sept 29, 2019 17:44:47 GMT

ok, I'm making progress with my LC-DCC project but its painfully slow.

I've managed to get the laptop communicating with the controller and it also looks like something is happening on the rails. I'm pretty new to all this so bear with me.
Originally my hardware setup was using an INA219 but I was having problems with the hw (the led's started blinking fast and the laptop lost all comms with the controller), as a final attempt before givign up I went to the most basic setup and removed the INA219, all fine after that.

So now I have the windows application runnign and license and I have a train on my single piece of track....

I have no idea what I'm supposed to do here, CV Number ? CV Value ? I have no idea what all this means. I've tried reading all the docs and I still have no idea I'm afraid. The engine I have is an N Gauge Graham Farish with 'Bach DCC Fitted #31' on the box.

The only thing I've managed to do is if I Press Write next to 'Long Address' it moves the engine about a cm....

I can't seem to 'Read' anytihng as I don't have the INA219 now.

Is there some simple way I can do this to check that DCC is working ?

bluedot
New Member

Posts: 9

Slow Progress.... Sept 29, 2019 18:55:01 GMT

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Post by bluedot on Sept 29, 2019 18:55:01 GMT

Progress...!

Through trial and error I've found that my engine is programmed as 3
Once I realised that I can now switch the light on and off and move it forwards and backwards on the track.

Just need to find out if there should be any sound at all now.

LC-DCC Designer
Guest

Slow Progress.... Sept 30, 2019 19:39:12 GMT

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Post by LC-DCC Designer on Sept 30, 2019 19:39:12 GMT

So some observations: most engine decoders default to address 3 and 7 bit address; the INA219 is optional but without one you cannot read CV values or set overload protection; I have never encounter a problem with the INA219 as described but I will review my code and see if there is a possible problem.

The fast flashing LED indicates that the processor watchdog has triggered, this watch dog allows a safe failure if the software goes wrong by disabling the H bridge output.

All decoders have a number of CV configuration registers, quite a lot in fact but not all are used. Some are defined by the NMRA such as address settings, reset, maker code etc, some are defined by the manufacturer such as
changing function mappings or sound configuration, check your decoder documentation.

What you have built will allow programming of CV values, you will not be able to read them correctly however.

Hope this helps.

DonW
Guest

Slow Progress.... Apr 11, 2020 7:23:11 GMT

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Post by DonW on Apr 11, 2020 7:23:11 GMT

Sounds to me that when pressing long address and Write you may have changed the loco address typically there will be a short movement after an address has been updated. I doubt whether the decoder includes sound there is not a lot of room in a Farish N gauge loco. It can be done but there would be speakers as well as the decoder these often look like a small cube. You really need to discover what decoder is in the loco and then what the various functions are. You should be able to stop start reverse speed up slow down the loco which is the basic you need to do. I would practice doing that first to get the hang of things.

Don

Post by bluedot on Sept 29, 2019 17:44:47 GMT

Post by bluedot on Sept 29, 2019 18:55:01 GMT

Post by LC-DCC Designer on Sept 30, 2019 19:39:12 GMT

Post by DonW on Apr 11, 2020 7:23:11 GMT

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