Your Results of BEMF Adjustment with LokSound Select?

[peahrens]

I have been merrily converting a number of locos to ESU LokSound Select decoders but mainly focused on the conversions and then the loco running acceptably, sound and lighting adjustments and consisting.  The ones completed include Kato RS-2 and C44-9W, LifeLike P2K SD-50, SD-60, E-6, PA & PB, Genesis GP-9.  Upcoming are Atlas RS-1, P1K F3 and Erie-Built, P2K GP-30, and Bachmann 2-6-0.

Today, while replying (and researching) on a Tsunami BEMF inquiry, I realize I've never addressed the potential BEMF tuning on the LokSounds.  I have done so on other locos, Genesis steamers with Tsunami, etc.  About to head to the beach, I have no time to try out the procedure but see the LokSound Select manual describes three options...be satisfied with the default operation; trigger an  automatic adjustment by setting CV54 to zero and hitting F1 (where the loco runs fast, slows to a stop, and adjusts itself; or tweaking the four related CVs manually.  EDIT: I should also mention that a small table gives alternate CV starting settings for different (mainly older) motor types, but I think all mine are new enough to not use those alternates.

I'm quite interested in what folks have experienced in trying the automatic or manual BEMF adjustments on the LokSound Selects.  Any insight will be much appreciated! 

[rrinker]

 I haven't done either on the ones I have, and they run like a fine watch right out of the box. Of course we're talking Bowser, an F unit with the Beuhler motor and one of the Baldwin switchers which has a Canon motor. They may run even better after a tune, but they already creep along just fine without stalling. For lesser quality motors it may be almost required to do some tuning.

Pretty much the same experience with my TCS motor only decoders, I have those in everything, all versions since they added their automatic BEMF. I've not attempted to adjust any of the other controlling CVs, and this is across a wide variety of locos, though mostly P2K, but also Athearn RTR and a Bachmann 44 tonner. With the TCS, i notice that when first running a loco, it's a little jerky, but after a few minutes it settles down and from then on runs great, fast or slow.

                    --Randy

[Mark R.]

The majority of all my installs (well over 100) have been excellent right out of the box. Maybe six or eight exhibited symptoms of slight jerking - kind of like when the linkage on a steamer binds a bit. Did the Auto-Adjust and the problem went away. Have yet the need to manually adjust any of the BEMF settings.

Mark.

[Spalato68]

I do not have experience with Loksound Select, but do have with Lokpilot (basic and V 4.0) and Loksound v 4.0, which are very common in Europe. I assume the CV structure related to BEMF is similar to Loksound Select.

In most cases you really do not need to set up BEMF at all, most locomotives run perfectly out of the box with ESU decoders.

But, in some cases BEMF tuning is necessary. I had to do this e.g. with old three pole Fleischmann pancake motor, or other three pole motors with strong cogging effect (Fleischmann motor does not have strong cogging effect). I fine tuned Fleischmann motor so good that at the end, I must admit I would be satisfied if all my locomotives that I ever will own run so good. To achieve this I removed one gear so I could listen to the motor while running very slowly, and when I was satisfied, I fine tuned it little more while observing locomotive in movement.

With automatic BEMF tuning function that ESU offers I could not achieve such fine result.

For other older three pole motors with strong cogging effect (like some “Mehano” or old “Mehanotehnika” locomotives), I had basically to decrease BEMF effect with several CVs, to achieve satisfactory results.

I think, that every motor decoder should have several variables for BEMF fine tuning, not matter how good its BEMF motor control is.

Unfortunately, while TCS WOW really has excellent results with standard five pole iron core motors, I found that it is unable to control Trix Mikado (Maxon coreless motor). The reason for that is that TCS decoder does not have the above mentioned variables – it has self adjusting BEMF motor control, which at least to my experience cannot adapt to coreless motor I found in Trix Mikado.

Btw, I have another Trix Mikado, and Tsunami steam inside, and after BEMF fine tuning (which was not easy because CV values are quite different than for iron core motors), it runs very well.  

I would like if somebody has different experience with Trix Mikado and WOW Steam decoder to share it here. Initially I  intended to install my first WOW in this locomotive, but after I saw how it runs with this decoder (like in Charlie Chaplin movie), I decided to move this decoder to Proto 2-10-2 steamer which has standard five pole motor (I assume, did not open it). It runs perfectly with Wow.  

Regards,

Hrvoje

[ricktrains4824]

All 3 of my Loksound units (one with the non-sound Lokpilot, two with sound, but factory installs.) behave very well, very smooth slow speed, with zero tweaking beyond doing address, adding a little momentum, and adjusting sound levels. (Of course, these are from Bowser (2 with sound) and Intermountain (one with the Lokpilot). This may make a difference.)

Now, my Tsunami equipped units..... BEMF adjustments are a requirement. The two QSI units I have are the same, BEMF adjustments required.

But, overall, my Loksound units are very well running even without adjusting the BEMF. Very smooth slow speed, and very smooth acceleration/deceleration characteristics.