Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
If you are speaking of the BLI Blueline series then you must install a DCC decoder to control the motor, if you want to run it on a DCC layout. Out of the box they are DC only for motor control. Sound works on both DC and DCC with no modification. If you are talking about a BLI unit with the Quantum QSI decoder then they will run on a DC or DCC layout out of the box. The QSI decoders have motor control built in. The Blueline units use BLI's own sound system which does not include motor control but the units are significantly cheaper.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
DC is 12 volt power. Raise voltage anywhere from zero you activate a motor to turn the wheels. DCC is a signal that is sent to a specific engine with a computer that knows it's name.
Blueline is sort of Frakenstien because they are designed to run on 12 volt with thier own sounds. But when you install a DECODER for a motor control with DCC (That means you have a sound decoder AND a Motor Decoder to deal with now) you have a full unit that requires much attention.
If you run just 12 volts and dont intend to go DCC, Blueline is for you.
Some DCC engines are dual mode like QSI from the factory. They sense the difference between DC and DCC and auto-switch to behave accordingly.
For those who know that they enjoy sounds and dont want to pay full hog DCC to get it, Bluelines are a good value at a good price point.
jbinkley60 wrote:If you are speaking of the BLI Blueline series then you must install a DCC decoder to control the motor, if you want to run it on a DCC layout. Out of the box they are DC only for motor control. Sound works on both DC and DCC with no modification. If you are talking about a BLI unit with the Quantum QSI decoder then they will run on a DC or DCC layout out of the box. The QSI decoders have motor control built in. The Blueline units use BLI's own sound system which does not include motor control but the units are significantly cheaper.
A tip for Blue Line loco's.
You are right, you must install a motor decoder, but first do the following BEFORE installing a motor decoder.
Put the loco on a programing track and using PO programming mode.
Set CV 16 to a value of 2, then CV 15 to a value of 0.
Install your motor decoder.
Set CV 16 to a value of 1, then CV15 to 0.
Now both decoders are locked out. Because both decoders use CV's of the same numbering if both are un-locked you will inadvertantly chang the other decoders values if both are unlocked.
Motor dec = CV16 = 1
Sound dec = CV 16 = 2
To program the sound dec set CV 15 to a value of 2, when done CV 15 back to 0.
To program the motor dec set CV 15 to 1, then back to 0 when done. Now both decoders are locked.
When CV 15 matches CV 16, motor 1 or sound 2 that decoder is unlocked. Another words when CV 15 and CV16 have the same value that decoder is UNLOCKED. Use CV 15 to match CV 16 to program a given (matching) decoder.
Also! If your using 4 diget addressing you need to set up the sound decoder (CV-15 =2). The Blue Line manual covers it all and has the CV settings you need. There is also a light jumper to chang if you want to control them with your DCC throttle, Jp1 to 7 or vice versa.
RTFM!!!
Jules
JulesB wrote: jbinkley60 wrote: If you are speaking of the BLI Blueline series then you must install a DCC decoder to control the motor, if you want to run it on a DCC layout. Out of the box they are DC only for motor control. Sound works on both DC and DCC with no modification. If you are talking about a BLI unit with the Quantum QSI decoder then they will run on a DC or DCC layout out of the box. The QSI decoders have motor control built in. The Blueline units use BLI's own sound system which does not include motor control but the units are significantly cheaper. A tip for Blue Line loco's.You are right, you must install a motor decoder, but first do the following BEFORE installing a motor decoder.Put the loco on a programing track and using PO programming mode.Set CV 16 to a value of 2, then CV 15 to a value of 0.Install your motor decoder.Set CV 16 to a value of 1, then CV15 to 0.Now both decoders are locked out. Because both decoders use CV's of the same numbering if both are un-locked you will inadvertantly chang the other decoders values if both are unlocked.Motor dec = CV16 = 1Sound dec = CV 16 = 2 To program the sound dec set CV 15 to a value of 2, when done CV 15 back to 0.To program the motor dec set CV 15 to 1, then back to 0 when done. Now both decoders are locked.When CV 15 matches CV 16, motor 1 or sound 2 that decoder is unlocked. Another words when CV 15 and CV16 have the same value that decoder is UNLOCKED. Use CV 15 to match CV 16 to program a given (matching) decoder.Also! If your using 4 diget addressing you need to set up the sound decoder (CV-15 =2). The Blue Line manual covers it all and has the CV settings you need. There is also a light jumper to chang if you want to control them with your DCC throttle, Jp1 to 7 or vice versa.RTFM!!!Jules
jbinkley60 wrote: If you are speaking of the BLI Blueline series then you must install a DCC decoder to control the motor, if you want to run it on a DCC layout. Out of the box they are DC only for motor control. Sound works on both DC and DCC with no modification. If you are talking about a BLI unit with the Quantum QSI decoder then they will run on a DC or DCC layout out of the box. The QSI decoders have motor control built in. The Blueline units use BLI's own sound system which does not include motor control but the units are significantly cheaper.
Another option is to use Page mode for the motor controller and direct mode for the Blueline sound decoder, when on the programming track. In Ops mode, your option is the only real option.