Speed: DCC Spectrum sound ready and sound on board locos are too fast

[railexpert]

Hello,

I had a problem with the speed of my On30 Heisler and other sound ready with sound modules or sound on board locos from Bachmann Spectrum.
 
-----The locos are too fast if the throttle is full.---

Because they have build in Tsunami DCC and Sound I wrote to Soundtraxx.

George from Soundtraxx answered:
The original Tsunami did not support CV5 (Vhigh) or CV6 (Vmid). To slow the motor, you can play with the bemf settings in CV209 & 210, or build a custom speed table in CVs 66-95. If using this option, be sure to enable alternate speed tables in CV29 and select the user adjustable table by setting CV25 to 16.
The new Hyperdrive2 in the Econami and Tsunami2 do support CV 5 & 6.
I hope this helps.....


The solution for my Heisler was the following:

Step 1 Tsunami Manual and CV Default Register for each loco
Download the Spectrum Tsunami Manual
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/SPECTRUMSTEAMSOUNDUSERSGUIDE(TsunamiSoundDecoder).pdf

and the CV default Register for the Heisler from Soundtraxx homepage
http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM_pages/bachmann/bachmann.php

There you can learn what happens if you alter the CV-Values and see the default values.

Step 2 Speed table
For reducing the speed I build a custom Speed table for CVs 67-94 in 28 steps in an Exel-sheet. (See Steam sound users guide at page 18.)

I set for my speed table
CV67 = 5,
CV68 = 10,
CV69 = 15
in value steps of 5 at all CVs till
CV93 = 135,
CV94 = 140.

CV94 default value is 255, so value 140 reduce Vhigh to ~50%

If you make value steps with 6 it will be a reduction to ~66% Vhigh.
If you make value steps with 7 it will be a reduction to ~75% Vhigh.

Step 3 Switch on speed table
Then I set CV 25 to 16 and CV29 to 22 to switch on the speed table.

Step 4 Chuff Rate
At least I set the "chuff rate" CV116 = 20.

My Heisler runs now smooth with an adequate speed and sounds fine.


extra Step 5 Lights
The Heisler, as delivered it is not set up for directional lights & the dimming feature does not work. For directional lights and dimming feature I altered the following

CV       new value
CV33 =1
CV34 =2
CV49 =129
CV50 =129
CV39 =128

With these settings the loco should then have directional lights and they are dimmable using F9.


You can make this with all locos, which have Tsunami DCC and Sound.

I read and program CVs with Bachmann Dynamis Pro DCC system.

I hope this is helpful for you.

Railexpert

[Hunt]

Suggest  in Step 3 – instead of CV 29 = 22 using CV 29 = 18, which changes the decoder from a dual mode (DCC or DC) to using DCC only.



The Bachmann On30 Heisler appropriately does not come with directional lighting enabled. The lamps on the model appear to be carbide-fueled type. Directional lighting would require the crew to go back and forth extinguishing and igniting the lamps every time the direction of the locomotive changed.  Thus once ignited lamps would remain lit.

[Hunt]

railexpert,

User Loadable Speed Table (#16) is defined by the value in CV 67 through CV 94. The resulting 28 point speed curve can be adjusted by CV 66 Forward Trim and CV 95 Reverse Trim.  The purpose of the Trim feature is to fine tune the speed table without having to calculate and reenter each CV value in CV 67 through CV94.

Believe you meant to write (not CVs 66- 95) but CVs 67- 94 as follows,

Step 2 Speed table
For reducing the speed I build a custom Speed table for CVs 67-94 in 28 steps in an Excel-sheet. (See Steam sound users guide at page 18.)

I set for my speed table
CV67 = 5,
CV68 = 10
in value steps of 5 at all CVs till
CV93 = 135,
CV94 = 140.



Leaving CV 66 and CV 95 = 128 (the default value, meaning no adjustment)

[railexpert]

Thank you Hunt,

You're right. The information in the mail from George led to a write error.
I have patched the writing error in my post.

Railexpert