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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Jul 7, 2015 14:07:08 GMT -8
Curious of CV settings to eliminate the engine start sequence every time loco hits a dust spot. I know, keeping my track cleaner would help, but engine start sequence on my Alco rsd15 is about 15 secconds and it gets bothersome to try and do some switching with a constantly resetting engine. I find the Loksound manual to be less than intuitive to me for some things.
Not sure where I'd have room for a keep alive of some sort.
Thanks for any information.
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Post by Mark R. on Jul 7, 2015 17:45:20 GMT -8
Loksound decoders have sufficient onboard capacitance to prevent the decoder from restarting during very small interruptions.
I would first make sure that all wheels are indeed picking up power - I've come across a few engines where one side of one truck wasn't picking up power due to a broken connection. Once you verify that, make sure your wheels are clean. And lastly, and most obvious - you need to keep your track clean. DCC is much more sensitive to power drops than DC ever was. If everything is clean and picking up power properly, this drop out will no longer be a concern.
Adding a stay alive module will alleviate the problem temporarily. If your track is dirty enough now for the sound to be dropping out, it will just continue to get dirtier to the point a stay alive module won't even be able to keep up .... then you'll really have your work cut out for you !
To address your CV question .... there isn't one. Every time a decoder loses power long enough to span the small amount of capacitance on the board, it reverts to its check-sum process. This means it acts like it would as if you are placing the engine on the rails. It detects which functions were turned on when it lost power and will restore those settings from memory. Since F8 is activated when it lost power, it will act as if F8 is being turned on for the first time - hence the start-up sequence. Same goes for the throttle position - it will remember the speed step when power was lost and will restart at the same speed step.
Mark.
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Jul 7, 2015 20:40:07 GMT -8
Am well aware of the track being dirty on my layout as it is under construction, was just hoping there might be a way to avoid such a long restart. I'll have to check the power pickup efficiency on my engine (BLI RSD-15).
Mark, thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
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Post by nebrzephyr on Jul 8, 2015 5:51:59 GMT -8
Just add a small comment to Mark's reply. I have found the LOKSound 4 to be much more forgiving to small power interruptions than Tsunami. I have a couple switches that just don't like out-of-the box Tsunami. But the Fox Valley GP60 will go across and not even hesitate.
Bob
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Post by jonklein611 on Jul 8, 2015 9:25:13 GMT -8
Typically if you have it at a speed setting of 01 or higher, it "skips" the startup sequence. At least it works that way with the Rapidos and Katos I have with LokSound
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Post by davidmbedard on Jul 12, 2015 16:25:29 GMT -8
Curious of CV settings to eliminate the engine start sequence every time loco hits a dust spot. I know, keeping my track cleaner would help, but engine start sequence on my Alco rsd15 is about 15 secconds and it gets bothersome to try and do some switching with a constantly resetting engine. I find the Loksound manual to be less than intuitive to me for some things. Not sure where I'd have room for a keep alive of some sort. Thanks for any information. Have you considered adding a keep alive to your loco? It will make these little power interuptions a non issue. David B |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Jul 17, 2015 14:20:03 GMT -8
Just exploring options. $$ can be. A factor. Not sure kal would fit in my gator w/out surgery.
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Post by loosecannon68 on Jul 30, 2015 12:12:53 GMT -8
I have aa Athearn RTR RS3 that I put a Lok Select Direct in. Constant trouble with power interruptions. Had it apart 20 times soldering resoldering relpacing wires soldered a wire to the truck frame etc etc. the only thing that worked was a keep alive. Works fine now.
Cleaned track, replaced entire turnouts, soldered more railjoiners. Nothing else worked.
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Post by Mark R. on Jul 30, 2015 17:17:56 GMT -8
I have aa Athearn RTR RS3 that I put a Lok Select Direct in. Constant trouble with power interruptions. Had it apart 20 times soldering resoldering relpacing wires soldered a wire to the truck frame etc etc. the only thing that worked was a keep alive. Works fine now. Cleaned track, replaced entire turnouts, soldered more railjoiners. Nothing else worked. Did you clean the slots the bronze axle bushings ride in ? Athearn is notorious for getting paint in the slot when they paint the metal sides. Scape them clean with an x-acto blade - makes a big difference. Mark. |
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Post by loosecannon68 on Jul 31, 2015 7:50:34 GMT -8
I did do that too. I searched the Net looking for answers and that was a suggestion. Maybe I wasn't thorough enough. I really did have it apart 20 times. Almost made me want to go back to DC ! Haha.
Also cleaned those bushings with degreaser.
I soldered a track pick up wire to the rivet on the metal truck frame. Couldn't get it to solder to the truck frame plate even though I took the blackened coating off with a fiberglass brush. Soldered to the rivet easily.
-Chris G.
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Post by bnsf971 on Jul 31, 2015 16:58:34 GMT -8
There is an option to eliminate the startup delay. Not sure if the startup sound sequence would be affected, but motion should be more consistent.
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Post by loosecannon68 on Jul 31, 2015 18:23:53 GMT -8
The startup sound is not affected by changing the start up movement delay. I've had both programmed.
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