wjstix I've heard that MTH HO engines are supposed to all be set up at the factory to be set up to all run at the same speed for any particular speed step, but I've never owned one so can't confirm it.
I've heard that MTH HO engines are supposed to all be set up at the factory to be set up to all run at the same speed for any particular speed step, but I've never owned one so can't confirm it.
MTH use a optical tachometer on the fly wheel to match the speed to speed steps. Some decoders use back emf to maintain speed. As such the MTH will run at scale speed steps... I have 2 articulated's, a H8 and a challenger, both run side by side at exactly the same speed...
I haven't got a speed reader to confirm how accurate they are but I can say, if the tach board fails then the loco won't run properly. I've already had one loco down while waiting for a new board but once replaced, loco was back to normal...
If anyone experiences an MTH loco, accelerate and and then stall, then accelerate again, like as if crank timing is out or loco jamming, it is most likely the tach board.. Had me puzzled for a couple of weeks.. Easy fixed tho...
In my experience, Atlas HO diesels tend to run pretty close to each other as far as speed. I've heard that MTH HO engines are supposed to all be set up at the factory to be set up to all run at the same speed for any particular speed step, but I've never owned one so can't confirm it.
Otherwise, you generally have to adjust engines to get them to run together at the same speed, and to start and stop together. Takes a little time, but worth the effort IMHO.
The decoders have at least 3 different speed steps programmed in, 14, 28 and 128.. Some decoders have all three, some only 14 others 28 and 14... Probably find other that are different...
You can alter a decoder to limit top speed, and the speed curve, but when MUing you can make one loco match another, but first ensure they are running well then see them run close together, ie an inch or two apart, then you could adjust them to suit...
Manufacturers cant spend time and money doing something they cant guarantee what environment there product will end up in...
There trains could end up in the Sth hemisphere, 350 k's from a city with an unreliable power source where it rains 9 months of the year and falls off the trees for the other 3...
Well it IS pretty easy - with many locos you have to do nothing. The loco consist I use most of the time at club shows is a pair of Proto 2000 GP7s with an Atlas Trainmaster in the middle. The GP7s have TCS non-sound decoders adn the Trainmaster has a QSI sound decoder. All i did with them is adjust the light functions so the Trainmaster lights never come on, no speed settings or anything, they run fine together, for hours at a time.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks for the posts. Guess I was looking for an easy way out
Gary
They don;t even test run every loco off the production floor. If they had to actually speed match each and every one to some set standard - if you think locos are expensive now...
The thing to keep in mind is they they do NOT have to run in lockstep to MU them. People were running multi-loco consists long before DCC and the ability to tune each loco so minutely. Usually you couldn;t mix manufacturers, because of motor and gearing differences, but even that is not strictly true. But a lineup of 4 Athearn Geeps? People did that all the time.
Most decoders have support for a simple 3 step 'speed table' where you set the start speed, the mid throttle speed, and the full throttle speed. Just getting those 3 close on any locos you want to run together, even if unmodified they aren't even close, is sufficient for it to all work without problems.
This comes under the subject of model railroading. We should not expect companies to do everything for us.
Even same production runs of DC only locos sometimes would not tun at the same speed.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Wow that seems like an improvement that would be appreciated by Model Railroaders. Guess i'll have to run all my consists at 0!
Nope. There is no set standard for manufacturers to follow for speed steps on models (aside from speed step 0 is stopped).
And often there is enough variability between models in a production run that two otherwise identical models from the same manufacturer will run at different speeds at the same speed step.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
If I have 2 or 3 BLI, Atharen, or Atlas DCC Locomotives (Steam or Diesel) do the manufacturers make sure their locomotives are set to the same speed steps? Do they have to be the same model? All RS1, GP7 or 2-8-2 Mikado?