Hi,
I have a Proto 1000 RS11 locomotive that I just finished putting a Tsunami TSU-AT1000 (828044) decoder in. It really runs well and sounds great, but my problem is that it runs way to fast, even in speed step 1. I have tried slowing it down using Decoder Pro (changing speed tables) but that doesn’t seem to help. I have thought about installing a resistor in series with the motor to try to reduce the voltage to it, but thought I would seek the advice of the experts before trying this. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Al Behler
Make sure CV2 is set to 0. That controls the starting speed. With it set to 0, that's as slow as it can get st speed step 1. It it doesn;t even move, increase the value of CV2 a little bit at a time until you get it set to the smallest value that allows the loco to move reliably on speed step 1. That will be the best it can do.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
And don't forget that if you want to use speed tables you have to set CV25 as well as CV29. See the Tsunami manual starting at page 22, http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/tsunami_diesel_technical_reference_0213.pdf
You mentioned that you are using JMRI. I belong to the Yahoo group for JMRI and there was a recent thread where someone was having trouble getting his loco to accept speed tables. It was determined that the little radio button at the top of the speed table tab that you have to select "use speed tables" was missing from some recent versions of JMRI. Check to make sure that the version you have does have that "button".
Thanks Randy... CV2 is set to 0 and I'm still fast.
And THAT'S my biggest gripe about Soundtraxx decoders. I purchased a Stewart sound chassis for a VO-1000 switcher that was outfitted with a Tsanami a few months back. The low-speed response (even after adjusting) was waaaay too fast and horn was anemic, at best. I returned the chassis for a refund.
If it's possible, Al, see if you can return the Tsunami and pick up a Loksound Select or V4.0 decoder instead for your RS-11. You'll be much happier with the performance and sound. Loksound decoder have excellent motor control.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
There do seem to be some consistency issues - my Stewart FT with Tsunami runs as slow as my other Stewart F units with good non-sound decoders. I just don;t care for the sounds. My oldest Stewart Baldwin had a non-BEMF NCE decoder in it and with that top quality Canon motor and the well made drive train could move at tie counting speeds. The Loksound one is evry bit as good. Could be the BEMF needs fiddling with to work optimally with the Proto's motor.
Here you can read about Tsunami and how to set it to slow start speed (go down to part "I Can't Get My Loco to Run Well Slowly")
http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/soundtraxx/tsunami.htm
ESU has better drive control that Tsunami can not match, but if you follow this procedure, you can achieve good results with your Tsunami. Do not forget to turn off any speed tables with CV 29 first.
Above all what is explained in that procedure, you can also try to set BEMF intensity with CV 212, for even smoother running .
This procedure can be very time consuming and frustrating
Hrvoje
Thanks Hrvoje, Tried the 'Bruce' method and although very time consuming and frustrating, seems to be working just fine.
Al
You are welcome. I am glad to help, because I really spent a lot of time to get these Tsunami decoders to work properly, so I know they can be set up to achieve acceptable results.
Of course, there is more: Tsunami has "braking" function (usually on button 11, I re-map it to 7). Now the problem is if you get locomotive to run smoothly from step 0 to step 1 and vice versa (i.e. not starts and stops abruptly), then usually braking sound is present even if locomotive has already stopped. The cause for this is that for smooth start and stop, BEMF intensity should be decreased. Sometimes it is difficult to find fine balance between two goals: smooth start and stop, and proper brake sound deactivation.
In that case, sometimes just one value in CV 210 up or down can make a lot of difference. Also, although Bruce suggests to set CV2 = 0, in some cases, you can “help” a loco a bit setting CV2 on 1, 2 or 3 (depending on loco).
Another note: if gears and drivetrain in general is not perfect and smooth, then no decoder can bring locomotive to run smoothly. Then, especially while locomotive is driving very slowly, jerking and similar can happen and this can not be rectified. For example, Proto 2000 2-8-8-2 steam locomotive has smoothly running drivetrain, so with properly set Tsunami in that loco, it runs great. In some other locos, no matter what I did, similar result was not possible.
I have 4 locos with Tsunamis (3x Genesis built in and one New blue box self converted) and 1 with Tsunami SoundValue. And seems like my experience is just not typical- all are EXCELLENT low speed drivers. The SD70ACe is nothing short of amazing. Creepy creeper at step 1.
I had a similar problem with a recently installed Tsunami. You might find some useful information in Crandall's (Selector's) post in this thread. You will have to scroll down part way on page one to find it:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/216137.aspx?sort=ASC&pi314=2
One thing that I learned from this experience, which has long been stated as a basic requirement for decoder installation, is that the locomotive has to be running very well before you install the decoder. I thought I had a decent running engine (Bachmann Spectrum FM H16-44) but that turned out to not be the case when the decoder was installed.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hrvoje, One of the lessons I learned very early on was to insure the loco ran well on DC with no binding, motor hesitation, etc. If, as you know, you don't do this, a trail of grief will follow and the loco will never run well.Thanks againAl
I used to have a Proto 2000 PA1 that had high speed issues. Low speed? What was low speed? Oh, that's what the other locos were doing as the PA1 jumped off the line at speed step one and blew them all away on it's way to multi-warp speeds. I don't know why but Life-Like put a very high speed motor in those beasts. Putting a different motor in it slowed it right down so it ran like all the other locos. I later put that high speed motor into an Atlas GP40 and it ran at warp 6! With a Bachmann decoder yet!
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
Rather than using speed curves, try setting CV5 (top speed) and CV6 (midrange speed). If you haven't activated the speed curves, they really will have no effect. Try making CV5 100 and CV6 50 and see what happens. I have several engines with Tsunamis, all run great at slow speed but it can take a while to get all the settings correct.
I have 7 diesels with Tsunami's. I use Decoder Pro to set the speed tables. On the graph page of the speed table, I set the right # to around 120, the hit the match ends button. Make sure the use user speed table button is selected. I also set forward and reverse trim to 120. My switchers run 30SMP at top speed. Joe
Dave and his advise are sage. I purchased a 70's brass HOn3 K-28 mike by United (PFM). It had an old Pittman motor and ran just like a 70's brass engine. (terrible)
I had to fight with two different can motors and the gearing to get it to run well on DC.
It was worth the heavy effort, making sure it was a decent runner on DC. As a result, the TSU750 Tsunami D&RGW steam sound controller and super bass speaker that I shoe-horned into the tiny tender worked flawlessly first time and it's a crawler, too. No fiddling with speed tables or any motion based CV's needed.
LocoDoc is the man to see about remotoring these nice old HOn3 60's-80's brass jewels.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
Tsunamis don't do CV6 for mid speed. One of my major gripes. There's almost no need to resort to full 28 step speed tables to speed match locos, IF they support all 3 CVs. But - not on Tsunami. I realize it's optional per NMRA specs, but by the time Tsunami was released almost every decoder had it, even very low cost ones. Makes things much easier, and no issues with interpolation when the system actually uses 128 speed steps (default for Digitrax).
wjstix Rather than using speed curves, try setting CV5 (top speed) and CV6 (midrange speed). If you haven't activated the speed curves, they really will have no effect. Try making CV5 100 and CV6 50 and see what happens. I have several engines with Tsunamis, all run great at slow speed but it can take a while to get all the settings correct.