Do CV 2, 5, 6, 116, and 117 hold their values on each individual locomotive when they are placed in a consist?
Edit: Advanced Consist
EDIT: see my second post for second question.
Yes, but some decoders have additional CVs for use when consisted.
–Randy
I attempted to consist an Intermountain FT DCC Sound with a Proto 2000 GP-7 (P2KSR decoder installed). The Proto 2K GP-7 was being dragged by the FT at speed step 1. I did not have both units perfectly speed matched, but the GP-7 moves on its own on step 1. When consisted it doesnt run at all.
I regularly MU locos from Atlas, Life Like Proto 2000, and Athearn. All are speed matched to each other. All have sound. They work fine together. But the sound of the prime mover only revs up on the TOP loco in the consist while the other two have the prime mover sound remain at idle no matter which loco is the TOP loco. I use the Universal consist mode with Digitrax. I have heard something about problems with back emf when consisting.
People say that if you consist locos with BEMF enabled they will fight each other. After running the same set of locos, all with BEMF, at numerous club shows for hours at a time - I say hogwash.
The "issue’ I think comes from using Digitrax decoders on a non-Digitrax system. Digitrax BEMF settings have 2 values - one for runnign solo and oen for running in consist - ADVANCED consist, using CV19. Digitrax systems typically do not use CV19 consisting, so the locos runt he same as they do solo. But if you use the same loco on a system that does use CV19, the BEMF settings likely are not the same when in consist, so the loco doesn’t start like it did solo, or runs at slightly different speeds, or maybe had too much BEMF, which would make it jerk around.
Prime mover sounds should run all all locos using Digitrax consisting. Each loco gets a throttle up command as you move. However, hitting F2 should only sound the horn on the TOP loco since the F2 on/off only gets sent to the top loco although if you dial the address of any of the consisted locos on the left knob of a DT40x throttle, you can control functions on that unit independent of the top loco.
–Randy
Its not that they are fighting one another. The GP-7 is acting like someone cut one side of the power pick up wires. No lights in either direction and no hint of motor turning. When it is deleted out of consist it responds to commands and operates normally.
Do they run anywhere near the same speed on step 1 when not consisted? I am not aware of any difference in the NCE decoder if in consists vs running alone like the bemf setting in Digitrax decoders.
–Randy
No they do not. The Proto 2000 GP-7 is using continuous full strength kick to get it to move (CV 116 and 117, hence the original post question). The Intermountain FT is using factory default settings. I was attempting to run them uncoupled on parallel tracks to speed match them. Also the FT is using whatever decoder that Intermountain puts in their DCC/sound locomotives. The Proto 2000 is using a P2KSR from NCE.
Whichever one runs slower on step 1, you will have to raise cv2 so it moves as fast as the faster one.
ive had NCE decoders in Proto locks and they did not need the kick start maxed out to move. You might want to back that off and use cv2 to get it to start on step 1. I now use TCS decoders for everything not sound, and their automatic bemf seems to get along fine with Tsunami and Loksound bemf.
–Randy
But its not moving at all in consist. The FT is wide open the GP just sits there. This is the problem Im trying to solve.
It sounds to me that the GP doesn’t recognize that it is in a consist.
I suggest that you clear out the consist from the command station. Then address each loco separately, access CV 19, and set that CV to a value of zero. Then check to see that the GP runs at whatever loco address you had assigned to it. If it runs at that point, then you can try re-consisting. If it does not run, then take the loco and put it on the programming track. Read the value of CV 19. If it has the proper consist address then let us know that. If it still has a value of zero, then the decoder is not accepting the consisting command, or you are doing something incorrectly during the programming process. Let us know.
So, was this problem solved, did it just go away, or haven’t you got a round to-it?
Sorry, havent gotten around to it. Other things have taken a priorty, but its on the short “to do” list rather than the long one. Have to get 4 new modules operable for the Amherst show in Springfield, MA. I hope to have this resolved before then as well.