Locomotive doesn’t run but was working fine before

  • Address has accidentally been changed
  • CV 19 (Consist address was changed from 0
  • CV 29 has been changed to select other type of address
  • Acceleration (CV3) and braking (CV4) are set to very high values
  • Cab is in consist mode
  • CV 212 is set to 0 and CV 10 is set to 0


Locomotive never ran

  • See all of the above
  • Decoder is wired in correctly
  • Loose wire in power harness (look to see that red power LED is on when decoder receives track power
  • Locomotive is not on a DCC powered track, and analog mode is not enabled on CV 29
  • Broken motor wire or track pick up wire


Locomotive runs but doesn’t make sound

  • Mute function is on (F8)
  • Another function is remapped to the mute function
  • Sound volume CVs (see technical reference or user’s guide) have been set to zero or a very low value
  • Speaker wire is broken
  • Speaker is burned out (try a different speaker)
  • Speaker wires touched each other and burned up audio amplifier
  • Be sure the locomotive address matches that of your cab or the decoder will continue to do it’s last command given to it.


Locomotive runs in a consist but lights and sound effects don’t work

  • Consist functions are disabled Set CV 21 and 22 to activate desired functions


Lights flicker on and off

  • Decoder is set for 14 speed step mode and command station is set to 28/128 speed step mode


Lights do not work

  • Decoder is in 28/128 speed step mode and command station is set to 14 speed step mode
  • Function mapping is improperly set
  • Resistor values are set too high
  • Resistor value was too low and bulb is burned out
  • Lamp wires are broken
  • Lighting outputs are improperly wired
  • Lighting outputs wires are loose from harness or decoder


Locomotive just sits and flashes its headlights

  • CVs are being reset to defaults, wait 30 seconds and digital sound decoder should respond to address 3
  • Fault code is being activated by decoder, count how many flashes went off and contact Soundtraxx customer support


Sound works for a while then quits

  • Amplifier is overheating, lower sound volume
  • Amplifier is overheating check wattage and impedance on the speaker
  • Amplifier is overheating check the track voltage
  • Speaker is damaged, replace the speaker


Speaker sound ‘crackly’

  • Sound volume is set too high for the speaker
  • Speaker is not properly baffled in and air tight baffle
  • Speaker wire is loose
  • Speaker is damaged, replace speaker
  • Equalizer is set too high adjust CV’s 153-160


Functions 5,6 don’t work

  • Make sure function common wire (blue) is wired with F5 and F6 out puts
  • Make sue proper resistor values are used when necessary


Exhaust chuff isn’t working

  • Make sure if your using a cam that CV 112 is set to 128
  • If using auto exhaust chuff make sure CV 116 isn’t set to 0 or a low value


Manual notching isn’t working

  • Make sure bit 0-3 are set to a value of 0 in CV 116 and CV 112 is set to 3 then activate rpm+ via F9 and rpm- via F10


My decoder won’t program

  • On some Tsunami decoders you must have either a PTB 100 programming track booster or program on the main
  • Make sure locomotive motor pulses when programming command is entered


My decoder won’t change it’s address when programming on the main

  • You can only change to the type of address currently not in use when programming on the main


If using a short address change it to a long address or vice versa

How do I reset my decoder

  • All Soundtraxx decoders can be reset by either setting CV 30 to a value of 2 or CV 8 to
    a value of 8
  • Once the CVs are entered you must cycle the power (turn the power off then back on)