Sorry, I'm sure this topic came up before here, but I couldn't find it.
Anyway, I've installed several SDH164D sound decoders, the ones you can download the sound files using a PR3, all with no problems. However, I've just added one to an engine, and everything works fine except when F1 or F2 is activated, the engine slows down quite a bit. So if you blow the horn, it slows down. Once you release F2, it speeds back up.
So...any ideas how to fix it??
Stix:
Sounds to me like the motor is drawing the maximum amps from the decoder to maintain speed. When you engage one of the sound functions you are taking a fair amount of power away from the motor. You only have so much power available so logic suggests that there isn't enough power to go round. In other words, the motor is a power hog.
If you didn't test the current draw before installing the decoder then I would suggest temporarily removing the decoder and then testing the current draw on the motor in DC mode.
If the motor is drawing high amps then you need to find the cause. It could be many things. If you could tell us which locomotive you are having the problem with then I'll bet you somebody here can tell you what's wrong. It would also help to know if you have done any maintenance like replacing the grease in the gears, etc.....
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Stix,
You can try to set CV57=0 TO TURN OFF BEMF.
That should work.
Frank
What Frank said. Known issue with these decoders.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks guys, setting CV57 to -0- looks like it solved the problem. It's an old Walthers FM H-10-44 switcher, so not having BEMF isn't a problem. Thanks again.