While I am on Digitrax I often operate on layous with NCE and this question came up at a recent session where we strive for realism: When a light consist comes to the departure yard from the engine ready track to pick up a long train, can the momentum be changed using the lead loco or consist number or would the momentum in each unit/loco have to be changed independently? John
With DigiTrax it is highly likely in a MU or consist that momentum can be changed in all units (at the TOP address) via something called DAC momentum trim. See http://www.loystoys.com/info/dac-momentum-trim.html for a detailed explanation.
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
Of course that's either on or off - what I THINK the OP is wanting to do is have little momentum when the consist is running light, and then when coupled to a long train have a lot of momentum. On the fly. Not really a simple way to do that, although with the scripting capability in JMRI I'm willing to bet it would be possible to program what is essentially a macro that automatically goes to every loco in a consist and sets momentum. The problem remains thatt he momentum is in the decoder and a CV3 value of 20 for one brand is not necessarily the same amount of momentum as a value of 20 in another brand. Probably close enough in most cases, but you never know. Now if the momentum was in the throttle...
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
With NCE you can simply hit the momentum button and select 0 thru 9. Each has a multiplier. It can be done on the fly with the train running. Make sure that each engine on the consist supports it though before doing it, otherwise one engine will be doing some extra work while the other catches up.
Springfield PA
One of the options as you step through configuration of the NCE Power Pro command station is whether or not momentum commands are sent to a consist. If you have this turned on, you can do exactly what the OP wants.
Thanks, folks, it will really enhance operations to add that bit of realism. John
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Is this proprietary to NCE?
I would love to be able to select different ACC/DEC "steps" for simulation of light locos, short trains, and heavy trains. Changing the ACC/DEC values while operating is too much trouble for me, so I just program some light values like 6/8 and "feather" the throttle.
9 predefined levels....I like it!
1948PRRI've been thinking about this a lot lately. Is this proprietary to NCE?
I don't know if it would be considered as "proprietary" or just a case of NCE having it as a feature that no one else does.
I don't think NCE would be "lawsuit crazy" like another company that we all know about if someone else incorporated this into their DCC system.