Normal range of CV 2 for Athearn

[cudaken]

 Engine is a well used Athearn RTR Dash 9. To get it to move on steep 1 (DT 400) I had to bump CV 2 to 70. Does this seem high to you folks?

               Cuda Ken

[wjstix]

That does seem awfully high. I would double check the other CV's, maybe you have the momentum too high or CV 5 or 6 is off somehow. CV2 usually is just used to give an engine a little "nudge", I think 15-20 is the highest I've ever had to use.

[cudaken]

 I don't know anything and it sounds high to me!

 Here is a list of all the CV's, anything look odd?

CV, value
1,9
2,70
3,0
4,5
5,231
6,125
7,36
8,129
9,0
17,0
18,0
19,0
21,0
22,0
29,6
49,0
50,0
55,128
56,80
57,6
61,0
62,0
63,0
54,10
16,0
65,2
66,128
95,128
105,0
106,0
67,8
68,17
69,26
70,35
71,44
72,53
73,62
74,71
75,80
76,89
77,98
78,107
79,116
80,125
81,134
82,143
83,152
84,161
85,170
86,179
87,188
88,197
89,206
90,215
91,224
92,233
93,242
94,251
33,1
34,2
35,4
36,8
37,16

 Decoder is a DH 123 as well.

                      Ken

[selector]

CV2 is one of those mysteries in CV performance versus settings.  By that I mean I have some engines with zero input as a value and they still move on speed step 1.  Others are higher.  Even then, if I set a cold engine to 45 to get it to move, after playing with it for 10 minutes, especially if it has worked hard, I can get it to move with a value as low as 20...same engine.

I would agree that it seems high, Ken, but if that is what it takes this well-used engine to move as you wish it to............... (Have you relubed it and cleaned out the drive of old crud to ensure it can move easily against any waxy, old, grease?)

-Crandell

[cudaken]

 Crandell, I will double check the engine. It is quite and does not jerk while it runs. I just pulled a modest 14 car train and it took step 65 to get it moving around 60 sMPH.

 I did change CV 54 to 16, I had it at 10 but did not change how the engine ran.

       Ken

[Silver Pilot]

Step 1 - reset the decoder to factory settings.  When in doubt start with a clean sheet of paper.

Then start adjusting both CV2 and CV65.  You main need to adjust CV 65.  before adjusting these CVs when you start the engine moving can you back off a few clicks and still have the engine moving?  If so then adjusting the kick voltage is more in order than uping the start voltage.

[cudaken]

 Silver Pilot, what is CV 65? I did not find that CV in the Digitrax book? Is it kick start? I though CV 2 was kick start?

 Is there a better link to know what CV's do what than the one that came with my SEB system?

 Far as starting over, not a bad idea.

              Cuda Ken

[rrinker]

CV2 is start voltage. It controls how much power is applied at speed step 1 on the throttle. CV65 is kick start. It give the motor an extra little jolt to 'kick' it into action and overcome inertia. Some DC packs used to be made with a button that would apply extra power - the idea being those locos that needed say 4 volts to start but could then continue to run at only 2 volts, you could hit the button to get it moving but keep it throttled down to the true minimum speed. Kick start works the same way, but automatically.

                                             --Randy