Consist question

[hwolf]

I have two engine that I want to run together. If I match there speed, one is running at 60mph on the throttle and the other is at 80mph.

I am running a MRC Controller. If I use the consist setting on the MRC how are they running at the same speed?  I don't want to hirt one of the engines trying to pull the other at the wrong speed.

Harold

[cowman]

I'm not familiar with the MRC controller but if your locos are going at the same speed on the tracks is what is important.  The speed on the controller is only a guide.  Be sure that they are running at the same speed throughtout the full speed range.  To check mine I run the two locos a few inches apart several times around the layout.

Good luck,

Richard 

[betamax]

hwolf

I have two engine that I want to run together. If I match there speed, one is running at 60mph on the throttle and the other is at 80mph.

I am running a MRC Controller. If I use the consist setting on the MRC how are they running at the same speed?  I don't want to hirt one of the engines trying to pull the other at the wrong speed.

Harold

 

 

First, you will need to match the speed of each locomotive. There are CVs in the decoder which allow that, if the decoder supports those features. Back EMF may also introduce some issues. The decoder may (or may not) include a speed table which allows finer adjustements.

Speed Matching

Consisting

The speed is controlled within the decoder, not by the controller. It just sends a command to use this speed step, the actual speed is determined by the decoder, motor, and gearing. Even two identical models can have slight differences.

[jjdamnit]

Hello All,

hwolf

I have two engine(s) that I want to run together. If I match there (SIC) speed, one is running at 60mph on the throttle and the other is at 80mph.

What you are describing is not "speed matching."

If they are truly "speed matched" they will both run at the same speed at the same throttle settings, whether consisted or not.

A component of "speed matching" is the setting of the Voltage Start (V Start; CV 02), Voltage Mid (V Mid; CV 06) and Voltage Max (V Max; CV 05).

The decoder(s) need to support these CVs for accurate speed-matching. Some older or inexpensive decoders don't support these CVs.

There are many videos on YouTube describing how to speed match using the above CVs.

hwolf

If I use the consist setting on the MRC how are they running at the same speed?

Do you know what method of consisting MRC uses: Basic, Universal, or Advanced (this has nothing to do with speed matching)?

• Basic Consisting: When all locomotives have the same address.
• Universal Consisting: The command station stores the consist information. The DCC system must support this type of consisting.
• Advanced Consisting: The decoders store the consist information in CV 19- -which must be supported by the decoder, not the command station. 

I suspect the MRC system uses some form of Universal consisting.

An e-mail or phone call to them will clarify this question.

Each method has its pros and cons.

Different manufacturers handle consisting slightly different. I chose NCE because of the way it handles making and breaking consists.

Hope this helps.

[MisterBeasley]

I have an old Lenz system which still works well.  I have identified pairs of engines I run together and speed-matched those, generally using the CVs to get what I want.  Generally, these are a pair of Walthers geeps or a pair of Athearn F units.  They match up well.

I put the slightly faster engine in front if I can't get them close enough so all the couplers are being stretched, not pushed together.

I have found that the Bachmann "sound value" decoders do not support the momentum CVs, so I play with the Vstart, Vmid and Vhigh CVs to get rid of the jumpy jackrabbit starts of these engines.  Since those engines are a Mikado and a GG-1, there's not much danger getting either in a consist.