There was a recent thread relating to Bachmann engine quality. In that thread there was a reference to the limited number of adjustments that could be made to the decoder, which I assume refers to the limited number of adjustable CVs.
A fellow clubmember was trying to adjust the starting speed of his new aquisition (non-sound) last night and I asked him if he had any decoder instructions with the CVs. We could find nothing in the box. Looking on line this morning I found http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/ez_content/1_Amp_Decoder_Instr.pdf, which is an instruction for an EZ Command Two Function Decoder.
So the first question: is this the only instruction out there for these engines, or are there different instructions available that I haven't found?
The second question: Looking at the values given for CV 19, I see that the range is 0 - 99. We have NCE at the Club and it has the capability of automatically assigning consist numbers starting at 127 and working its way down to the next available consist number. I am assuming that because the decoder has a range of 0 - 99 for the consist CV, this means that the person doing the consisting has to manually select a consist number and cannot use the automatic feature. Am I correct with this?
Thanks
Those Bachmann DCC equipped diesel loco's can be purchased for under $35.00, very inexpensive and extremely basic, you take them out of the box put them on the track and run them either analog or dcc and never have to take them apart to fiddle with plugs or internal switch's, no magnetic wands needed either. Like I stated in another thread, I own them, 6 in all, and bought them because of the price and my beginning in DCC 4+ years ago, all but one failed and was repaired by Bachmann after I ran it for 3 years, what's to complain about. You get what you pay for, these are very limited Lenz decoders built for Bachmann.
Now I have many other what I call expensive loco's most under $250.00, you can't compare these with Bachmann, steam loco's, in my opinion are the exception, as well as Bachmann's Spectrum line.
I found something though with DCC ready Bachmann, I purchased a TCS MC2-MH decoder that I can program all the CV's, I'm sure there are other decoders that will work if you don't mind the added work and expense, but I'm rather new to messing with cv's but since I purchased the PR3 I've got my feet wet with hard wiring (solder) decoders, I've only done a few (7) but I'm gaining in knowledge. Also NCE makes a replacement board for Bachmann diesels, NCE BACH-DSL and fits most all the 8 wheel Bachmann chassis models for under $20.00.
http://www.ncedcc.com/pdf/bachdv35.pdf
David is right you can't Advance consist with Bachmann decoders beyound #99 using CV 19.
LOL I'm still using my EZ Command, but I am replacing it with a digitrax soon. I can consist with it but it certainly isn't the same as Advance consist whereas I lose the primary address and I have to reprogram them individually if I break up the consist. Also I have to speed match since you can't adjust the speed steps like you can with other decoder's and tune them to match.
See David I am paying attention and reading your posts and others to gain more understanding of how all this works, I'm about 20 years behind most of you guys, no arguments from me. LOL some frustration though.
Rangerover Also I have to speed match since you can't adjust the speed steps
I presume you mean by this that you are adjusting CV2, the starting voltage? That was the problem we were having. We couldn't get the engine to start moving until about half-way up the 28 speed step range, or speed step 32 (or thereabouts) on the 128 speed step range. Of course it probably didn't help that we were putting in values greater than 31 in CV2. But that's what happens when they don't give you the instructions.
Possibly there is a mechanical issue as I thought that I could hear the motor humming (didn't recognize the tune) at lower speed steps, but there wasn't time to take the shell off and poke around. We'll have to try again next week.
Thanks for the link to the NCE decoder.
Regards
davidmbedard It is typical for a value of 40-60 with Athearn units for CV2, so your value isnt out of line..... David B
It is typical for a value of 40-60 with Athearn units for CV2, so your value isnt out of line.....
David B
Either I wasn't clear, or I didn't understand you comment re: the Athearn engines. I take you to mean that for an Athearn to start moving at speed step 1 you need a value of CV2 between 40 and 60. But this is out of a total CV range of either 128 or 256, is it not? The Bachmann decoder, if I'm understanding the instructions correctly, only has a CV2 range of 0 - 31, with a default setting of 10.
I'm beginning to think that there is something mechanically amiss with the engine since varying CV2 made little or no difference in the starting point.