No Autotune for Rapido RDC

[edwardsutorik]

I just tried to do Autotune on a Rapido RDC. When I pressed "1", it just sat there with the bell ringing.

I've done this process a couple of times before on other locos, and it worked fine on them.

Has anyone else run into this problem? That is: Autotune doesn't work.



Ed

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Not familiar with autotune...

[canrailfan]

Aug 28, 2019 19:03:09 GMT -8 kentuckysouthernrwy said:

Not familiar with autotune...

"Autotune" is a feature of most ESU Loksound and Lokpilot decoders.

Here's the relevant instruction from a Loksound Select manual:

_______________________________________________________________________________
5.2.4.3. Automatic Adjustment

LokSound Select decoders have an Automatic Motor Tuning Feature. This feature
will automatically adjust the Back-EMF in most cases. This is not meant to be
a “cure all” solution. This will only get the settings close. There still may
need to be some manual adjustments made.

In order to use this automatic adjustment you will first need to set CV 54 to
a value of 0. Then put your locomotive on the layout and activate F1. Be sure
to have plenty of clear space ahead of your locomotive. Your locomotive will
quickly take off at full speed and gradually slow down to a stop while reading
the motor responses. This will automatically set the load compensation in
CVs 52, CV 53, CV 54, and CV 55. From here you can make any other manual
adjustments if needed.
_______________________________________________________________________________

The locomotive will run forward about 6 feet and stop. In almost all cases the
slow speed performance at speed step 1 is noticeably smoother. Occasionally, if
there is bind in the mechanism or some other mechanical problem, this procedure
won't help.

In my experience Autotune has worked well. If the procedure is done when the
locomotive is new it sometimes is helpful to redo it once the locomotive has
been broken in for several hours.

Ed's problem with the RDC is interesting because there are also reports that
the feature is not working correctly on some of the new Royal Hudsons. Rapido
is advising customer to not use Autotune on the Royal Hudsons.

Perhaps this is a bug in the V5 decoders?

[edwardsutorik]

THAT would be too bad.

I autotuned a Geep that I installed Loksound in, and also an Intermountain 4-8-8-2. Both experienced improved running qualities. In particular, a low-speed cogging effect was MUCH diminished.

Thanks for the info, David. I was wondering if it was a problem with my single unit--apparently not.

So. If the Royal Hudsons are having a similar problem, then they should just be experiencing a continuous bell sound, instead of charging forward as usual.

By the way, for those who haven't experienced Autotune, it's quite scary when that darn loco does its full speed charge. The length of the charge, so far, is about 4 feet.


Ed (proud owner of a V5 decoder that may have been released too early)

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Thanks for the clarification. I’ve done that with most of my Loksound equipped stuff. I just wasn’t familiar with the Autotune name. I don’t recall if I tried it with the RDC I had or not. I ended up selling the RDC and counterintuitive to most folks here, bought a RDC decoder from Rapido and put it in a Proto 1000 RDC. I was real nervous about the Rapido RDC after reading their caveat in the manual about voiding the warranty if you stressed the drivetrain. I feared it might be a weak link that down the road might place a costly machine on the dead line. I’ve run the Rapido RDC that runs passenger service on Bruce Chubb’s Sunset Valley branch line and found it to be finicky.

[bnsf971]

Ed, I have several v5's, and all of them perform the autotune as expected. Of course, mine are all aftermarket examples, but some have the OEM files loaded onto them.
I know you did, but I'll ask, just for the sake of being thorough:
You are setting cv54 to 0 before hitting f1, right?

[edwardsutorik]

Yup.

I expect to be running my two RDC's at a Free-mo setup this weekend. Perhaps they will be "finicky". Hope not.

Ed

[canrailfan]

Aug 29, 2019 8:27:59 GMT -8 edwardsutorik said:

If the Royal Hudsons are having a similar problem, then they should just be experiencing a continuous bell sound, instead of charging forward as usual.

In the case of the Royal Hudsons the Autotune does appear to work. The locomotive does the '4 foot dash' and stops okay. Unfortunately the slow speed performance is worse instead of better afterwards.

Hopefully Rapido/ESU can come out with a V5 decoder firmware update to resolve the problems.

[Colin 't Hart]

Has anyone tried a firmware update from ESU? They regularly publish them; there was a significant update in the latest version of ESU LokProgrammer, version 5.0.8 which came out earlier this week.

[edwardsutorik]

I ran my Rapido RDC's over the weekend. They did seem to have a very subtle (but noticeable) shudder.

I wonder how I am supposed to fix this. And, I might add, why I am the one who SHOULD have to fix it.

Ed