UCUB 2 or The Equilizer?

[CB&Q]

Just an opinion, if you have trouble with mini train computers now what if in 50 years these manufacteres are no longer around ? sometimes simplicity is the answer. don't get me wrong I too have psi-ps2-tmcc but sometimes simple is what made us all dreamers!

[eZAK]

RAK402,

I would be interested in that info.
If you don't mind send me an email at [e-mail]
and I'll send you a fax #

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I've installed five Equalizers.
Great instructions, reasonably easy install, work fine, and a better price.

[Anonymous]

Ezak,

The trouble getting out of reset was cured on mine through help from Ed Bender. He sent me a diagram (via fax) which took two bridge rectifiers and installed one in line with the hot lead and one with the ground. I can't describe it easily, but I may be able to fax it to you. This effectively lowered the voltage to the Equalizer enough to get it out of reset reliably.

Truthfully, I don't think I ever tried the announcements. The whistle will not work occasionally (I forgot about tha.t) Powering down and re-starting corrects it.

[eZAK]

RAK402,

The engine has been boxed up for a few months now,
So going from memory, I did have trouble getting it out of reset ( running @ 16v)
I did some how over come this problem but I also rember problems with accessing
the PFA, whistle, & bell sounds.

[Anonymous]

EZAK,

What doesn't work right about it? Just curious, the only trouble I had was getting out of reset at 18 volts.

[eZAK]

From my own experience,
I installed the EQ upgrade in a diesel, a FP-50 Metra I believe.

There were some gliches along the way and it still doesn't work right.

Take it for what it's worth.

When I do my next upgrade I'll try TAS and see how they are.

[Anonymous]

I have installed two Equalizers. Both work very well, but both exhibit the chuff issue mentioned above. At some point I will probably convert the steam locomotives to PS-2 and put the equalizers in two of my PCC cars (using the trolley poles as antennas).

[Anonymous]

well I'm lucky because the PS1 loco I have is a NS Dash 8. I'm not really concerned about the chuffing issues.

So I'll go back to my original question of....does anyone have a preference between the UCUB II and the Equalizer?

[lionelsoni]

Back emf ("electromotive force") is the voltage generated by the motor, which is also a generator. With a permanent-magnet field, the back emf is a voltage proportional to the speed.

[daan]

@roxin2002 if it is measured by the reverse emv of the motor, it acts like a coil. I guess the problem is somewhere there. The reverse emv is a small electrical current the coils of the motor make when switching polarity (if I'm having the right idea in mind). This could be unmeasurable low when driving at very low speeds..

[Anonymous]

Protosounds 1 are a product of QSI and the chuffing is measured by reverse emv (voltage) from the motor. In it normal mode it does a super job of chuffing and it is settable by the user.
It is just something different that the ucub and equalizer do. I talked with mike at ta and he had me set my 3000 which is the best system qsi made to position 39, but that did no good either.
dave.

[daan]

I'm not really into digital, but it can be that the chuffing sounds stay down at low speeds because of the sensor which notices moving of the wheels doesn't work at low speeds. If I would make something to indicate the wheel movement I would use a magnet and a magnetic switch or a coil sensing movement of the magnet. I'm just imagening here, so reality could be different. If I would use the switch type I would have to deal with the mass of the switch wich is a problem driving on higher speeds. The switch wouldn't open again because off it's mass (though very small). I would use a coil type. The problem with that however is that the magnet on the axle has to move at a minimum speed in order to get a measurable signal triggering the sound unit.
If this setup is used in a locomotive, it results in a not working sound unit at low speed, just at a certain speed, just above minimum, the coil produces a sine wave which the electronics use to get the place and time of the sounds right to the movement of the wheels. The one with the switch would work on a big steamer with huge drivewheels, but on a small freightmachine (a turbine for example) the sound get's up to one big chuff on the higher, slightly above normal, speeds due to the switch which doesn't get the time opening before the magnet comes by again..
Just speculating..

[Anonymous]

sorry spankybird, I guess I should have proofread.

I meant TMCC and I also meant the Equalizer.


The two boards I mentioned are upgrade boards that claim to allow the PS1 engines to run using Lionel's TMCC system.

I'm looking to see if anyone has had any experiences good or bad with them.

Thanks all.

[Anonymous]

I have tried both the ucub 11 and the equilizer and both had the same problem, and that is the loco starts moving before it chuffs. I set the chuff rate up according to insturctions and also the qsi way and it did not make any difference. It moves down the track at a slow place and no chuffing and will start when it gets going faster. dave.

[spankybird]

I assume you mean TMCC. TMCC will give you command control which PS1 does not have. YOu would have to upgrade it to PS2 to have command control.

hope this helps
tom

[Anonymous]

I want to update a PS1 loco to DMCC.

Does either board have an advantage or is it a coke vs. pepsi type of deal?

thanks