dcc When you park an engine in favor of running another one, lights off, everything off, is it ok just to leave it there or should you have a on/off switch for that block? power is flowing to the decoder which has to remember not to let any thing go I would think? is that ever a problem or ?? Appreciate your comments. Thanks.
Gary,
I've been running DCC for 2 years now and hardly ever shut my locomotives down. The only one I know how to do that to is my BLI 2-8-2 Mike.
With non-sound locomotives, you don't really need to. It might be more of an issue with sound locomotives. However, I don't think there should be any real concern. If there was, I think the manufacturers would mention it in the manual.
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 leave engines on the track even if they have sound. I usually turn the headlight off and then leave it alone. It's not going to cause any damage to the decoder as long as you don't have a sudden voltage spike, nearby lightning strike, or something similar. An idling sound decoder does not draw much power, so it's not likely to overheat.
I won't buy an engine without sound. But, they drive me crazy if too many of them are sounding off at any one time, so I mute them, or I'll even do a hard F9 shutdown with the QSi's.
I have found that many decoders go silent on their own after a period of disuse, particularly the QSI's. They may continue their sounds while I am on the session, but if I haven't used them that session, and then come back the next day and power up, many of them won't power up. I must actually acquire them on the throttle by their addresses, and then they'll power up and resume sound operations. Soundtraxx, on the other hand, do the opposite, much to my annoyance. You can mute them, but they'll resume making sound if you have to correct a power interruping short, or when you next power up the layout.
An idle locomotive making sound is taking up power, so if you have guests running long trains you may want to mute the idle ones to conserve power for the ones being used.
I'm not sure what you mean when you say the "decoder must not let anything go...". The decoder has a type of memory that should store your settings indefinitely, on or off the tracks. If you do a hard shutdown using F9 with the QSI's, it's like putting the locomotive into a coma. It can hear you, but it can't move or speak. You must remember to press F6 to bring it out of the coma.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
When I originally designed my layout and started laying track, I still had DC on the brain. So, I insulated a couple of sidings here and there, and provided kill switches for my turntable tracks. After running DCC for a while, I found that I never shut the tracks off, though.
But now, I've got sound engines. I've turned the volume down, but they still chuff and hiss in the background. Sometimes it's just easier to park them and shut the track off, rather than muting the engines. For one thing, muted engines will come back to life after a shutdown on my Lenz, even if it's a "soft" all-stop from the throttle, or jumping back and forth between running and programming.
I recently picked up a BLI Hudson sound engine. This is one of those that needs too much juice to be able to program it on my programming track, so I'm forced to program it on the main. One warning that you have to remember about that - make sure there are no other locos on the main when you're doing this, or they will all be re-programmed. Yes, you can pick up all your other locos and move them off the track, but I find it easier to have "dead" tracks where I can park them while I do this sort of thing.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley wrote: I recently picked up a BLI Hudson sound engine. This is one of those that needs too much juice to be able to program it on my programming track, so I'm forced to program it on the main. One warning that you have to remember about that - make sure there are no other locos on the main when you're doing this, or they will all be re-programmed. Yes, you can pick up all your other locos and move them off the track, but I find it easier to have "dead" tracks where I can park them while I do this sort of thing.
I can program an individual loco on the main line without affecting any other loco's with my Prodigy Advance. What programming mode are you using?
When my UPPD was running on DC, the roundhouse tracks were controlled by a rotary switch. Apon switching to DCC I found this was still a good option as locos can be parked here completly dead. No sound, nothing.Works for this pike!
Cliffs UPPD railroad
Alan_B wrote:I can program an individual loco on the main line without affecting any other loco's with my Prodigy Advance. What programming mode are you using?
The Lenz doesn't let you set locomotive addresses in on-the-main programming mode. I'm pretty sure it can do other things on an individually-addressed basis, but not set the address. When you think about it, that's a reasonable restriction considering the havoc it could cause on a large layout if suddenly all the engines ended up with the same cab number.
Lotsa good information to consider. You can bet I marked this post for quick recall. Thanks everybody!
Jeffrey you have a pm sir!
MisterBeasley wrote:The Lenz doesn't let you set locomotive addresses in on-the-main programming mode.
But to answer the question of the thread. We shut down power in the locomotive facilities, just so someone doesn't accidentally dial up a loco number of one that is sitting there. It is amazing how many locomotive numbers end up being the same. Before power switches we ended up with several in the turntable pit.
nyc4me wrote:Jeffrey you have a pm sir!
DCC engines turned "off" still take some power, depending on the decoder. I find leaving 35 locos on the track, all in the 'Off" mode takes about 2/3 of an amp. Any additional accessory decoders will add to that amount. So, if power is no problem, let'em sit there, it shouldn't hurt the loco or the decoder, unless a rogue power surge hits.
Tilden
selector wrote: I'm not sure what you mean when you say the "decoder must not let anything go...". The decoder has a type of memory that should store your settings indefinitely, on or off the tracks. If you do a hard shutdown using F9 with the QSI's, it's like putting the locomotive into a coma. It can hear you, but it can't move or speak. You must remember to press F6 to bring it out of the coma.
Selector,
I'm a bit but.......
Couldn't let your last comment go without my . Like they say in the Guiness beer commercials, "Brilliant!". An analogy like that is truly appreciated by this DCC challenged forum member. Having been put into a coma by DCC that analogy was not only the aforementioned brilliant but and a and a . Unfortunately this forum member not having a F6 button affixed, my wife uses a splash of cold water to break my DCC induced coma. Good writing.
Jon
jondrd wrote: Selector, I'm a bit but....... Couldn't let your last comment go without my . Like they say in the Guiness beer commercials, "Brilliant!". An analogy like that is truly appreciated by this DCC challenged forum member. Having been put into a coma by DCC that analogy was not only the aforementioned brilliant but and a and a . Unfortunately this forum member not having a F6 button affixed, my wife uses a splash of cold water to break my DCC induced coma. Good writing. Jon
Thank-you for saying it, jondrd. It makes me feel good that I helped someone out, and if it happens to have been you....perfecto!
-Crandell
Back again after a work interruption. Selector, you hit the nail on the head when you answered my comment “decoder must not let anything go”. What I meant was yep, the decoder is in your coma and should not respond, i.e. don’t let the engine run out and do things. Yes, your wording was perfect as jondrd mentioned. I thought your one word answer “yes” was ok too, I just didn’t know if there was a big reason to kill power to both tracks or not. This dcc is still new to me but I’m alearnin’ with everybody’s help! I sorta look at this forum like we were standing around the club layout and these are the questions I’d ask. Thanks again everybody. I’ll be watching and learning and I’ll ask another weird question or two I’m sure.
One thing I am concerned about is good manners. I want you all to know I absolutely appreciate the good advice but don’t quite know the right means sometimes to be sure everyone recognizes my appreciation. Even if I don’t mention you by name, please know that I’d buy you a moon pie and rc next time we get together at the club.
selector wrote: >>> snip <<<<Soundtraxx, on the other hand, do the opposite, much to my annoyance. You can mute them, but they'll resume making sound if you have to correct a power interruping short, or when you next power up the layout.>>>> snip <<<<
>>> snip <<<<
Soundtraxx, on the other hand, do the opposite, much to my annoyance. You can mute them, but they'll resume making sound if you have to correct a power interruping short, or when you next power up the layout.
>>>> snip <<<<
All of my SoundTraxx decoders (an old DSD150, some DSX, some LCs, and several Tsunamis) have a "quiet bit" to prevent that. If it is set, when the layout is powered-up the sound does not come on automatically. It comes on when the decoder receives a speed or function command.
It's CV 113 in Tsunami and LC series, CV 53 in DSD-150 and DSX decoders. In both cases, any non-zero value works; in Tsunami, the size of the value controls when the sound is turned off when the decoder is idle (no movement, no lights on).