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Traintronics TT300 Point Motor Problems

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After fitting the Traintronics TT300 slow motion DCC point motors to the layout we carried out some tests.  The motors moved well for most of the time but whenever the track had a short they all moved position.  This was, as you can guess a complete disaster!  Not only did they cost a lot and take a long time to install (35+ motors) the fact that we plan to operate automatically was now out of the question.
 
There was obviously something wrong here so I contacted the supplier/manufacturer (and I am still waiting for a reply...).  I then went on the RMWeb forum and found that others had this problem too with various suggested fixes all of which did not work or were not really fixes.
 
I then decided to try and understand the design a bit more so read the FULL manual from front to back carefully.  It seems that there is a design feature (remember this!) that lets the unit be switched using DC.  To do this it detects DC on the AC/DCC input (rather than a separate input).  I deduced that this feature was falsely detecting a DC signal when the DCC failed by shorting (many DCC systems give out rubbish starting up, shutting down and resetting).
 
My next ray of light was the fact that this feature could be turned off by reprogramming a CV.  I asked myself "Why sell a DCC bit of kit that will mostly be bought for a DCC application and ship it out programmed for both DC/DCC?" 
 
I then chose one point motor on the layout and removed its feed.  We then made up a long two core cable to the programming track and reprogrammed as follows;
  • CV2 = 0 for normal use
  • CV2 - 128 for reverse use
Note the unit ships with CV2 set to 2 which enables the feature so this was a deliberate policy.
 
I tested the unit and all was well it stayed put when I introduced a short on the track.  I then went about reprogramming the rest by isolating each board and programming up to 11 units in one go - Yes this works well.
 
After setting them all to value 0 I found one point motor needing a reverse action so reprogramed that individual one to 128.
 
RESULTS: The whole layout now works a treat and I feel like a ton weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
 
Can Traintronics please save others from the same fate by putting a clear note in the short and full manual pointing out that CV2 should be reduced by 2 for DCC only operation or better still set at 0 by default.

 

 

Category: Yeovil Town

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