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CV #s for the new Bachmann 4-4-0

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  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Guntersville, AL
  • 129 posts
Posted by CNE Runner on Saturday, July 19, 2008 8:26 AM

My thanks go out to all of you that took the time to respond to my situation. Thanks for the advice on contacting/joining the Bachmann Trains forum...I didn't know it even existed! After sifting through all the suggestions, I feel the best course of action is to purchase a programming booster. Being a relatively new to DCC, I think the KISS principle would be my best option (that is: purchase and use a programming booster like the Soundtraxx unit). As it stands, I have two Bachmann American 4-4-0s to program and am anxiously waiting for Bachmann to release a Mogul (yes, I know Roundhouse already has one...I prefer Bachmann) so some additional programming is in the future. I do wish the N.D.& C. had a ten-wheeler in the past; but the largest engine owned, by the road, was one lone Mogul.

I sincerely hope all of the readers/responders to the MR Forums realize how helpful your input has been. Given your guidance (and some sweat equity on my part) the Newburgh, Dutchess & Connecticut RR will run again. Thank you all so much.

Ray

 "Keeping my hand on the throttle...and my eyes on rail."

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Stockton, CA.
  • 333 posts
Posted by Truck on Saturday, July 19, 2008 12:00 AM
   I have the MRC Prod. ADV. Sqared2. The soundtraxx PTB100  Program track booster is your best bet. I have tried the PowerPax booster and it would not read back CV's on my system.  But now with the PTB100 I can read and write CV's on my bachmann loco's with tsunami decoders. I had to get the chuffs right. It has worked fine with all my other decoders also.
  • Member since
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  • From: Christiana, TN
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Posted by CSX Robert on Friday, July 18, 2008 8:48 PM
 locoi1sa wrote:


...
You MRC should program the Tsunnami on the main but you will not be able to read CVs. Set CV29 to 34 first then set CV17 and 18 for your address...



If you are doing "program on the main"(OPS mode) then DO NOT program CV29 first. Remember that when doing OPS mode programming, you have to tell the command station the address of the decoder you are programming. If you enable 4 digit addressing by programming CV29, then the decoder will stop responding to the 2 digit address and won't take CV17 and 18 when you try to program them.
  • Member since
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Posted by locoi1sa on Friday, July 18, 2008 7:51 PM

  Wow Im glad I have a Power Cab. The P.C. has the extra power in program track mode to program anything. I have done every make of decoder with out a problem. I even address the Blueline decoder and TCS decoder at the same time on the program track. The P.C. even has a built in amp meter for diagnostics and eficiency purposes.

  You MRC should program the Tsunnami on the main but you will not be able to read CVs. Set CV29 to 34 first then set CV17 and 18 for your address. CV2 is the start voltage going to the motor. CV3 and 4 is acceleration and deceleration CV 5 and 6 is motor top speed and mid speed.

    Pete

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
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  • From: Abu Dhabi, UAE
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Posted by Scarpia on Friday, July 18, 2008 3:42 PM
 CNE Runner wrote:

Hi CN Charlie,

I have appealed to model railroaders on the Bachmann forum...surely most of them have had success with programing the 4-4-0. It does look that a programming track booster is necessary for the MRC Prodigy Advanced. Thanks for replying.

I put in a Tsunami in to a Spectrum 2-8-0, and did need a progamming track booster, so if that's what's in the 4-4-0, there you go. I got a the digitrax one on ebay for under $40. 

I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Guntersville, AL
  • 129 posts
Posted by CNE Runner on Friday, July 18, 2008 1:36 PM

David B:

I appreciate your time in replying to my question regarding CV programming. In your post, you refer to "OPs mode programming" and I would like you to explain what you mean by this term (I have looked in other sources and can't seem to find it mentioned). The MRC Prodigy Advanced has two "modes" of programming: "programming track" and "on the main". Am I missing something here? To date, I have not set up a programming track as all my other locomotives will very nicely program on the main. Apparently the Bachmann 4-4-0 is not in this group.

This will be the first real "programming" I have done since re-entering the hobby. I have only changed the addresses of my other engines so I appreciate you understanding and assistance.

 "Keeping my hand on the throttle...and my eyes on rail."

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Guntersville, AL
  • 129 posts
Posted by CNE Runner on Friday, July 18, 2008 1:19 PM

Hi CN Charlie,

I have appealed to model railroaders on the Bachmann forum...surely most of them have had success with programing the 4-4-0. It does look that a programming track booster is necessary for the MRC Prodigy Advanced. Thanks for replying.

 "Keeping my hand on the throttle...and my eyes on rail."

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:30 PM

I have the NCE Power Cab so I do not have that problem and I only use the Micro-Tsunami. Someone else might be able to comment. I know NCE sells a booster so NCE must have known that this could happen. Good luck.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    August 2007
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Posted by CNCharlie on Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:22 PM

I purchased a Consolidation with the factory installed Tsunami.

While the engine runs and sounds great I couldn't even change the address using a MRC Prodigy Express on the programming track or the main. I have the same 3.5 amp power as the Prodigy Advance.

I contacted MRC who told me that I need a programming track booster with the Tsunami. By the way I can programme QSI, Digitrax and of course MRC but not Tsunami!

CN Charlie

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:10 PM

Go to this link.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/

Click on Product Reference.

Select DCC Sound and  then Sound Decoder CV (PDF).

My 4-4-0 came DCC on board, no sound. I put a Micro/Tsunami decoder in it. As fas as I know, the 4-4-0s with sound now have a factory installed Tsunami.

Bachmann Quick Start Guide.pdf (application/pdf Object) 

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Guntersville, AL
  • 129 posts
CV #s for the new Bachmann 4-4-0
Posted by CNE Runner on Thursday, July 17, 2008 7:46 PM

I recently received my second Bachmann 4-4-0 (this one has DCC and sound) and have tried to program its decoder on the main (I am using MRC Prodigy Advanced) and have had no success (didn't have any success with its sister either). A local modeler seems to feel that the engine is not able to be programmed on the main; but must use a programming track. OK fine...but what are the CV values? While reading the MR Product Review on this model, the writer suggested the following: CV#2 = 15, CV#3 and #4 = 5. My Prodigy Advanced also wants data on CV#5 (Top Voltage) and I cannot find this value anywhere. Has anyone else programmed this locomotive? What CV values did you use? Unfortunately the "manual" that came with the engine is next to useless.

Incidentally, this is a sweet running little engine that "breezes" through my Peco small radius turnouts. The sound quality is good and it seems to have no problem hauling 8 - 10 36' cars. I would appreciate any information you can give on the CV subject. As always: thanks!!

Runner Ray

 "Keeping my hand on the throttle...and my eyes on rail."

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