Speed Matching locos for Consisting using Decoder Pro.

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Keith A suggested this method on the Yahoo’s JMRIusers group on Jun 1 2006.

 

 

Consisting engines of different manufacturers using DCC and Decoder Pro.

 

In most cases, DCC has made it easy to consist engines that could not be run together in analog mode. The following are tips and procedures that I use to allow engines to run together. I make it a habit of setting up all of my freight engines to run at the same speed. I do likewise with my passenger engines. If you use the same type of engine for both, you might want to make them all the same speed.

 

What Speed? - Which engine do you select as your constant. Three possible choices are:

 

  1. The slowest engine (top speed)
  2. Your favorite engine
  3. A sound equipped engine

 

All three can be used and each has advantages and disadvantages.

 

 

A word on engine motors and decoders. Engine motors can be divided into 2 categories; Open frame and can motors.

 

Open frame motors tend to be faster and more subject to speed variation than Can motors. They draw more amperage than most can motors and are a little more difficult to get going at low speed steps. Although cheaper, with a little care and maintenance, they can give many hours of long service. They are commonly found on less expensive engines.

 

Can motors tend to be much smoother in operation throughout their speed range. They have low current draw and little maintenance. They are found on newer and better quality engines.

 

If you plan on consisting open frame and can motor engines together, I would recommend using TCS decoders for the open frame motors. Dither, a feature of TCS decoders, does a great job of overcoming the slow speed hang up of open frame motors. I would also select a can motored engine as your constant.

 

Once you have decided on your constant engine, the following steps should allow you to run engines at the same speed.

 

  1. If the engine is new, it should be run in for an hour or two before setting the speed.
  2. Warm up both engines and make sure their wheels are clean. 3-5 minutes usually suffices. This will also give you an idea on how close the speeds are for the 2 engines.
  3. Make sure CV19 is set to 0 for both engines. Also, make sure your engine is not set for alternate speed steps. If you want to increase the starting voltage on your engine, do it before proceeding to step 4.
  4. Make sure the engine you want to match is in your Decoder Pro roster. Crank up decoder pro and use programming on the main. Call up the engine you wish to speed match from your roster.
  5. Make up a normal consist with your constant engine as the lead engine. Do not lash the engines together. 8-10 inches between them is a good start.
  6. If you are using a decoder with BEMF, it should be turned off for consisting.
  7. Select the speed table screen for the engine called up in Decoder Pro.
  8. Select user defined speed table on the screen.
  9. Set step 1 of your speed to the starting voltage from the top of the page. Set step 28 to 255.
  10. Click on match ends on the speed table. Then write this to the loco.
  11. Run the locos. If you have made a good choice on your base engine, the following engine will probably be faster. Reduce the speed step 28 setting; Match ends and write to the engine. Some systems/decoders will allow you to do this on the fly. Others will make you stop the engines.
  12. Repeat this procedure until the engines speed match.
  13. After you do a few you will be able to match an engine faster than you can read this procedure. We have found that this method gives us great speed control and is actually faster to do than using the V Mid and V Max settings. It also eliminates fooling with forward and reverse trim if you decoder requires it.
  14. If your decoder does not support 28 speed step settings you will need to use the method outlined in the other clinic.