I cannot get my Power Cab to run a consist; I can program the lead engine but the rear engine is not functioning. I checked with one source and they told me I had to increase the start voltage on the rear engine using CV2 for both engines. Does anyone know anything about this? My engines are all fairly new and all came with factory installed decoders; I am using the Advanced Consist setup as contained in the User Manual. Thanks.
Your post is confusing. Are you saying that if you separate the two engines and try to run them with the consist address the second engine will not move at all, or are you saying that the second engine will run but not at the same speed as the the first?
If it is the second case, then the experts here will probably need to know what the engine models are, who the manufacturers are, and what decoders they came with.
Maxman already asked pertinents questions. In addition did you try Old Style consisting, not all decoders support Advance consisting?
How do they run individually? At what speed step do they both start moving?
Jack W.
Two more questions. Are you setting the direction either forward or reverse on the rear loco? Are the Decoders locked using CV15 and CV16?
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!
The first time I tried to set up a consist with two engines the rear loco would not move at all; the second time I tried, the lead engine was working and the rear engine was running but not at the same speed as the lead engine. I will try it again with two engines made by the same company to see if that works.
If the engines are newer would they not have newer decoders in them? Neither engine is more than two years old.
I set the direction of the rear loco in forward position; I am also confused with the manual in which it states you dont have to identify the rear loco? How does it know which loco is suppose to be part of the consist?
Your replies are too vague to be of any help. Please reply to each question in a precise manner.
tsanders1950 I set the direction of the rear loco in forward position; I am also confused with the manual in which it states you dont have to identify the rear loco? How does it know which loco is suppose to be part of the consist?
It would be helpful to know which model engines you have. I will assume that you have two diesel engines. I will also assume that the engines are the typical diesel locomotive with a cab at one end. each engine will, by itself, have a normal direction of forward travel. Normally, forward is the direction the engine goes with the cab (and short hood) leading.
So, if you put the two engines on the track with the long hoods facing each other, in order that they travel in the same direction one engine will be moving forward while the other moves in reverse. Whichever engine you want to be the lead engine will be the one normally moving forward, and the trailing engine (in a two unit set) will be moving in reverse.
I don't have a power cab, but I do have the pro-cab, and the consisting instructions I believe are the same.
On the handset press the set-up button under the consist button group. The handset will give you a suggested consist number. If you are happy with this number, press the big enter button. The handset will ask you what the number of the lead loco should be. Assuming that you have addressed you locos properly, enter the lead loco number. Press the big enter button. The handset will then ask you what direction the loco is to go. Since this is the lead loco, the default direction will be forward, so just press the big enter button. The handset will then ask you for the second (or trailing) loco number. Enter this number and press the big enter button. The handset will now ask you what direction this loco needs to go to travel in the same direction as the first. Since we have assumed that the lead loco needs to move backwards to travel the same direction as the first, press the direction button on the handset. You should see on the screen that the direction for the loco you just entered will now say R (or reverse). Press the big enter button. The handset will now ask you if you want to add another loco. Since the answer right now is no, just press the big enter button.
If you have done all of this correctly, you can get both engines to move in one of three ways. You can enter the consist number that the system assigned, assuming that you have remembered it from when you started this process. Or, you can enter the first loco number. If you do this, you will see the loco number on the screen with "con" in front of it. This means that the engine is in a consist. Set your direction of travel to forward, and both engines should move in the same direction. Optionally, enter the second loco number. Again you will see "con" in front of the number on the screen. Set your direction of travel and both locos should move in the same direction.
You'll have to identify where in the manual it states that "you don't have to identify the rear loco". I don't believe that it states that, or if it does the statement has been taken out of context.
tsanders1950 The first time I tried to set up a consist with two engines the rear loco would not move at all; the second time I tried, the lead engine was working and the rear engine was running but not at the same speed as the lead engine. I will try it again with two engines made by the same company to see if that works.
tsanders,
Did you speed match the two locomotives before you tried consisting them together? You can have identical locomotives...with identical decoders...but that doesn't guarantee that they'll run at the same speed.
It almost sounds to me that the lead locomotive is starting out before the rear locomotive does? Am I correct? If so, then you need to speed match you locomotives THEN consist them.
Speed matching will ensure that your locomotives start out, operate, and stop together as a unit. Otherwise, they will be pushing and pulling one another all the way around the track.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
i have had a similar issue with my powercab. even though the 2 locos are speed matched and were working in a consist before the power cab somehow lost the rear loco. i killed the consist restarted my controller (turned it off then back on) and set the cosist again. once i did this the consist worked as it should. hope this helps.
Dan
I have gotten the consist function to work and based on two locos, but still have a small issue with the speed of each; you are correct in that they seem to be pushing/pulling each other. I am interested in hearing more about the "speed matching" that you referred to. How is this accomplished by using a NCE power cab? Hopefully it is not done by "trial and error" as suggested by someone at Tonys Train Exchange. Thanks for your input and suggestion.
I finally got it to work last night using a couple of different engines that seemed to be evenly matched in terms of speed. Another reader suggested using "speed match". Do you know anything about this feature? Thanks for your insight.
Thanks for your suggestions; I finally did get the consist function to work last evening by using two locos that were somewhat evenly matched for speed. Another reader suggested using "speed match"; do you know anything about this feature, specifically using a NCE controller? Thanks again for all your suggestions; my user manual refers to setting up the rear loco and that you have the option of using the number of the engine; you can go to their website and look at the manual yourself if you want to verify this fact. I thought it was somewhat confusing myself.
I need more information about "speed matching as you suggested. I find nothing in the NCE power cab user manual that identifies how to accomplish this function. I finally got the consist feature to work last night by using two locos of similar matching speeds but found they still were doing a litte "pushing and pulling" and it is somewhat annoying. I thought this was something that DCC overcame was matching the right power and current level no matter what type of decoder/engine you were using. I guess I might be wrong on that account. Any suggestion you might have regarding the speed matching funciton would be appreciated. Should this be accomplished with all locos no matter if I plan on using them for a consist?
Thanks for your reply; I have requested more information about "speed matching" as a number of readers have referred to it. Dont know if I should post something under that topic as well.
First off, this is just a suggestion. If you are answering a specific question(s) by a given poster, it's best to quote the poster (i.e. by using their name and/or pasting the inquiry the body of your response) so that it's more clear who exactly you are addressing. The easiest way to do this is to do the following:
1. Click the Reply button of the post/poster you want to respond to
2. Above the Message text box, highlight the specific text that you are responding to
3. Click the Quote button
The quote (and quoter) will then show up in the body of your post just like the following:
tsanders1950Thanks for your reply; I have requested more information about "speed matching" as a number of readers have referred to it. Dont know if I should post something under that topic as well.
Your last 5 posts just seem like a variation on the same theme and it's, again, unclear who you are addressing. As mentioned, this is just a suggestion.
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Now, to answer your question, speed matching can be done two ways:
1. Simple - Change CV's 2 (start up voltage or V-Start), 5 (maximum voltage or V-Max), and 6 (Mid-range voltage or V-mid) of the rear locomotive so that it starts out and has a maximum speed identical (or as close as possible) of the lead locomotive. FYI: Some decoders will not allow you access to CV 5.
[Edit: Looks like David B. has already successfully answered that question for you in your other post.]
2. Complex - This allows you to fine tune each of the 28-speed steps in a locomotive's decoder and is accomplished by placing values in CV 67 thru CV94. This can be done using Programming on the Main (POM) mode of your Power Cab.
Complex speed matching is not as complicated as it may sound. Initially, what you want to do is match your V-Start and V-Max CVs - in this case, CV 67 & CV 94 - just like you did with the Simple method. If you need to fine tune the rear locomotive further, use CV 80 or CV 81 as your Mid-range setting and match that with the lead locomotive. Often times, this will be enough.
If you should choose the complex route, be sure to write down the values for CV 67 thru CV 94 of the lead locomotive first before trying to speed match the rear locomotive, as this will give you a reference point in comparing the respective CVs of each locomotive to one another - i.e. CV 67 thru CV 94. (FYI: Reading values can only be accomplished in Programming Track mode.) Also, by writing down the values of CV 67 thru CV 94, you can more easily change them back to the default settings - without needing to reset the entire decoder to do that. This will indeed be a trial-and-error method.
tsanders, I don't know if that makes things more clear or muddies the water for you. Your locomotive decoder's manual should also be helpful with this.
Lastly, two pieces of missing information would be quite helpful for those of us trying to walk you through this:
1. What manufacturer/locomotive are you trying to consist together?
2. What decoder - i.e. manufacture/part # (e.g. Digitrax DH163L0) - is in the lead locomotive and rear locomotive?
tstage tsanders, I don't know if that makes things more clear or muddies the water for you. Your locomotive decoder's manual should also be helpful with this. Lastly, two pieces of missing information would be quite helpful for those of us trying to walk you through this: 1. What manufacturer/locomotive are you trying to consist together? 2. What decoder - i.e. manufacture/part # (e.g. Digitrax DH163L0) - is in the lead locomotive and rear locomotive? Tom
locoi1sa Two more questions. Are you setting the direction either forward or reverse on the rear loco? Are the Decoders locked using CV15 and CV16? Pete
Congrats on your grand daughter; ours was born in 12/08 and she is wonderful.
tsanders1950tstage tsanders, I don't know if that makes things more clear or muddies the water for you. Your locomotive decoder's manual should also be helpful with this. Lastly, two pieces of missing information would be quite helpful for those of us trying to walk you through this: 1. What manufacturer/locomotive are you trying to consist together? 2. What decoder - i.e. manufacture/part # (e.g. Digitrax DH163L0) - is in the lead locomotive and rear locomotive? TomIs this response better? I am new to this forum thing in this magazine so really dont know that much about how to response correctly.
Looks great! tsanders, I hope I in no way came across as if I was scolding you. I knew you were new here on the forum so it was merely a suggestion. However, now that you've done it, it does make it clear who you are addressing.
tsanders1950I will try and program two locos using both the simple and complex method you suggested. Do you recommend that you reprogram all locos so that they are running about the same speed or just those that you want to use in a consist?
You only need to speed match the locomotives you plan on using in a particular consist. David B gave you a good step-by-step method in the other thread. Follow his instructions.
tsanders1950I only have seven locos that have decoders; five with sound and two without. I own three Atlas engines and the rest are Proto 2000's; All Atlas are GP's and Protos include: U33, U28, RS27, and GP20. Unfortunately I dont know the make or model of the decoders; all were factory installed.
If your Proto 2000 and Atlas locomotives all have sound, then your decoders are QSI. If that is the case, then that's also a helpful piece of information.