I am interested in the Bachmann Consolidation (Product 51302) and have a couple of questions: (1) is this item part of the Spectrum line of products?
(2) Is the DCC compatible with 128 speed steps? (3) what is the max current draw on this engine?
Any thoughts appreciated.
The item was formerly in the spectrum line, and the spectrum version is still readily available from many sources. The new version is part of the standard line and runs completely identical except it is less expensive. The bachmann decoder does not support 128 speed steps only 14/28, but you can add a decoder of your choice. The loco has an 8-pin socket for the decoder. The max current draw is likely around a couple of tenths to half a tenth.
By "maximum current" I presume you mean "stall current" which is the maximum current the motor can draw when 12 volts is applied and the motor is restrained from turning. This is the current you need to know when selecting decoders. For this locomotive, it is usually close to 1 amp. So a 1 amp should be adequate.
If you are thinking of buying a new decoder to get 128 speed steps, I would suggest making sure it also has BEMF (Back Electro Motive Force) control. This will allow slow, smooth starts just like the real thing. I am assuming your Command Control system uses 128 speed step control and lets you program all CV's.
Jim
Dear ABC,
Actually, I believe our decoders do support 128 speed steps.
Have fun!
the Bach-man
Quote from: the Bach-man on March 21, 2010, 08:04:39 AM
Dear ABC,
Actually, I believe our decoders do support 128 speed steps.
Have fun!
the Bach-man
Really? When I was messing around with my dynamis a few weeks ago, I tried to change one of my Bachmann locos to 128, but it wouldn't work, so I just thought it was because it wasn't supported. I'll have to try it out with a different loco. Thanks for letting me know Mr. Bach-man!
...I just read the 1 amp decoder instructions and it is there plain as day, supports 14/27,28/128.
And it is so easy to check the product if you do not know the answer.
Quote from: Pacific Northern on March 21, 2010, 08:56:44 PM
And it is so easy to check the product if you do not know the answer.
As it turns out, none of my Bachmann locos that still have the Bachmann decoder in them will work with 128 speed steps however some of my Proto 2000 and Athearn locos that have MRC, digitrax, and other company's decoders in them all work with the 128 speed steps. It doesn't make any sense, oh well, it doesn't bother me that much anyway.
Quote from: ABC on March 21, 2010, 09:53:08 PM
As it turns out, none of my Bachmann locos that still have the Bachmann decoder in them will work with 128 speed steps.
At the risk of belaboring the obvious, did you change the speed step rating in the locomotive's roster entry after changing its decoder to 128 speed steps?
Jim
I switched everything there was to change to 128 speeds steps the same as I did for all my other locos. There may be no explanation as to why this is happening.
Is the plug in port RJ-12 on a EZ digital command connector ?
ez command 1 amp locomotive decorders 14,27,28,128 speed steps
I use the NCE power cab and its always on 128 step and my bachmann units, all 5 of them, run very well on the 128 steps.
Quote from: ABC on March 21, 2010, 11:57:37 AM
...I just read the 1 amp decoder instructions and it is there plain as day, supports 14/27,28/128.
Quote from: mf5117 on March 22, 2010, 01:36:05 PM
ez command 1 amp locomotive decorders 14,27,28,128 speed steps
Yes, I am aware that they support 128 speed steps, I noted that in the 5th post, I'm just noting that for some reason it is not working with my Dynamis, but I don't really care that much, so there is no need to pursue this further.
Let me take a final comment. On my power cab is a button at the bottom that I can use to switch between 28 and 128 speed steps. Does your dynamis have something similar?
Here's what I do...
[MENU] scroll to
EDIT SPEED LOC 269 DECAPOD
[ACCEPT] SET SPEEDSTEPS
Scroll 14 / 28/ 128 speedsteps
I Choose 128
[ACCEPT]
The Screen now shows
LOC 269 1/128
DECAPOD
There is no switch on the controller for 28/128, and this doesn't explain why it works with my MRC, digitrax and other decoders and not my Bachmann decoders.
I am running Dynamis on one of my layouts. I have units with several different decoders, including more than a dozen with Bachmann decoders.
They are all running fine at the 128 speed setting.
I would probably give Bachmann Tech Support a call.
ABC,
That looks about right but I am left wondering about the last line
"LOC 269 1/128"
I am not sure why the first "1" is there.
Now that we know how you set your Dynamis to get it to send 128 speed step commands to your locomotive #269, could you please tell us how you set locomotive #269 to receive 128 speed step commands?
Jim
I changed CV29 Bit number 2 to 1 just to be sure, and the default value for this bit is supposed to be 1. Bit=1 means 28/128 and Bit=0 means 14/27
I am a little confused over which bit numbering scheme you are using, and you Dynamis might be too. Bachmann uses the Lenz bit numbering scheme, 1 through 8. The other DCC manufacturers use the bit numbering scheme used in computers and mathematics, 0 through 7. If you tell your Dynamis to set bit 2, it will set CV29 for automatic analogue conversion which is bit 3 in the Bachmann/Lenz numbering scheme. To set bit 2 of the Bachmann/Lenz numbering scheme, you would have to tell your Dynamis to set bit 1.
Most DCC systems, including the Zephyr I use, do not allow you to change CV's at the bit level. So I would end up programming CV29 = 6. This sets bits 1 and 2 (standard numbering scheme) or bits 2 and 3 (Bachmann/Lenz number scheme) and clears all the other bits. This sets the decoder to analogue conversion enabled and 18/128 speed steps enabled. Perhaps setting CV29 = 6 will solve your problem. I hope you will let us know.
Jim
I tried several Locos, both Bachmann and other brand decoders.
They all displayed 0/128 or for some reason some were 0/126.
The 0 is obviously a speed step, as increasing the throttle indicates the
advancing speed steps.
My friend's system could program individual bits, but my Dynamis can't, I was using what I had my friend put in with his system where bit 2 corresponds to the speed steps I think.
Here's what I did with my dynamis
Program LOC 269
ON SERVICETRACK
I set the value contained in the CV29 to 6 (and I added 1 to the bit)
POS CV 29 CFG
[<>VALUE]
VAL 6
[PROG] then my chosen value is written to the decoder hopefully