After such wonderful feedback (which I need to reply to) to my post in the N Scale forum, I thought I would try my luck with another issue.
I was recently given an HO scale trainset quality GP40-2 with a Digitrax 4 function decoder (DH140).
First of all, the loco does run and I have been using it to experiment with DCC settings, since my other equipped loco runs so smoothly that the settings don't make obvious differences. On 28 speed steps with factory settings in the Digitrax, the loco would not move until speed step 8. I adjusted the start voltage and it now moves at step one, however it is a very obvious boom-bust cycle because of the cheap 3 pole motor and lack of flywheel. Short of tossing the loco and getting a better one, what can be done about the surging?
I also have the option of swapping the two decoders I have. The decoder in my Roundhouse 2-6-0 is a TCS T1 which would have Dither that might help (don't know much about Dither yet). The drawback here is, the T1 has only two functions, and the DH140 has 4. I have no use for more functions in the steamer and I WANT more in the diesel..
The loco currently only has reversing headlights and since it has a 4 function and isn't a prize winning loco, I would like to use it to experiment with adding other lights to the shell. I would like some suggestions on what lights I could add. I have already boxed in the cab ceiling so that the light there only shines through the headlights and number boards, so the cab is dark. I do not think I could add ditch lights, not to mention if I did add them I would want to put them on actual ditchlight functions and that takes two functions, doesn't it?
I had more for this post when I began typing it but now I can't think of anything else to add... so I am posting it as is before my browser decides to crap it out...
Mike, from DieCastoms
I was recently given an HO scale trainset quality GP40-2 with a Digitrax 4 function decoder (DH140).
First of all, the loco does run and I have been using it to experiment with DCC settings, since my other equipped loco runs so smoothly that the settings don't make obvious differences. On 28 speed steps with factory settings in the Digitrax, the loco would not move until speed step 8. I adjusted the start voltage and it now moves at step one, however it is a very obvious boom-bust cycle because of the cheap 3 pole motor and lack of flywheel. Short of tossing the loco and getting a better one, what can be done about the surging?
I also have the option of swapping the two decoders I have. The decoder in my Roundhouse 2-6-0 is a TCS T1 which would have Dither that might help (don't know much about Dither yet). The drawback here is, the T1 has only two functions, and the DH140 has 4. I have no use for more functions in the steamer and I WANT more in the diesel..
The loco currently only has reversing headlights and since it has a 4 function and isn't a prize winning loco, I would like to use it to experiment with adding other lights to the shell. I would like some suggestions on what lights I could add. I have already boxed in the cab ceiling so that the light there only shines through the headlights and number boards, so the cab is dark. I do not think I could add ditch lights, not to mention if I did add them I would want to put them on actual ditchlight functions and that takes two functions, doesn't it?
I had more for this post when I began typing it but now I can't think of anything else to add... so I am posting it as is before my browser decides to crap it out...
Mike, from DieCastoms
