Eureka Model’s 620/720 Railmotors
Operating, possible difficulties and solutions (cheat sheet) for the QSI sound chips.
Eureka Model’s 620/720 Rail Motors sound versions with the QSI chip that will operate on DCC and DC, were released in April 06.
This model will be the first sound “loco” that many modellers will have on their layouts, especially DC layout owners. This model will certainly quell all the speculation about Eureka Model, and whether the “sound” version is worth it. For me the sound is worth it, at A$99.00 the sound option is well worth it, compared to what I have been paying (upwards of $200 – 300) for after market sound and it is already installed, but I did miss the dismantling of a new model to install a DCC decoder and speaker/s – “NOT”.
Time will tell whether modellers are happy with the “sound”, but from what other modellers I know, they are just as impressed as I am. I am sure that for many of you, that this will be your first of many sound locos.
Operating with DC (click here). To turn the front headlight off (normally dim) when going in reverse, this can only be adjusted with a DCC system.
Operating with DCC
For DCC owners a few difficulties have surfaced, that regular users of sound locos have encountered for a while, mainly “programming” a new address and reading/writing CVs on the program track. Changing the address will be necessary. Sound locos from all manufacturers have caused a “few” problems to most existing DCC systems.
Below are the steps I have used to overcome these issues. Hopefully I can help.
The Magnetic Wand – Where to place it to “program”. The included instructions did not say where the place this wand, apart from on the roof above the internal reed switch. I removed the top of my motor unit and had a look at the insides. I also located the reed switch. Holding the supplied Magnetic Wand with the handle vertical and the magnet horizontal across the roof (right angles to the length of the roof), just behind the horn on the 62X “motor” car unit to operate the reed switch to allow you to program the QSI chip.
Sound Volume: The volume “out of the box” is set to the highest volume (default value of 127). The volume is a little loud, but easily adjusted, better being too loud than too soft. I always adjust my volumes on all of my sound locos DOWN. To adjust, write “0” to CV 49 and a value of between 0 (min) and 127 (max) to CV 51. Writing to two CVs, to change the volume, is new for those that have been used to Soundtraxx decoders, like me.
Address: Out of the box you must use address “3” to operate these railmotors. This is the same for all locos that come with a DCC decoder already installed from the factory.
Long Address: To use a “long” address, follow your DCC system manual instructions. Some DCC systems will not allow you to read and possibly write CV values of sound decoders including the Eureka QSI equipped railmotors on the Program Track. Most systems will allow Programming on the Main type of programming, POM. See below for the alternative procedure to program the long address using POM type of programming..
Headlights: When selected on, going forward the front headlight is on bright. In reverse, the rear light is on bright AND the front headlight is DIM. This is the default configuration of the headlight effects. To completely extinguish the front headlight when going in reverse, program CV 33 = 1 and CV34 = 2.
Bell: The Bell has been disabled in the Rail Motors by QSI as bells were not used in Australian “locos”.
Want the Rail Motor to operate on either the 620 or the 720 car ID number (address): Only available if your DCC system allows you to select either the front or rear loco ID numbers (address) to address a consist. This will be really useful for visitors to your layout, if they don’t know or can see the front power car number. For my 623/723 combination, I can address it by either 623 or 723, and it runs.
Set up the “two cars” (either though one has NO motor or decoder) to operate as a “consist”. Do this by using your DCC system instructions. Create a consist by selecting the 620 as the “Lead loco” and the 720 as the “Rear loco”. When I run my rail motor, my NCE Procab display shows “CON 623”, the “CON” indicating a consist is being operated.
Loco does not work out of the box or does not operate but was working previously: QSI decoders have three stages of shutdown, activated by double pressing F9 three times. Entering shutdown mode prevents motion and the loco will not respond normally to the throttle.
If a new loco does not respond to the throttle, although the engine might rev up, it is probably in shutdown, perhaps because of testing at the factory. Also, it is possible that during normal operations, you inadvertently press F9 twice.
You can exit shutdown and return the loco to normal by pressing F6 twice. Depending on the stage of shutdown, you may hear various engine start up sounds.
Want the “Shutdown” feature but system only supports 8 or less functions: Using the Quantum Manual at:
http://qsindustries.com/manuals/quantum%20dcc%20manual%20version%203.0.pdf
you will have to remap your function keys to give you the feature you want. If you only have 8 functions then a few will not be accessible. You have to make a choice. As for all these functions, I only use the F0 for lights and F2 for horn and I turn the sound off (my shutdown) by F8, mute. Your call here.
Loco does not work out of the box on “3”: QSI equipped locos the decoder shuts down if the track voltage exceeds 21.5 volts DCC with a couple of “hoot” sounds.. Some entry level systems have higher than normal voltages, and if your loco does not work, and you have an entry level system, you may have to add a diode arrangement to reduce the track voltage, if your voltage is too high. See how to do it at:
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn/excess_voltage.htm
Reset decoder to factory defaults – Two Methods
If the Railmotor goes “screwy” for some reason, the QSI “chip” inside the Railmotor needs a reset. All the CVs are returned to the factory default values, including the Railmotor will now ONLY operate on “3”. Resetting can be done by TWO methods.
Note: After a reset, the 620 will only respond to address 3 See page 105 of the Quantum Manual at the above link.
Programming the Long Address using POM (Operations mode) programming.
Determining the value of CV 17 and CV 18.
|
Railmotor no |
Value for CV 17. |
Value for CV 18. |
|
621 |
194 |
109 |
|
622 |
194 |
110 |
|
623 |
194 |
111 |
|
624 |
194 |
112 |
|
625 |
194 |
113 |
|
626 |
194 |
114 |
|
721 |
194 |
209 |
|
722 |
194 |
210 |
|
723 |
194 |
211 |
|
724 |
194 |
212 |
|
725 |
194 |
213 |
|
726 |
194 |
214 |
For those of you who are having trouble setting the long address in any mode, then I suggest using CV 17, CV 18 and CV 29 using POM. The values for each of CV 17 and 18 for each railmotor are in the table at the left. These are “worked out” by the “CV 17 and 18 Calculator” at:
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/cv_calculator.htm
Any loco ID number can be “calculated” by using the above link.
Determining the value of CV 29.
This value has many combinations, see page 54 of the Quantum Version 3 manual, All CV 29 Lookup tables are the same and you can use this one at Tony’s site at:
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/cv29-lookup.htm
Basically for operating with addresses “620 to 726” (4 digit LONG address) and normal direction, internal speed tables (not CVs 67 – 94).
Analogue (DC) – OFF, CV 29 = 34.
Analogue (DC) – ON, CV 29 = 38. Using this value, the railmotor (loco) will run on a layout using DC.
Programming the Long Address.
I deliberately set my railmotor up this way to verify that it works, even though my NCE system has a menu driven procedure to set the address of the decoder.
This below procedure will apply to all decoders.
Issues programming sound locos including the QSI.
On a lot of DCC systems, the current to the program track is “limited” to protect the decoder and/or the system, when checking a “new installation” for the correct wiring. This limited current has caused problems with reading CV values on the program track of sound decoders from Soundtraxx and QSI. The display shows “Cannot read CV” or a similar message. Sound decoders use larger capacitors in their audio circuitry. This presents a larger inrush current during “reading” and Command Stations see this as a short. This message may have the user abandoning the programming sequence (as they should on a first installation check and check all the wiring). Some just disregard this message, but only after they have double/triple checked the decoder wiring. They just go ahead with writing the CV value. This does work most of the time. On a factory installed decoder like in the rail motors, the possibility of an incorrect installation is very minimal. But in an after market installation like fitting Soundtraxx decoders, the user will have to decide what to do here, since this is the purpose of the current limited program track, is to check decoder installations.
Some users feel that they have to read the CV value prior to programming and then read the CV value after programming, to verify that the CV has been adjusted to be happy about programming. There is NO requirement to read a CV to successfully program a CV.
For complete user safety when installing sound decoders and having the ability to read CV values on the Program Track, there are program track boosters available to increase this “current” to “get over” the inrush current scenario. They are the Power Pax from Tony’s and the PTB-100 Program Track booster from Soundtraxx. The new entry level DCC from NCE, the Power Cab also allows for reading of sound loco CVs. Without either of these units you can still program the sound loco decoders by using “Programming on the Main POM or just overwrite the caution message (eg. “Cannot read CV”) and enter the value.
“Additions” to enable reading CV values on the Program Track for some systems.
NCE DCC users: may add an extra lamp to the Command Station as I have done, to allow successful programming at the Program Track. See how I did this at:
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn1/NCE_prog_mod.htm
The Power Cab can read QSI CV values.
Lenz users: I have been told and it has been confirmed by others that this works. Wire in a 10 ohm 1 watt resistor in series with one of the feeders to the Program Track. This can be left permeantly. Reading and writing CVs will now work.
Digitrax users: Some on the Digitrax Yahoo group have suggested installing a 1,000 ohm resistor ACROSS the program track for the Zephyr. Maybe some of you Digitrax user could confirm this by emailing me. Thanks in advance.
Operating locos equipped with the QSI chip on DC layouts.
The Magnetic Wand – Where to place it to “program”. The included instructions did not say where the place this wand, apart from on the roof above the internal reed switch. I removed the top of my motor unit and had a look at the insides. I also located the reed switch. Holding the supplied Magnetic Wand with the handle vertical and the magnet horizontal across the roof (right angles to the length of the roof), just behind the horn on the 62X “motor” car unit to operate the reed switch to allow you to program the QSI chip.
Adjusting the Volume. With the loco idling, place the magnetic wand, as above, behind the horn. After about 2-3 seconds the volume of the sounds will increase/decrease with a bell sound every 1 second. When max is reached, a verbal acknowledgement is made. Remove and replace wand, and the volume will now decrease until minimum is reached, with a verbal acknowledgement. Repeat this until you have your desired level.
Using your existing Power Pack:
Basically the 620/720 rail motor, or any QSI equipped loco, operating the direction switch with the engine idling or running, will operate the horn. Select the opposite direction, the horn sounds, select back to the original direction, the horn will stop. Quick operation of the direction switch to the opposite direction then back will sound the bell but this has been disabled on the 620/720 rail motors. This is explained in detail in the manual.
For those that don’t have the 620/720 rail motor and are eagerly waiting for their Eureka Models AD60, or the C38 and for the Victorians, the VR R Class, and have not seen or operated any QSI equipped locos on a layout, operation is a little different and may take a little getting used to. I cannot say if this annoying or not, as I operate with DCC,.
The first 6 to 7 volts (first 30 to 40% of knob rotation) applied to the track is required for the QSI sound chip’s electronics and since the motor is controlled by the chip, there will be no loco movement until the chip is powered. This results in a delayed takeoff of the loco when compared to the throttle knob.
When the chip is powered up, the idle sounds start and the loco is ready for operation. Increasing the speed on the Power Pack, the loco starts moving off, the chuffs of a steam engine or the rumble of the diesel motor increase as the speed increases. For the railmotor it will start moving at about 9 – 10 volts D.C. At the maximum speed setting of the Power Pack, the loco will be maximum speed but this may be a little slower than, a similar model without the QSI chip. This is due to the voltage drop across the chip’s “electronics”, resulting in less voltage to the motor.
Slowing down the loco to the 30 to 40% “knob position” will bring the loco to a stop with idle sounds. Reducing the knob to the minimum stop, will “silence” the loco and the loco will be “dead”.
Since the chip controls the motor, the chip knows when the loco is moving. This allows for a dual use of the direction switch on the Power Pack. With the loco stationary and no idle sounds, moving the direction switch controls the track polarity and when the chip powers up, it will set the “direction” of the motor accordingly. With the loco stationary and sounds idling or moving, operating the direction switch will not change the direction, it will control the whistle or the bell.
In this mode (sounds and/or loco moving), operating the direction switch to the opposite direction will start the blowing of the whistle. Returning the direction to the original position stops the whistle. Operating the direction switch quickly from FWD/REV/FWD or REV/FWD/REV will start the bell and repeating either of these sequences, will stop the bell.
Note: Power Packs with a centre OFF direction switch may have problems initiating the correct sound unless the switch is operated quickly.
If intending to double head a QSI equipped loco with a standard loco, there may be some operating problems. Since the standard loco will start moving at between 1 to 3 volts, depending on the mechanism, this loco will be trying to move while the QSI remains stationary. The standard loco will be trying to move, quite quickly when the QSI powers and then further increases in “speed” will cause the locos to move. This major mismatch in loco speeds would most probably make double heading impossible.
Operating with your existing power pack will give more than satisfactory operation, with the diesel/steam idle and most of the running sounds and suitable operation of the horn and whistle.
The QSI chip has features and effects that can be adjusted including easy volume adjustments and limited “programming”.
On the 620/720 rail motor, this is done by placing the supplied “Magnetic Wand – “Jenni”, on the roof at right angles to the track with the handle vertical just behind the horn on the motor unit (620). This operates an internal reed switch, located on the circuit board that initiates “programming”
To adjust the rail motors volume, place the wand on the roof (described above) and hold it. The chip’s speakers emits toots every second hold the wand till the necessary volume is reached. At both the minimum and maximum volume levels these are verbally announced.
Programming is comprehensively discussed in the manual but does cover all the features of the QSI chip. Some features can only be accessed with DCC.
One of these “adjustments” that cannot be done in DC, is to turn off the front headlight (on dim) when running in reverse, in DC programming. This must be done using DCC and programming CV 33 = 1 and CV34 = 2.