Antbody have any tips on how to get athearn Locos (Dash 9’s & Ac4400’s) to run together in a consist, I have them all under the same number, and they seem to push and pull each other all around the layout sometimes causing derailments, while my katos seem to work as a team?
Two things that might work, first put the fastest locomotive in the lead, if this does not work, then you might want to consider fine tuning the speed curve for each locomotive. You can hook up a computer to the internet and download DecoderPro (it’s free)…(It won’t work though if you’re system is either an MRC, Atlas or Bachman DCC system) Hook it up to your system and speed match the locomotives by adjusting the speed curve for each locomotive until they all run together at the same top end and low speed end of the curve. Your going to need a computer port for your system which runs about $60 and in a worse case, you’ll have to build your own computer wiring harness to link your computer to your DCC system if your computer isn’t equipped with a serial port. …chuck
Although not an expert, I too have been consisting my different locos recently. I did not put them under the same number but kept their original numbers and used the consist set up on my dcc system [NCE]. Still if the engines are not really compatibe changing CV2 the start CV and CV5 the top speed cv will make the engines work together. The CV2 on my engines is set to start the engines at step 1 on the controler and CV5 is set at about 75% of top speed step [ 75% of 255 ]. The rest of the speed curve is automatically adjusted or you can use a computer hookup if you are really into it. For me just setting the two cv’s #2 and #5 has worked well. Now I have set up almost all my engines this way keeping it simple. Of course there are a few balky ones that need additional adjustment and decoders allow for this with additional adjustments available using other cv’s. Think of these in the same way as the old pulse power on better DC power sources. They give a kick to some motors at slow speeds to get them going and you can vary the intensity and number of kicks a motor gets. If it all sounds a little complicated and over the top don’t let be. Just take one simple step at a time and remember you can always reset the decoder to factory settings and try again. With the two fine running engines you have the two cv’s [cv2 start and cv5 top speed] should more than do the trick. Let us know how you suceed, we are all learning from each other.
The problem I had with them was the couplers were not long enought and when they went around a turn the locos would bind up and catch the railling and derail. I install longer couplers.
I believe MR had an article on how to set up your speed steps in there DCC corner just a couple of issues ago, having a computer is helpful but I think you can do it with a just a stop watch and a long section of track .
bill
No, you don’t need a computer, although it may be easier for some to use Decoder Pro, but not required. All you really need is a DCC system to set CVs.
I find the easiest way is to first set both engines’ acceleration and deceleration to zero, temporarily.
Then place them on side-by-side striaght and level tracks, if possible. If not, on a fairly long straight but well apart.
Then set up a consist (the “advanced” type, not with the same address for each engine). Run the (disconnected) consist at various speeds to see which engine is slower, and adjust the faster one down. One may be a bit slower at low speed, another at higher speeds. You’ll need to find a reasonable compromise. Especially if they’re diesels that may run forward-to-reverse, check in both directions.
Once you get the speeds close, use a similar procedure for acceleration and deceleration.