DCC Consist programming
mc_br...@yahoo.com
I am most interested in how one programs a consist using the ABBA and
ABA configurations. Regrettably, I don't yet have the DCC equipment
which makes this discussion one directional. I own an Athearn Genesis
F7AB. I will be adding another Athearn Genesis F7AB to create the
desired F7ABBA. I also own two different Athearn Genesis F3ABA
combinations.
The B-unit in two cases is numbered: albeit tiny numbers. One B-unit
not numbered. The A-units have offset number plates on the nose. All
of these engines are boxed away due to house renovations.
If someone could please explain the DCC programming process for the
ABA and the ABBA, that would be most appreciated. I am confused
particularly with the B-units given their centered position in the
consist with no apparent direction. How are they programmed?
If it is easier, we could assume logical numbering: i.e ABBA = 1234
and ABA = 123.
Many Thanks!!!
Matt
Matt
If you're going with NCE, it's quite simple, and explained in detail in
their User Manual. Go the their web site (Watch the line wrap)
http://www.ncedcc.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
home page:
http://www.ncedcc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=28
and download the manual for the Power Cab. Consist programming starts
on about page 25 IIRC. B units normal direction would be F (forward).
Works great!
Matt (also)
Robert Heller
>
> DCC programming for an F7ABBA and an F3ABA
>
> I am most interested in how one programs a consist using the ABBA and
> ABA configurations. Regrettably, I don't yet have the DCC equipment
> which makes this discussion one directional. I own an Athearn Genesis
> F7AB. I will be adding another Athearn Genesis F7AB to create the
> desired F7ABBA. I also own two different Athearn Genesis F3ABA
> combinations.
>
> The B-unit in two cases is numbered: albeit tiny numbers. One B-unit
> not numbered. The A-units have offset number plates on the nose. All
> of these engines are boxed away due to house renovations.
>
> If someone could please explain the DCC programming process for the
> ABA and the ABBA, that would be most appreciated. I am confused
> particularly with the B-units given their centered position in the
> consist with no apparent direction. How are they programmed?
"no apparent direction" is actually wrong. Look *closely* at the B
units. There is a front end as distint from the back end. Really. If
nothing else note the roof fan configuration. The roof fan
configuration of F 'B' units is not front-to-back symetrical -- the
engine cooling fans are different from the dynamic brake cooling fans
and there are also engine exhaust stacks there as well, along with
various roof hatches, etc. The arrangment of all of the roof detail is
much the same as for a A units -- this will give you a front and back
orientation. (Also the port hole windows and side doors are also not
front-to-back symetrical either and follow the same pattern as the A
units.)
In the case of pure DC systems, the orientation of the engine does not
effect the direction of travel. I imagine the same is actually true for
DCC locos as well. The DCC just feeds a more positive voltage to one
side on the loco and the loco moves in a certain direction. Eg if the
south is more positive the loco moves east and if a more positive voltage
is applied to the north side the local moves west. (I picked arbitary
directions here for illustration purposes.) Basically, the 'shell'
orientations have no meaning when programming a consist. There is no
reason not to connect two A units, nose to nose. Actually, since 'B'
units are no longer made or used on modern RRs, it is not uncommon for
locos to wind up coupled nose to nose. It matters not with a
prototypical MU lashup and matters not on a model MU lashup either.
>
> If it is easier, we could assume logical numbering: i.e ABBA = 1234
> and ABA = 123.
Sure. The DCC addresses do NOT have to match the painted numbers on the
shells.
>
> Many Thanks!!!
> Matt
>
--
Robert Heller -- 978-544-6933
Deepwoods Software -- Download the Model Railroad System
http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Binaries for Linux and MS-Windows
hel...@deepsoft.com -- http://www.deepsoft.com/ModelRailroadSystem/
Bob May
identical ID number and they will always run together in a consist. You do
need to make sure you don't turn one around but the railroads didn't hook up
the units at random back then eeither. Aften an A/B pair of eengines had a
perment drawbar rather than couplers between the units.
--
Bob May
rmay at nethere.com
http: slash /nav.to slash bobmay
http: slash /bobmay dot astronomy.net
mc_br...@yahoo.com
As always, the replies and sharing of interest, assistance, and advice
is immeasurably helpful. I do, in fact, plan to go with NCE so the
download of their user's manual will be a great read for me.
Being delayed a few years in the development of my hobby, due to
finances, has allowed me to return in the prime of DCC. The silver
lining has certainly been revealed. I so look forward to these
eventual purchases.
PV
>If someone could please explain the DCC programming process for the
>ABA and the ABBA, that would be most appreciated. I am confused
>particularly with the B-units given their centered position in the
>consist with no apparent direction. How are they programmed?
I don't know anything about the NCE system, but on digitrax you would
attach all consisted engines to the front one, one at a time, after signing
in the two engines on your handheld and syncronizing their direction of
movement. I don't think I've ever consisted more than two engines
together, but I assume you can.
Personally, unless you plan on also running these engines individually, I
wouldn't make a 4-engine consist at all - just give them all the same DCC
address and they'll move together [1]. The only caveat to that is if the
decoders are different (say, you have a sound decoder in the lead engine),
you can run into issues if you do "ops mode" programming - you'll need to
make sure only a single engine with that address is on the track when you
do any form of programming.
This can get especially maddening when you have a seperate sound or
lighting decoder in the same case as an engine decoder - programming will
often totally freak out when you do this because of how DCC feedback works.
If at all possible, strategically place your decoders in different
cars or buy an integrated decoder instead. *
[1] for varying values of "move together". For matched sets from the same
manufacturer, things MAY run fine. Worst case you may need to play
with voltages or speed tables to get engines to not play tug of war
with each other. Kind of a black art, but it's easier than trying
to do the same thing in the DC world. "Back EMF" settings may help
a bit, but I've had mixed results.
--
* PV Something like badgers, something like lizards, and something
like corkscrews.
mc_br...@yahoo.com
All of our Genesis engines will need DCC decoders installed. I figured
that I would get NCE decoders to mate nicely with the NCE DCC system.
That said, I will look into the issues you raised. Those are very
helpful "to look for" issues.
Stuart Sabatini
cause many problem. It only takes a minute to put several units into a
consist and you only have to do this once if you always plan to run the
units together. The consist is remembered. You do not have do do it each
time you turn the system on.
If you use the same address for all units you have the following problems:
1. In the ABBA example you would have to program an A and B unit to run in
reverse. because one AB set is facing one direction and the other is facing
the other way.
2. If you want to tweak the CV's of just one of the units, you can't if
they all have the same address.
3. You can't control the lights individually in each unit. The lights will
go on and off in all units if they have the same address.
4 With the NCE system you can select the unit at either end to make the
consist go East or West when forward is selected. If all units have the
same address reverse must be selected when running a train forward in the
opposite direction.
Stuart Sabatini
Palm Coast, FL
"PV" <pv+u...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:47qdnbdpLefMSZfW...@supernews.com...
PV
>If you use the same address for all units you have the following problems:
>1. In the ABBA example you would have to program an A and B unit to run in
>reverse. because one AB set is facing one direction and the other is facing
>the other way.
This isn't really a problem. If for some reason you swapped wires around
and want the engine to run in "reverse", for just that engine, you can
change a CV (I want to say it's a subsetting of CV29, but I don't have my
books handy) to make the decoder do the reverse of the commanded direction.
>2. If you want to tweak the CV's of just one of the units, you can't if
>they all have the same address.
Yep, I said that. That only applies to ops mode programming though - on a
seperate programming track you'd be using only one engine at a time on the
track anyway.
>3. You can't control the lights individually in each unit. The lights will
>go on and off in all units if they have the same address.
For a B unit, probably not a factor, and you could set up the lighting plan
on the back engine to do what you want to do in sync with the front. For
example, to have the headlight go on when you are in reverse.
>4 With the NCE system you can select the unit at either end to make the
>consist go East or West when forward is selected. If all units have the
>same address reverse must be selected when running a train forward in the
>opposite direction.
That's a nice feature. On Digitrax, you can only select the front engine
for movement. I think you can still sign in to use functions though.
A good compromise would be to make the AB one address, the BA the other,
and consist the two groups. On the other hand, if you plan on occasionally
take one of the B units out and run ABA, that unit has to be off the track
(or on an unpowered section), or it will happily mimic the movements of the
active consist. *
Stuart Sabatini
than have oddball settings in individual Locos.
1. Oddball setting of CV29
2. You have to move to programming track. If your tweaking speed settings
it's easier on the main.
3 Again oddball setting of the lighting CV's and you still can't control
them individually.
4. True. Most of the advantage here is with NCE system. You can use two AB
sets , I did for a while, but this setup is half and half and like you said,
at one point I wanted to run ABA. It's easier to just have all different
numbers for each unit. This assumes you are using advanced consisting
where you can setup the consist once and forget about it. No disadvantage
if you always run the units together but no problems if you decide to change
the consist.
Stuart Sabatini
Palm Coast, FL
"PV" <pv+u...@pobox.com> wrote in message
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