Interesting response from NCE (North Coast Engineering) to question about running in analogue mode

[Mayner]

Had an intereresting response from the NCE helpdesk about a problem I was experiencing operating a loco with a NCE decoder in analogue mode.

One of my locos is fitted with a NCE decoder (supplied with analogue mode disabled.) 

The loco would only run in one direction (forward) on DC once I enabled analogue mode.

NCEs response was: 1. Their decoders required a min 5v DC in both modes in order to function correctly, and

                                  2. NCE recommended removing the decoder if I intended running the loco on 5v or less.

 

 

Edited January 14 by Mayner

[Tullygrainey]

Eh?

[Mayner]

The post was intended to advise the group of potential problems running NCE decoders on DC track power.

The really startling thing was the NCE help desk advising: " you might be better off removing the decoder and making it DC only'   If I wanted to run the loco on 5V DC or less!

NCE advised that:  A DCC decoder circuit board requires 5V DC in both modes to function correctly. DC performance below 5V can be sketchy due to the decoder's instability.

While catering primary to the American outline market NCE also produce decoders with Europen NEM interface and have a reputation of producing a quality project.

I originally purchased the decoder (only suitable decoder available locally) to convert a LGB (G gauge) loco to DCC. Although the decoder instructions recommends first testing the loco on regular DC, the instructions table of Factory default values CV values indicate that the decoder was supplied with analogue mode disabled.

At this stage the decoder could be a moot point to potential buyers, the majority of local G gauge tends to run on DC or on-board battery power. The loco is more likely to considered in the good-fair rather than the mint boxed condition by potential buyers.

 

Edited January 14 by Mayner

[irishthump]

All DCC decoders require a lot of power before they will operate in DC mode, I don't think it's exclusively an NCE issue.

[Mayner]

3 hours ago, irishthump said:

All DCC decoders require a lot of power before they will operate in DC mode, I don't think it's exclusively an NCE issue.

I fitted various brands of decoders for over 20 years, 1st time I experienced this problem when testing or running on DC using the same controller. 

The loco does appear to start on DC at a lower controller setting than other DCC fitted locos, so may be worth increasing the start voltage (CV2) above the default o setting to see if it makes any difference.