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Digitrax SDH164D - Engine slows down when horn or bell activated??

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Sunday, May 4, 2014 2:35 PM

Thanks guys, setting CV57 to -0- looks like it solved the problem. It's an old Walthers FM H-10-44 switcher, so not having BEMF isn't a problem. Thanks again.

Wink

Stix
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Sunday, May 4, 2014 10:31 AM

 What Frank said. Known issue with these decoders.

         --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Sunday, May 4, 2014 12:09 AM

Stix,

You can try to set CV57=0 TO TURN OFF BEMF.

That should work.

Frank

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, May 3, 2014 11:40 PM

Stix:

Sounds to me like the motor is drawing the maximum amps from the decoder to maintain speed. When you engage one of the sound functions you are taking a fair amount of power away from the motor. You only have so much power available so logic suggests that there isn't enough power to go round. In other words, the motor is a power hog.

If you didn't test the current draw before installing the decoder then I would suggest temporarily removing the decoder and then testing the current draw on the motor in DC mode.

If the motor is drawing high amps then you need to find the cause. It could be many things. If you could tell us which locomotive you are having the problem with then I'll bet you somebody here can tell you what's wrong. It would also help to know if you have done any maintenance like replacing the grease in the gears, etc.....

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Digitrax SDH164D - Engine slows down when horn or bell activated??
Posted by wjstix on Saturday, May 3, 2014 10:11 PM

DunceSorry, I'm sure this topic came up before here, but I couldn't find it. Embarrassed

Anyway, I've installed several SDH164D sound decoders, the ones you can download the sound files using a PR3, all with no problems. However, I've just added one to an engine, and everything works fine except when F1 or F2 is activated, the engine slows down quite a bit. So if you blow the horn, it slows down. Once you release F2, it speeds back up.

So...any ideas how to fix it??

Stix

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