Thanks Doublereefed
Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)
Hello All,
So glad to hear you realized that you chose the wrong decoder in DecoderPro.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I was thinking about how you could determine if you do in fact have a Bachmann 4 function or 2 function decoder installed in your 45-tonner.
What came to mind is Rule 17 Dimming!
Simply put, this states that the light in the direction of travel is fully illuminated and the light at the opposite end is on but dimmed.
This lighting effect is in the decoder and activated via Configuration Varriables (CVs).
In a Bachmann 4 function decoder CV 51 controls this effect. A 2 function decoder does not support this lighting effect.
Here's what I did...
I took a Bachmann diesel locomotive with a known factory-installed, 2 function, OEM, PCB decoder.
First I used DecoderPro and created a new roster entry and chose the Bachmann 4 function decoder for this loco. Fully knowing it is a 2 function decoder.
I then performed a factory decoder reset to clear out any lingering CVs.
To do this I programmed CV 8 with a value of 8 using the programming track built into my pike. This step is not necessary but I wanted to be absolutely sure the decoder was "factory fresh".
Next, using DecoderPro I opened the new roster entry, chose 2 digit addressing, and assigned it the number 2- -in your honor. I did not activate Rule 17 Dimming at this time.
I then hit "Write All Sheets" and let DecoderPro do its thing.
After the programming was complete, with the "OK" message on the bottom of the window, I placed the loco on the test loop of my pike.
It responded to address 2 and the light functions were "Normal".
Only the light in the direction of travel was lit. The light in the opposite direction was not lit.
Then I returned the loco to the stand-alone programming track with DecoderPro.
After opening the roster entry I went to the CV page and entered a value of "1" in CV 51. I double-checked the entry on the Lights page.
By entering a value of 1 in CV 51 it changed the option on the Lights page to Rule 17 Dimming.
After writing all sheets again I moved the loco to the test loop.
It ran on address 2 but no Rule 17 Dimming.
This confirmed that it is a 2 function decoder, which I knew at the beginning of this test, despite the decoder I chose in DecoderPro.
For further confirmation, I put the loco on the programming track of my pike.
I then, from the command station, programmed CV 51 to a value of 1. While on the programming track the loco moved back and forth and the lights flickered- -indicating that programming was taking place.
When I triggered the lights- -no Rule 17 Dimming, once again confirming that it is indeed a 2 function decoder.
It took longer to type this than it did to do the actual programming and testing through both DecoderPro and the programming track on my pike.
This might seem to be a lengthy process to determine the number of function of your particular decoder but it is definitely quicker than waiting for a response from the good folks at Bachmann.
Here's a better link which has more details. I used a Loksound select micro decoder with GE Cat44 sound file 73444 which was loaded by Tonys Train Exchange for me. Hth.
How did you determine that the OEM Bachmann decoder in question is in fact a 4 function decoder vs. a 2 function decoder?
Earlier today I removed a Bachmann GP30 with a known OEM decoder type from my DecoderPro roster.
When I went to add it back to the roster I used the "+ New Loco" function.
After placing the loco in question on the programming track I initiated the "read type from decoder" page.
This narrowed the Bachmann EZ Command decoder "choices" down to a 1 function (36-551), 2 function (35-552), or a 4 function (35-550).
From there, you, the user chooses the actual decoder type.
I know for a fact the decoder in this particular loco is indeed a 2 function (35-552) type. I selected the appropriate decoder.
Understand, Bachmann 2 function decoders only support 13 CVs.
If you choose the 4 function decoder (35-550) in DecoderPro- -that supports more CVs than the 2 function decoder (35-552)- -the architecture of the 2 function decoder will not support the other functions that are shown with the 4 function decoder pages.
You can choose all the options (CVs) you want on the 4 function page(s) in DecoderPro.
It will appear that those CVs have been recorded on the decoder.
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
If it were that simple I would have saved a lot of money by just choosing a different decoder type rather than having to upgrade to decoders that support more functions than the Bachmann OEM 2 function decoder(s).
Now, that being said...
I have been wrong before- -see my reaction of a previous post in this thread.
According to "She Who Must Be Obeyed" I will be wrong again!
The great folks at Bachmann can confirm which decoder you actually have in your loco.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news- -I seem to be in that undesirable position lately- -but...
doublereefedAlan, you nailed it! Exactly what I am hoping to do. Did you use the smaller .75 amp ESU Loksound or the larger one? Which engine sound did you go with? I am new to this, it looks like I need to find a retailer that will pre-program it before it is sent to me.
I took mine apart and as I remember it, there were SMLED's that pointed upward to light pipes for the headlights. I was also unsure how to access the cab to install a speaker and the ESU mini decoder.
Please enlighten us.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
rrinkerNone of those dang PRR 'things' is going to pull trains on MY railroad, let me tell you! (Sorry, Ed)
It's OK, Randy. My therapist has me working on that. I DO have some Reading rolling stock on my layout and I was thinking about getting a T-1 soon since the PRR did borrow some. Plus there's one here in Cleveland
2100_W3 by Edmund, on Flickr
OK, back to the original thread — Sorry Ed
They interfere the drive signal from the decoder to the loco, as well as the BEMF from the motor to the decoder, if you put in a better decoder than the cheap Bachmann one.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
As other have saiid, you can't have both long and short addresses active at the same time.Just use the long address and it it is below 128 preface the address with zero. My first 45 tonner was noisy so I returned it. The noise I hear on yours is related tothe cheap Bachmann decoder. I replaced it with a loksound decoder. You can see it operating here
Mine was a DCC Ready version, I put my own decoder in (and cut off the capacitors). With a TCS M1 in it, it runs quite well. I didn't swap out the buklbs because the ultimate goal is adding sound, the TCS decoder was just so I could run it for now. For sound, the entire factory board is going to hit the junk box. Plus it needs a repaint. I actually bought it at Strasburg - at the shop on the railroad property, not the shop up at the outlet maill by Rt. 30. So naturally all they had was the PRR one. None of those dang PRR 'things' is going to pull trains on MY railroad, let me tell you! (Sorry, Ed) Since Reading had no 44 tonners, it will be an industry loco somewhere. Similar but not exactly the same loco.
doublereefedAlso, the loco seems really noisy at startup and slow speed. It smooths out at higher speeds. Is this normal? I played with the "Silent Drive" setting, no changes.
I have one of those. (If you have the new Walthers catalogue, see the title page for the decal section.) For some reason Bachmann apparently chose not to use a "silent" decoder in it, so the decoder makes some noise - similar to older decoders from 10-15 years back. I know some folks have replaced the decoder because of that, but I've left mine 'as is' so far, as it does run well with it.
The PowerCab, like all NCE systems, uses 1-127 as short, OR long. The recommendation is to always use the long address - to avoid conflicts with consist addresses.
Only one address will be active at a time, it depends on what is set in CV29. When setting the address, you are given the choice to use short or long, which will set CV29 appropriately.
doublereefedBetamax, I'm using JMRI DecoderPro on a NCE PowerCab. So I should remove the long entry entirely, and just put 2 (not 02) in the short address field, then write it? I am completely new to this. If I am understanding this correctly I should only enter single or 2 digit loco address in the short, nothing in the long. For 3 and 4 digit cab numbers just put the 3 or 4 digits in the long address, nothing in the short. Is this correct understanding? Thank you and the others for your helpful replies.
I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that the Power Cab has an asterisk (*) on the display when a 4 digit/extended address is in use.
If you just want to use "2", set JMRI for a short address and enter the number you want, in this case, "2". JMRI will set the flag in CV 29 correctly and write the proper value to the Primary Address (CV 1).
As others have mentioned, the short/primary address range is 1-127.
On the power cab, 1-127 is a 2 digit address. 128 on is a 4 digit address. Joe
I am removing my previous post because it was inaccurate.
You can use a single digit address.
I just checked my roster in DecoderPro and I do have a single-digit address.
Under the Basic tab for this roster entry the Short (one byte) address radio button is selected.
Then both the Active Address and Primary Address are a single digit.
Again, I apologize for the inaccurate information.
My 45 tonner was very quiet out of the box. If it was mine, I'd send it back to Bachmann. Can't hurt to run it in forward and backward.
My layout is in pieces at the moment, or I would post a video.
"Short" and "Long" addresses live in two different spaces.
If you set the Primary Address (short) to a value of 2, it will respond to 2. If you set it to an Extended Address (long) then the decoder will be set to work only with an extended address when the new address is written to it.
Since it lives in a segment of the address space, 2 and 02 are not the same. Much like 2 First Ave is not the same as 2 Second Ave. So if you just want to use "2" as the address, set the mode to "short" instead of "long".
"Silent Drive" is a method of controlling the motor at low speed. It can't help with mechanical noise. It only helps keep noise created by the signal driving the motor down at low speeds. It some decoders it can be adjusted if needed. Maybe a little more run time will help.
Which DCC system are you using?
New to me Bachmann 45 Tonner. I've set the long and short addresses to 2 in JMRI DecoderPro. I still have to select 02 to get it to work though. On my DecoderPro that is <Select Loco><02><Enter>. Just selecting "2" won't work. What am I doing wrong. Absoletely brand new to this whole thing! Such fun.
Also, the loco seems really noisy at startup and slow speed. It smooths out at higher speeds. Is this normal? I played with the "Silent Drive" setting, no changes.