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Engines will not run together in consist

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  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 5 posts
Engines will not run together in consist
Posted by NICGMAN on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 10:06 AM

I have two Atlas N scale gp30s both are equiped with Digitraks decoders. I have speed match them both. They run great by them selfs, but when I program them in a consists The lead unit will not move, trailing unit works fine. What can I do? 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 4:51 PM

 You're not using a Digitrax DCC system, right? The problem is the BEMF setting, Digitrax decoders provide an option for different BEMF values when running alone, or when in a CV19 consist. I'm guess you probably have a PowerCab, which uses CV19 consists. THe decoder defaults have consist BEMF completely off. You need to check the value of CV57. If it's 1. make it 17, if it's 2, 34 - basically, take the current value, multiply by 16, and add it to the current value. The default is usually 5 or 6, so you will want to make it either 85 or 102. CHECK the current value first, because if you change the standalone BEMF setting then it too will mess up your speed matching. 

If it's 5, 5x16=80, 80+5 = 85. Or 6, 6x16=96, 96+6=102.

                                  --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • 1,358 posts
Posted by SouthPenn on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 8:43 AM

You could give both engines the same address. Beats screwing with a bunch of CVs.

South Penn
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 993 posts
Posted by hobo9941 on Thursday, February 22, 2018 8:56 PM

I've done that with several units. But if you have sound, you need to dial the horn and bell volume down to zero on one of the units, unless you want bell and sound from both, sometimes slightly out of sync. Prime mover sounds from both units is OK.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, February 22, 2018 10:13 PM

I do this too, with a couple of Bachmann blue box locos, with factory DCC.  Just wish I could put out the lights in the trailing unit.

They both run great together on 03.

Mike.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 993 posts
Posted by hobo9941 on Monday, March 12, 2018 12:19 AM

Is there a CV to control the lights? If you run them back to back, changing CV29 usually reverses the direction of travel and the lights. If you keep the locos together most of the time, just disconnect the rear light on both units, and only the headlight in the forward running loco will be on.

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