DCC Sound Value On Board Golden Spike 4-4-0 automatic start stop whistle blasts

[edpb]

For Hunt —

I went to my favorite hobby shop and bought a NCE Power Cab and I'm using that to read CV values.

In my Jupiter 4-4-0 I found CV 193 = 005, CV 194 = 010, CV 198 = 006.  I think that I put those values in.  When I get the 119 on the track I can read the factory values.

Now the Jupiter toots on startup at speed step 1 and also when it stops.  The bell turns on at speed step 2 and turns off at speed step 3.  I have not gone through the loco setup procedure yet.  I just got the cab out of the box a little while ago and read the CVs first thing.  I think that the cab may be set for 28 speed steps.

[JLK2707]

Sounds just so great!:)

[Len]

One nice thing about the Power Cab is you can use it to see how much current your layout overall, or a specific locomotive, is drawing. To termporarily replace the clock with an amp readout:

a) In the lower left corner of the Power Cab keypad press the Program / Escape  (PROG/ESC) key 6 times.
Note:  You are looking for "SET CAB PARAMS" 

b) Press "ENTER" key.

c) Display will now say: "SHOW TRK CURRENT 1=Y".

d) Press "1" key.

e) Press PROG/ESC key 2 times to get back to the main screen.

To check the current draw of a specific loco, remove all other locos and lighted cars from the layout. Run the loco being tested around the layout, taking note of the current draw. Particularly on grades, if any. You might want to record the info for each loco in a notebook for future troubleshooting reference.

Powering the Cab down will restore the clock the next time it's powered up.

Len

[edpb]

Thanks, Len -- I will try that.

I have been experimenting with the NCE Power Cab and my Bachmann new tooling 4-4-0 Jupiter.  The Jupiter now turns on the bell at startup (speed step 1) and it goes off at speed step 6 (step 5 gives about 7 scale mph). 

Some unexpected things have turned up while I have been experimenting.  The Power cab can't set a speed step higher than 28.  The Power Cab manual says that "128 speed mode is always enabled in decoders that support 128 speed step operation."  So I have learned something disappointing about the Sound Value decoder.  The other thing is that after some of my experimenting, turning on the headlight always brings out one short toot from the whistle.  Turning the headlight off goes quietly.

Overall, the Jupiter now can go about one scale mph at speed step one, it accelerates a litlle bit jerkily but steadily from slower speed to faster speed, and decelerates fairly nicely also.  The automatic whistle toots are always produced at the right time.  And I told you the good news about the bell.

When I get the 4-4-0 119 on the track I will look into the factory defaults for the CV values that Hunt helped me with.

[Hunt]

An aside  >

. . .

  The Power cab can't set a speed step higher than 28. 

. . .

The Power Cab can send either 28 or 128 speed steps to the decoder.

What Power Cab version do you have?

Version 1.65 - Pressing the 128/28 button displays in the Cab LCD  speed step mode  in use with the  active locomotive's decoder. 

Use the 128/28 button to toggle between 128 and 28.  Press the Enter button to use speed step in display. 

Suggest using 128. 

[edpb]

Well, Hunt, I would be lost without you reading my posts and replying.  The Power Cab manual told me that I don't have to program anything to have 128 speed steps.  It just didn't tell me about that button at the bottom of the cab, the one that was right under my nose and the one that I might never have seen if you hadn't told me that there is one.  It will be fun tomorrow to see what difference that makes in operation.  I'm up too late to find out now.

My cab is version 1.65.

Edit:  And I should apologize to the decoder.  It wasn't its fault.

I also apologize to the Power Cab manual.  The button is explained on Page 18.

[Gearedenginefreak]

Check your cab version carefully. If it is 1.65, there is a firmware issue that if you ever do a cab reset, you will lose permanently some of the benefits of 1.65 and it will revert to 1.28 parameters for some functionality. - ( like maximum number of cabs and a few other things, but it will still operate teains).  But it will still report as 1.65.  If it is 1.65b, then no worries and you are on the latest firmware. You can purchase a firmware chip upgrade from NCE direct on their website or from some dealers.  Its about $35 or maybe less.
Just passing that on....

[edpb]

Thank you, Gearedenginefreak, for that information.  The title page of my manual says V 1.65 and Copyright 2012 and I think that means my Power Cab is not the b upgrade.

A year ago in May my son, who lives in San Jose, my grandson and his Dad, and I took a ride on the Roaring Camp Railroad near Santa Cruz.  Before and after our ride into the redwoods, I walked alongside the shay as it returned from the trip before ours and then as it left on the next trip.  I couldn't get enough of watching the drive system.

Oops — Copyright 2010.

Oops again — the online manual says 2010.  My manual says 2012.

No oops this time, just good news.  Just now I plugged in my cab and for the first time I watched the screen as it powered up.  The second screen displayed said V 1.65B.

[Gearedenginefreak]

Yup, those shays and climax and heisler engines are a wonder to watch and listen to.

The manuals and documentation for the power cab make no distinction (or very little) between 1.65 and 1.65b.
Glad your power up showed the 1.65b firmware. You are good to go.

I would not have known about the difference except that I joined the nce group on groups.io and I read everything that comes through there.

Enjoy!

[Hunt]

. . .

Well, Hunt, I would be lost without you reading my posts and replying.

. . .  

edpd,

You cannot depend on me read your posts as I no longer visit here very often. In fact, this thread was called to my attention.



FYI - Reset Sound Value Decoder, do not use RECOVERYPROGRAMMING (OPTION 7) on page 54 of the Power Cab System Reference Manual but use the following.

Resetting a Bachmann locomotive factory equipped with Sound Decoder CVs to their factory default value using NCE Power Cab is a two-step procedure.

   1)  CV 8, enter  8   (can use either PROGRAM TRACK  or PRORAM ON MAIN procedure )
   2)  Cycle power to the decoder by turning power to the track off, wait 10 seconds then turn power back on

After about six-seconds upon restoring power the headlight and backup light will blink simultaneously 16 times indicating that the CVs were successfully reset. However, if sound or lights come on immediately upon restoring power, the decoder did not successfully reset. Repeat the two-step procedure.


Alternate method to turning power off and back on to track.
Carefully tilt locomotive and tender to the side until all wheels loose contact with one rail. Hold the tilted position for at least 10 seconds.  Now lower locomotive and tender back to normal position on rail.

[edpb]

Hunt, I'm grateful that you decided to take a look.  You have helped me a lot. Now I am seriously trying to get away from my attitude of, "forget the manual, let's see what this thing can do."  Now I am committed to reading the manual from the beginning, a little at a time, and learning to use what I am learning, just skipping parts that I know I will not use very soon, like accessories.

Thanks for that reset procedure.  I will print that and put it into the manual.

[Hunt]

edpd,

You cannot depend on me read your posts as I no longer visit here very often. In fact, this thread was called to my attention.

Clarification ---  in above quote,  "this thread"  is referring to your post, which started DCC Sound Value On Board Golden Spike 4-4-0 automatic start stop whistle blasts is what was called to my attention, not to the information I gave about  resetting the Sound Value decoder.

[edpb]

ok, Hunt,  got it.  Actually, that's what I thought.

[Hunt]

Follow-up

. . .


Factory decoder default value
CV 198, Digital Mode Automatic Sound Configuration = 0
CV 193, Automatic Bell On Set Point  = 5
CV 194, Automatic Bell Off Set Point = 10 (documentation for HO 4-4-0 list default value as 12)

edph,

CV 194, Automatic Bell Off Set Point = 10 (documentation for HO 4-4-0 list default value as 12)

Should you do a decoder reset using CV8 enter 8   - read CV 194, Automatic Bell Off Set Point. I expect you to find CV 194 =  12 not 10.

However,  this decoder's supported CV documentation is one awaiting update as it does have a few discrepancies  between what is in the decoder and its documentation.  Example,
    CV 213 Motor Control Sample Period  in documentation value is listed as 8
         Read the decoder  -  default value is 1

Click Here for Bachmann HO 4-4-0 Sound Value Equipped documentation

BTW should this document be corrected after today 6/13/2013 hopefully all discrepancies will be corrected.

[graywolf]

Thanks Hunt for the info. Programmed my USRA 4-6-2 with the parameters you mentioned 198=6, 193=5,194=10 and it works great. Bell on till 10 and when engine stops one short toot on the horn. If you come up with more suggestions for the Sound value engines I'd be happy to try them. Thanks again, Paul