Fairly new to DCC use. Just reprogramed loco addres on several units. Now a couple of them have to be advanced to 15 to 20 mph before they start moving. Want to know which CV I screwed up and how to fix it!!![xx(]
Hi Fritz, welcome to the forum. What Digitrax system do you have? Not relevent to the solution, but curious none the less. Look in the documentation for the decoders you are using. You will see that most decoders will have a CV for start voltage CV02 This can be adjusted. If you have not done so already and you are interested in programming decoders I would strongly suggest you get a PC interface for the Digitrax system. The new locobuffer USB http://www.rr-cirkits.com/locobuffer-usb/LB-usb-flyer.pdf is designed to work with the Digitrax Loconet. Couple this with an spare PC and the free decoder pro application http://jmri.sourceforge.net/ and you wont beleive how easy decoder programming becomes. Also, if you are not a member, I would suggest joining the Digitrax yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digitrax/ there you will find a very high density of helpful Digitrax experience.
Thanks for the reply. CV02 is set to 02 on both units I have the problem with. Was hoping there was another CV I am missing. Not really interested in getting in to a complete reprogram via computer. Would probably end up pushing my trains around the track.
I have the Super Empire Builder system. Happy with it all in all. Have trouble from time to time when first powering up but still learning about it.
Go to the Digitrax web site and download their Mobile Decoder User Manual – it lists all of the NMRA-compliant CVs used by (nearly) all decoder manufacturers. Some of the cheaper decoders don’t fully comply, but Digitrax, NCE, TCS, and Lenz certainly do.
Also remember the numbers on the throttle display are NOT MPH, simply a percentage of throttle. If the loco doesn’t start moving until that high of a seting, if could be that it needs a HIGHER start voltage in CV02. I like to adjust my locos so they start crawling at 1 or 2 on the throttle. The actual speed at which is starts that movement is not the same for all locos - it depends on the quality of the motor, the drive train, and the decoder’s low-speed capability.
–Randy
CV 02 needs to be set nearer to a value of 35-40 for most lococs, depending on the drive and newness of the unit. For example, BLI steamers are very tight when they are new, even if you lubricate them, and they take about 10 hours of break-in (no, I’m not kidding). Therefore, initially, you must set CV 02 HIGHER than 40 to get the loco to begin to crawl at a speed setting of “1” on your dial. Fiddle with it. Later, as the loco ages, you will probably be able to reduce that setting to nearer the 37 value that the factory sets for you when you first recieve it.
Thanks for all the help. I reset CV2 to about 40 as suggested, now my BLI Pennsy K4 literally crawls away from the station at a throttle setting of 2 - 3 which I am happy with.