I am new to DCC, love it, and just installed a MRC Shear Brilliance Mini dual decoder in my Kato EMD45. My first go at sound. Wonderful.
Two questions:
I am using NCE's Power Cab with excellent success. However, the EMD45 starts to quickly at throttle speed 1. I will not creep. I went into the CVs and changed the start volts to 1 but the start speed was not affected. I used the "Program on the Main" and "Program Track" Each time I use the Program Track the value shows up as 255 though I put in 1 and various other numbers to try to get the engine to creep.
Second, my EMD45 will slow down erratically sometimes almost to a stop and other times not nearly as noticeable except the sound of brakes squealing gives it a way. It is not always at the same location and it does not matter if the engine has been running for 1 minute or 30. Sometimes it will happen three times within 2 or 3 minutes and other times nothing for the whole session. I've repeatedly checked wiring, tracks and engine wheels are clean. My other engines with only engine function decoders do not have this problem. So hard to say if it is due to the specific decoder (sound?) or the engine itself.
Appreciate any help in these two areas.
Wxman
With the power cab Try using the menu's and not CV's. Hit program and enter for main You will see 3 selections. Press 4 which isn't on the list. Here you set start/low voltage. (use 1 for now), Then for max use 255 or lower, For mid enter 128. Acceleration set to 0 for now and deceleration set to 0. Don't mess with the remainder of settings, just hit the program escape button again to get out. Tilt the engine off of the tracks on one side to cycle power on it (Not usually necessary but helps with some decoders).
Run the engine again to see if it helps with low speed startup. Also hit the 28/128 button on the bottom of the controller to select 128 steps.
For the eratic operation, make sure you aren't hitting any of the buttons by accident. If brakes are squealing then it's being commanded to slow.
Springfield PA
I just read the manual for your decoder (I believe it's the right one)
http://www.modelrectifier.com/resources/trainsound/0001643.pdf
Looks like my previous post wasn't right.
The range of numbers for speed is 0 to 32, Not 255
First reset the decoder by setting CV125 to 1
Set low to 1, max/high to 32 and mid to 16.
Note CV124 speed table select. 0=linear, 1 slow increase, 2 fast increase
Thanks for the suggestions!! Will give it a go.