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126 Speed step Bachmann Decoder?!?!?!?!?

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  • Member since
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126 Speed step Bachmann Decoder?!?!?!?!?
Posted by MRCProdigyrailroader on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:03 PM

This might be a stupid question, but I was running my bachmann SD45 with DCC On Board on the 126 setting on my PA2 equipped layout, and It ran unusually smooth. Is this normal? The box said it only had 28 speed steps.

The Master Hand!!! Modeling the modern BNSF and Norfolk Southern... On the same layout!!!
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:31 PM

 Yes, it's normal. The box says 28 to show that a 28 step system can run it. According to the data  for the Bachmann 1 amp decoder it's 14, 27, 28 and 128 speed steps.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by CSX Robert on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:00 PM
davidmbedard

28 Speed steps and 128 are the same thing.

David B

No they aren't.
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Posted by MRCProdigyrailroader on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:13 PM

So they just say that because E-Z command is 28 speed steps?

The Master Hand!!! Modeling the modern BNSF and Norfolk Southern... On the same layout!!!
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:43 PM

MRCProdigyrailroader

So they just say that because E-Z command is 28 speed steps?

Not exactly. I think it's more because 28 is a recognized standard.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
  • 2,134 posts
Posted by CSX Robert on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:58 PM

davidmbedard

CSX Robert
davidmbedard

28 Speed steps and 128 are the same thing.

David B

No they aren't.

OK then...show me a decoder that has a 128 speed step table.........

The decoder takes the 28 speed steps and divides the difference between the steps to get a smooth transition.  Hence, 28 speed steps and 128 speed steps are the same thing in decoder speek.

David B

First of all, if a decoder supports 28 speed step commands but not 128 speed step cmmands and you send it 128 speed step commands it will not respond.

Second, if the decoder does support 128 speeed step commands and you send it 28 speed step commands you do not have as fine of control as you do with 128 speed step commands.  If you use a table, the decoder does interpolate the intermmediate values from a 28 step table, but with 28 speed step commands, you can not set the speed to one of the intermmediate values, only the table values, with 128 speed step cmomands you can set the speed to an intermmediate value.

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