DN163A2 Troubles N Scale

fifer

Active Member
I am having trouble with the 163A2 in a GP35 Classic. The installed decoder runs the loco in reverse. I tried a new 163A2 decoder in a new loco with same results.

I then put a NCE 12A2 in and same results. I even tried turning over the 163A2 and same results.

What the H***

Any Suggestions????

Thanks , Mike
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
According to the Digitrax Decoder Manual, Configuration Variable 29 controls the direction of the loco. The factory default for CV29 is 006. If you change this to 007, the loco should run in the other direction.

CV29 also controls several other things. Go to the Digitrax website and you should find some info on exactly what you want to do.
 

fifer

Active Member
According to the Digitrax Decoder Manual, Configuration Variable 29 controls the direction of the loco. The factory default for CV29 is 006. If you change this to 007, the loco should run in the other direction.

CV29 also controls several other things. Go to the Digitrax website and you should find some info on exactly what you want to do.

Thanks Gary , This is a customers loco and I need to get it to operate correctly as installed.
Thanks , Mike
 

baldwinjl

Member
Paint a big F on the end that leads?

If you don't want to change a cv you'll have to change the wiring to the motor, there's no other way. Is the light right or wrong?

Jeff
 

fifer

Active Member
Paint a big F on the end that leads?

If you don't want to change a cv you'll have to change the wiring to the motor, there's no other way. Is the light right or wrong?

Jeff

Light is reversed as well and this is a drop in decoder.
Thanks , Mike
 

baldwinjl

Member
If the light is reversed too changing the motor leads only takes care of some of the problem. So, is there any way to put the shell on the other way? Digitrax doesn't have any manual or pics online for that decoder...

Jeff
 

fifer

Active Member
If the light is reversed too changing the motor leads only takes care of some of the problem. So, is there any way to put the shell on the other way? Digitrax doesn't have any manual or pics online for that decoder...

Jeff
No , the shell only goes one way. I am thinking the motors were installed upside down or contacts backwards. It seems to be a loco problem.
Mike
 

baldwinjl

Member
Definitely loco problem, I have a N12A2 in a GP-7, no problem. Ir the light and the direction are consistent, but backwards it is more like the back is the front of the loco. If only the motor was swapped then the lights would not match the motor. So in a twisted way the frame is right, but the ahell is backwards. Or, I guess more logically, the decoder's idea of forward is the opposite of the shell's. The reverse direction bit in the CV is meant for just this kind of thing, such as long hood forward, the sort of thing which the decoder can't know about. So using the CV is valid, in my opinion. You will need to let the customer know that that is the way it is. Or, won't use the CV, and tell them which end is the front. To change it you'd have to change the connection to the motor, and mess with the LEDs, I don't think you want to go there.

Jeff


Jeff
 

fifer

Active Member
Definitely loco problem, I have a N12A2 in a GP-7, no problem. Ir the light and the direction are consistent, but backwards it is more like the back is the front of the loco. If only the motor was swapped then the lights would not match the motor. So in a twisted way the frame is right, but the ahell is backwards. Or, I guess more logically, the decoder's idea of forward is the opposite of the shell's. The reverse direction bit in the CV is meant for just this kind of thing, such as long hood forward, the sort of thing which the decoder can't know about. So using the CV is valid, in my opinion. You will need to let the customer know that that is the way it is. Or, won't use the CV, and tell them which end is the front. To change it you'd have to change the connection to the motor, and mess with the LEDs, I don't think you want to go there.

Jeff


Jeff
Jeff , I think you are correct , I woud like to find out how this happened and on two different locos of the same type and on three different decoders. Something tells me that the loco is constructed wrong to compensate for a incorrect stock board. I wish I knew.
Mike
 

baldwinjl

Member
Jeff , I think you are correct , I woud like to find out how this happened and on two different locos of the same type and on three different decoders. Something tells me that the loco is constructed wrong to compensate for a incorrect stock board. I wish I knew.
Mike
Or the frame was first built as long hood forward for something. As long as it is consistent, lighting to direction of travel, it is hard to say it is 'wrong' though it might not be what we expect. I guess it is also possible that either the original board, or the original chassis, was 'backwards', and they made the other match.

Since it behaves the same way with DC, I think that using CV 29, or just leaving it, are both valid, and reasonable setups.

Jeff
 
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