Hello I have a spectrum 2-8-0 with sound installed from factory. When I turn on my layout the locomotive begins to make sound without even being addressed is there a way to shut this off so the locomotive only makes sound when addressed through the controller.
Thanks
Joe
You are hearing the air pump. Look at the Bachmann Tsunami PDF file and read the details of the factory installed decoder. All the instructions are there. Similar to reading the owners manual if you own a motor vehicle.
You probably are not aware of it but below is a link to the SoundTraxx site. Store the link in Favorites. Click on Manuals.
Download the manual into your PC.
http://www.soundtraxx.com/
Rich
Hello,
I am about to install a Tsunami TSU-1000 in a Spectrum Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation that is DCC ready.
The installed plug does not have pins 3 or 7.
I believe pin 3 is not normally used but Pin 7 seems to be needed for Function (Blue).
Should I remove the Bachmann PCB and hardwire the TSU-1000? Or is there a component on the PCB that is not not covered by the TSU-1000?
Thanks Edo
The blue wire is not absolutely necessary for the lighting functions to work. You can instead return the lights to the wheels on one side or the other of the locomotive. This is known as half wave lighting because the lights work only when the wheels are positive compared to the wheels on the other side of the locmotive. The upside of this is less load and heating of the decoder. The downside is slightly dimmer lights and a variation in brightness as you change the speed of any dc locomotive on the track. You can have the best of both worlds by using a pair of diodes with the bar (cathode) ends toward the light(s) and the other ends connected one to the wheels on one side of the locomotive and the other to the wheels on the other side. If your locomotive has an incandescent headlight bulb, and most or all do, think about replacing it with a warm white LED. The regular bulb is somewhat on the dim side, possibly to keep the headlight shell from melting, but an LED with a 1000 ohm resistor in series with either of the leads gives a nice bright headlight with virtually no heating.
Jim
The plug is only for DC operation. I believe the loco has a light bulb but not sure. I have the tender for this loco and the pin 7 on the PC board is used. There is no resistor on the board for the pin 6 headlight lead.
I do know that when you select reverse on the DCC controller, a 220 ohm resistor is put in series with the headlight connection to dim the bulb on my tender via pin 2. I had to cut the PC board trace. This trace is connected to the headlight lead which many are not aware of. A couple years ago, Yampa Bob mentioned the same thing. Other than that, the Bachmann tenders are all compatible. ;)
I use the tender with a Spectrum 4-6-0 that has a LED headlight and I had to add a 750 ohm resistor for that in the tender.
If you can works at the component level, install a LED like Jim says. Don't forget, LED's are polarity sensitive.
Rich
Thank you Jim and Rich.
My concern is if the 'Function' blue may be associated with some of the sound functions.
I would prefer to remove the Bachmann PCB and mount the TSU-1000 directly on the heat-sink.
If the PCB is not needed for DCC then there would be more airspace around the DCC assembly.
Edo
BTW I do understand about the lights.
Quote from: Edo on May 09, 2010, 07:02:36 PM
Thank you Jim and Rich.
My concern is if the 'Function' blue may be associated with some of the sound functions.
I would prefer to remove the Bachmann PCB and mount the TSU-1000 directly on the heat-sink.
If the PCB is not needed for DCC then there would be more airspace around the DCC assembly.
Edo
BTW I do understand about the lights.
The blue wire has nothing to do with sound functions. I use the Micro-Tsunami and standard Tsunami. The blue wire is the positive voltage of any light functions only. The Function outputs are negative voltage.
If you are not sure of the PC board, remove it and hard wire. Make sure you have a multimeter to check connections. I do that with all my decoder installs.
Don't remove the shrink and heat sink. You void the warranty. The Tsunami has the heat sink for a good reason.
If you check the motor current at twelve volts DC with the drivers slipping, you can find out what the current draw is. I do know my Spectrum's draw about 450 ma and the Micro-Tsunami is good for 750 ma. I use the Micro in my steamers and the standard in my diesels.
Take some time to download the documents form the Soundtraxx site. They will save you from some grief.
Rich
Take some time to download the documents form the Soundtraxx site. They will save you from some grief.
Rich
Thanks Rich. I have re-read the Soundtaxx docs. Appreciate the clarification on the blue wire. This week my little engineer should have his 'bells and whistles'.
I have already performed the stall tests, etc...
Edo
That is good to hear. Did not know your level of DCC experience and the little dudes and dudettes do not like it when the trains do not run correctly.
Rich
Thanks to you gentleman I now have a very happy 5-year-old-engineer!!!
The hardest part was reconciling the Bachmann schematic with the actual wiring. Using red wire for both the left and right power did not help:-( Some where I saw the blue wire referred to as 'Lights Common' which makes more sense. But it does add functionality to the lighting system. While 'inside' I added a 3mm LED to the tender for backup.Now to learn how to change CVs with the DCS-50............
Next project convert an old Athearn F7A to DCC.
An old Athearn F-7 is a perfect example of a place to use half wave lighting. If you leave the headlight connected as is, the full DCC voltage will be applied to it. This is around 16 volts which will give the 12 volt bulb a short life, just long enough to melt the plastic around the nose of the locomotive. If you run the existing headlight off the blue and white decoder wires, it will receive about 12 volts but you will have a difficult job isolating the bulb from its mounting. But if you wire it for half wave by leaving the shell of the base connected to the locomotive frame through the mounting bracket and soldering the white wire to the tip of the base, then the bulb will be on for only one half of the DCC waveform and will receive only about 8.5 volts. At that voltage, it will not melt the plastic but it will give lots of light and last about forever (about 5 years of continuous operating time.)
Jim
Hi Jim,
I kinda jumped the gun.
A few months ago I opened the shell and found not much in there.
It was purchased used. I added a LED with resistor and it now has the best headlight on the 'road - quite bright - no heat. Since there is both an A & B unit there will be plenty of room for sound. It runs really great on DC.
I am still trying to change the Loco number of the UP 2-8-0 - the DCS50 is refusing to operate a programming track:-((
Will try again tonight..........
Edo
People using the DCS50 usually program their Tsunamis on the main using Ops mode programming. However, changing a four digit address or changing from a two digit to a four digit address requires some special manipulation. Partly it is that you have to have the decoder in 2 digit address mode while you do it. And partly it is that you have to offset the address by C000 hex (49152 base 10.) This is well explained starting on page 14 in this manual:
http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/tsutechreference.pdf (http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/tsutechreference.pdf)
You do not need to know hex notation to use the instructions.
A partial workaround is to put a consisting address in CV19. This has to be a two digit address. Just program the number straight into CV19 with no offset. To make the functions all work with the consisting address, program 255 into both CV21 and CV22. More on this is available in the above manual on pages 16 through 19.
I have been changing Tsunami CV's with a DCS50 but I don't remember if I have ever changed a Tsunami's address with one. For final programming, including changing the address, I usually use a DSC200 because I have it connected to Decoder Pro which lets me record all the CV values for future reference.
The DSC50 has one more trick up its sleeve, but not in its manual. That is a programming mode usually referred to as "blast mode." Basically, it works for all four programming modes (Physical, Direct, Page and Operations) but applies full booster output to the programming track. Because it internally switches the programming track to the booster output rather than the low level programming output, there is no feedback from the decoder. If the Ops mode outlined above does not work for you, let me know and we can go further into blast mode. I prefer not to give any details until I have had a chance to review how it works and to try it out on one of my own Tsunamis.
Jim
OK Jim,
After many unsuccessful hours I tried a Bachmann DCC switcher. I added a 1K Ohm resistor across the prog track and after several tries I was able to change the Loco number from 3 to 7. Still unable to Read from any ADDR.
Initially I should stay with two digit address and only use a single digit Loco ID.
Ken can handle the single digits without a problem.
Presently SP Steam on one, Santa Fe diesel on two, 2-8-0 Tsunami still on 3 and Switcher on 7 (part of road number).
Looks like 'blast mode' may be needed.
I faxed the problem to Digitrax on the 12th - awaiting response.
Ed
Today, using Ops programming I have been able to change the Chuff rate and the whistle selection.
Cannot READ any of the CVs or change the Loco number.
Received from Digitrax:
Soundtrax' Tsunami can only be programmed with Digitrax systems as follows:
Zephyr - All CVs except addresses can be programmed in OPS mode on the main
line. To program addresses you must put Zephyr in BLAST mode programming by
closing Option Switch 7 on Zephyr and program the loco on the main line.
If I can find switch 7 I should be OK...
Success at last!
I discovered that Direct must be used to programme Loco number in Blast mode.
Now to find Fireman Fred..........
Edo,
You cannot read back CV's when programming in Ops mode. Nor can you use the fast method of changing addresses that you are probably used to using in Page, Physical and Direct program modes. Ops mode allows you to change one CV at a time. That is not as much of a downer as you might think. Changing the basic address while moving on down the line is pretty uncommon, about as uncommon as reaching out the cab window of a real locomotive and painting a new number on the cab while highballing down the main. Changing consisting address is a whole other story.
There are two basic address types for the Tsunami and most other recent decoders. Those are the short (two digit) address and the long or extended (four digit) address. The short address is stored in CV01. The long address is stored in CV17 plus CV18 as I explained before. Normally, a decoder has both a short address and a long address stored in it at the same time. This is important because in OPs mode programming, you cannot make changes to the short address while communicating with the decoder using a short address and you cannot make changes to the long address while communicating using a long address. But you CAN change a short address while communicating with a long address and you CAN change a long address while communicating with a short address.
So how do you switch from a short address to a long address in OPs mode? You set up the long address, then as the very last step, you tell the decoder to switch over from using the short address to using the long address. This process normally works just fine as long the short address you are running on is the basic short address stored in CV01. If, however, you are running on a short address stored in CV19, the home of the Advanced Consisting address, then the process will not work. The best way to make sure you are not running on an advanced consisting address is to program CV19 to 0.
Before going into detail on how to change an address in OPs mode with the Zephyr (DCS50), let me say that I just spent some time playing around with programming a Bachmann Tsunami Technology decoder factory installed in an 0n30 Shay. Being a painted/undecorated locomotive, it was set to run on address 03. First test was to change the address using Page Mode programming on a programming track. My programming track is NOT a test track. It has no series resistors to limit current in case of a miswire. It does have a double pole, double throw switch which allows me to quickly change over from the main output of the Zephyr to its programming output, a feature which I highly recommend. On the test track, my Zephyr did not always read back CV values correctly and I found it more convenient to skip that step and use the fast method of changing addresses. For those not familiar with this method, it goes like this:
KEY STROKES READOUT ACTION
[prog mode] ... Page choose Page programming mode
[loco] ... Address 4 select 4 digit addressing
[1] [2] [3] [4] 1234 enter a long address (in this case 1234)
[CV-WR] 1234 write the address into the decoder
[loco] [1] [2] [3] [4] [loco] 1234 connects throttle to address 1234
Note: the ellipsis ... just means that it may take multiple strokes of the indicated key to put the desired readout on the readout screen.
If this works for you, there is no need to go any further. If it does not, make sure that the locomotive is running on a two digit address and follow the steps below. For convenience, I am going to assume the locomotive is running on short address 03. The locomotive should be on the mainline with no other locomotives or cars on the track.
KEY STROKES READOUT ACTION
[loco] [3] [loco] 03 connects throttle to address 3
test run locomotive check that loco truly runs on 3
[prog mode] ... OPs opens ops mode programming
[CV] [1] [7] o017 selects CV17
[CV] 200 d200 set data = 200
[CV-WR] writes 200 into CV17
[EXIT] closes ops mode programming
[prog mode] OPs opens ops mode programming
[CV] [1] [8] o018 selects CV18
[CV] [1] [7] [4] d174 set data = 174
[CV-WR] writes 174 into CV18
[EXIT] closes ops mode programming
[prog mode] OPs opens ops mode programming
[CV] [2] [9] o029 selects CV29
[CV] [3] [8] d038 set data = 38
[CV-WR] writes 38 into CV29
[EXIT] closes ops mode programming
[loco] [2] [2] [2] [2] [loco] connects throttle to address 2222
test run locomotive on address 2222
To Return to Address 3, do the following:
[loco] [2] [2] [2] [2] [loco] connects throttle to address 2222
[prog mode] ... OPs opens ops mode programming
[CV] [2] [9] o029 selects CV29
[CV] [6] d006 set data = 6
[CV-WR] writes 6 into CV29
[EXIT] closes ops mode programming
[loco] 2222 flashing selects address 2222
[EXIT] deletes address 2222 from DCX50
[loco] [3] [loco] connects throttle to address 3
test run locomotive on address 3
This procedure worked fine for me using my Zephyr. Your results may differ. There have been several revisions to the Zephyr operating system over the years. Mine was one of the first in Canada and requires that I change only one CV at a time in ops mode. Yours may be able to change several CV's in a row without having to close and then reopen ops mode programming. Like most microprocessor based equipment, all Zephyrs are not very forgiving about hitting the wrong key at the wrong time. I accidentally hit a wrong key this afternoon, didn't notice it, and now have the zero button blowing the whistle instead of turning the lights on and off.
In the instructions above, you probably noticed a couple of lines in red. This sequence is one way to remove an address from the Zephyr if you are not using it. Addresses will normally remove themselves if you wait long enough and it you had the speed control right down to zero when you connect the throttle to a new address. The Zephyr has 15 slots. That is, it can handle 15 active addresses at once. If you fill up all 15 slots with addresses, you will not be able to add any more until one of the slots becomes available again. You can reset the Zephyr's memory and clear out all the slots (instructions in the manual) but it is a lot easier to select the address and hit [EXIT] when you finish using that address.
For those wondering why I entered 200 and then 174 to set CV17 and CV18 to address 2222, see the link in my earlier post on this thread.
Jim
p.s. I find the response you received from Digitrax particularly interesting as I was able to program the addresses in ops mode albeit by changing one CV at a time and not using the quick address change method. At no time did I have to use blast mode. And I successfully used Page mode for the service track address changes. Go figure.
The best news is that you got your locomotive programmed and rolling. Now I have to go and remap the whistle address so I can use the lights again without a constant whistle blow.
J.
Thanks Jim,
Each day things get a bit clearer - particularly with your help!
Once I realized that I need to use Direct in Blast mode it worked first time.
Have a great weekend!!
This is certainly NOT a static hobby:-)
Solve one problem and there is another waiting down the track.
We now need to access the Functions above F8.
Is a UT4 /UR90 combo needed to accomplish this or is there a simpler way?
How does a UT4 get F0-F12 with only six buttons?
Thanks...
The UT4 throttle has 8 buttons. Seven of them control f0 through f6 and then six of those buttons are used again, along with a "shift" button, to control f7 through f12. This works quite well as the less commonly used sounds can be controlled by the functions that require two key strokes.
The UT4 can be plugged into the back of the Zephyr (no UR9X needed.) If you want to use it as a walk around, you can put one or more UP5 jack panels around the layout or you can use regular 6 pin modular phone jacks. The train the UT4 is controlling will keep running while you unplug, go to the next jack, and plug back in. If you want to buy a UR9X at the same time or at some time in the future, you can then utilize the UT4's infrared feature and use it as a wireless walk around. Indoors, the infrared works quite well unless your layout spreads through multiple rooms. Even then you can add up to nine more UR9X panels to cover anything less than a mansion.
When asked how infrared compares to radio, I have a little story that I like to tell. Most of the fellows I model with have both H0 layouts inside and large scale layouts outside so they mostly have throttles with both infrared and radio in them (infrared doesn't work outside - it cannot compete with that big infrared source up in the sky.) One evening we were having an operating session in the home of a fellow who at that time was using tethered throttles outside and infrared throttles inside. He was interested in how radio would work in his basement, so one of us took along a UR91. At the end of the evening, we were standing around talking about how much better the radio had worked compared to infrared, not having to point the throttle at the infrared receiver and all. At least we talked about it until we realized that nobody had connected the UR91 to the command station. We had operated faultlessly on infrared all evening long and never realized it. Like a good TV or DVD remote, a bit of a bounce off a wall or ceiling was enough.
Bottom line, the UT4 is a great addition to a Zephyr based system, or to any of the other Digitrax systems for that matter. There is more information on the UT4 at the link below.
http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/ut4web.pdf (http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/ut4web.pdf)
Jim
Thanks again Jim,
Great story!
I had tried to get the info from the Digitrax page but the links would not work for me.
I have printed the manual and will have a read.
We have room for 1 1/2 sheets of ply so one UT4 will be perfect.....
Glad you enjoyed the story.
The link is to a .pdf file which means you need Adobe Acrobat or a similar reader to open it. If you are having problems with all files of this type, here is a good help link (I hope it works for you.)
http://www.bnl.gov/itd/webapps/pdf_help.asp (http://www.bnl.gov/itd/webapps/pdf_help.asp)
Jim
OK Jim,
No problem reading any files.
The link would not take me to another page -- just kept time-out.
This morning I tried two and they did work.
Cheers!!