MU'ing DCC Question

[Anonymous]

Hello [:)]
Is it possible that I could run a A-B-B-A consist of locos as two addresses instead of four?

This would seem to be the easy way of finding a loco that a DCC system could of dropped from the system?

Any suggestions? Is this a safe thing to do?

[jeffshultz]

Now that's an interesting question - you could set up a decoder consist between the A-B locomotives, and then a controller consist between thelead addresses for the two consists.

It doesn't seem dangerous. As for being able to do it...

...I have no idea. Why did you want to do this again? Does your DCC system lose locomotives frequently?

[RedGrey62]

Should be no problem. Set the first A-B locos to the same address and the second A-B set to teh same address but different from teh first set. Then use teh advance consisting feature and simply MU tthe two addresses (4 locos) together.

Rick

[dehusman]

Why are you trying to do this? Why not just MU all 4 locomotives together?

The latest version of NCE will allow you to enter the first and last engine in the consist, so if you dial up the first engine or the last engine you can control the whole consist.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

Why are you trying to do this? Why not just MU all 4 locomotives together?

Just a precautionary, it will save me the grief of finding the dropped loco. And I'll be able to prevent flat wheels[xx(] easier.

[cacole]

I've done it both ways -- individual decoder addresses for all four units, and then just assigned them to a consist. I've also ran up to 9 P2K GP-9s as a single consist. Another option is to give all of the locomotives the same address and run them that way.

[Anonymous]

You should be able to do what you want to do. I have given powered A & B units the same address, and then MU the other pair of similarly addressed engines to the first pair. The system sees it as 2 units instead of 4. My system is a Lenz 100.

[dehusman]

Why do you think you will "lose" the locomotive?

Once you build the consist, it stays built (until you drop cancel it).

If you assign the same number to the A and B units they they are married forever. You can't set out a unit (and make an A-B-A set for instance) unless you completely remove it from the layout.

Dave H.

[rrinker]

You can certainly build 'consists of consists' - consists an A and B together, then seperately consist the other A and B. Then create a third consists which uses the consist addresses of the first pair and second pair. Bingo, all 4 operating together, and when you break up that consist you still have the two pairs operating together.

--Randy

[johncolley]

Don't forget to program the locos individually for direction, horn bell, etcetera. Because some of the locos will need to face backwards while the consist is going forward. I have also found with my pair of BLI E-7's the having the bell on just the lead unit avoids a common problem of them going out of sync. But having both horns operate is a neat effect as their tones are slightly different. The second unit is going backwards. Check your manual I think it is how you configure CV 29.

[jfugate]

Consisting in the decoder uses CV19.

If you have a loco with an address of 4432 and another with an address of 3805, you can consist them both together by putting 32 in CV19. Now whenever you assign your DCC throttle to loco 32, you get the consist 32.

If you want 3805 to run backwards, add 128 to 32 (160) and put that in CV19.