Hi. I'm relatively new to DCC. I had purchased a number of N scale Atlas decoder equipped locomotives, including the Trainmaster, B 23-7's, SD 35's, and a U25B. These ran very quietly on regular DC power, but now that I've switched over to DCC, there is a loud buzz or hum from the motors when starting the loco, or when moving at really slow speeds. I have a LENZ SET 100, with the recommended DIgitrax power supply. Is there anything I can do to get rid of that noise. All of the Atlas factory (LENZ) DCC equipped locomotives do this,despite the fact that they were relatively silent and smooth operators on straight DC. I have switched between the various speed steps and this has not helped. Thanks
NH2525: Welcome to the Trainboard. Usually the loud buzz is heard on loco's that are DC and run on Address "0" on a DCC layout. I have a Lenz 100 system for years and haven't experienced any loud buzzing from DCC equipped Atlas loco's. Did you run the Atlas DCC equipped loco's on a DC system? Do they make the same noise at very low speed as well? Stay cool and run steam.....
Hi Bob. I ran these locomotives on the same layout on DC and they were silent. Now that I've hooked up the Set 100, they make a distinctive humming sound when starting from a stop, and when running at slow (prototypical) speeds. It is only the Atlas factory DCC equipped locomotives that do this. The two SD-35's I put DN163A0 decoders in run fairly quiet. The buzz and humm from the factory DCC units is a very different sound than that made by a DC locomotive operating on DCC track at address "0." Are there CV settings or other things that I can adjust on the set 100 to eliminate this sound? Eric
Eric: Adjust CV 29 to have the loco's run on DCC only. The default value has them capable of running on both DC and DCC. If your Atlas loco's have the older motor they will run noisier than the loco's with the slow speed motor. The difference in noise on DC and DCC is interesting. Usually it's the other way around. Stay cool and run steam....
Bob, I have no idea how to write CV's. I've read the Set 100 manual and still have no idea how to approach changing CV settings. Would you be able to decribe how to do this with the Lenz Set 100? I'd appreciate any assistance I could get with this. Thanks! Eric
Eric: This isn't the easiest thing to do online. What I suggest you do is re-read the Lenz 100 manual very carefully. There are chapters in the booklet that go through a step by step approach how to change CV's and the keystrokes you use to do so. DCC has a very steep learning curve. It takes several weeks just to feel comfortable with a new system. Lenz BTW, is one of easiest systems to learn where the learning curve isn't as steep. Sometimes trial by error is the way to learn and DCC is no exception. Stay cool and run steam....
Thanks Bob. Reading your posts helped to influence my decision to go with the Lenz system. I really like the LH100 throttle. The push button control is so much more intuitive than a knob, although I will get a LH 90 for guest operators. I'll just have to re-read the info and practice...practice...practice
Eric: The Lenz 100 system is really a joy to use and operate a railroad with. How long have you had it? It won't take long to master the basic maneuvers. I'm still learning the fine points of the system after having Lenz systems for 6 plus years. I started with a Lenz 01 Professional which had 4 amps of power before I switched to the Lenz 100 system. I still use part of the 01 Professional to provide power for a second power district on the JJJ&E. I've always enjoyed the LH 100 throttle and usually recommend the Lenz 100 system. You can't get equal value for the price. Stay cool and run steam....
Eric: To access the CV program in the Lenz system, do the following: Press F, then 7 and (Enter). You know see the letter C: press enter, then CV: press 2 to adjust the initial voltage. press enter and then a value for example 15 (enter) These are some of the keystrokes which can adjust a CV. If you want a different CV enter a different value . It's very easy once you've done it a few times. It's all in the manual with more clarity than directions on-line. Stay cool and run steam.....
Some of the decoders you can adjust the frequency going to the motor. This may quiet them down some by playing around. I do not recall the CV to change this. I am using Decoder pro for doing so. Some one should be able to help here.
Thanks again guys. I have a quick follow up question on DecoderPro. Can I use the Lenz XPA adapter to interface with my PC, or do I need to purchase a different module? I already have an XPA adapter, in anticipation of my next (DCC FROM THE START) layout. I've had the Lenz set for over a year, but I just got around to trying it out over the holidays.
Z Scalers Perspective on DCC Buzz: The Buzz is probably caused by one of the Select Drive, Quiet Drive, BEMF, or other fancy names they give to the pulse modulations that decoder manufacturers use. As a Z Scale modeler, we use lots of tiny coreless motors, that are very succeptable to damage from these pulses, and since I have converted a lot of my locos to DCC, I have made it a point to hunt out these rogue CV,s and turn them off, resulting is very quiet operation. By default, many of the decoders have these features enabled, and by using Decoder Pro, you can find them easier to shut them off. Sometimes Decoder Pro don't turn off the pulses, so you might have to find the CV by looking in the decoder manual. Usually setting the value to 0 for these CV's makes everything quiet. I always look at it like this: If you hear a noise, you are hearing wear and tear in action, as it's a mechanical component that bangs on something to make noise. It's something as simple as the motor turning a fraction of a turn forward, then backwards, and the resulting eliptical motion caused by the reversing of the field that makes the motor shaft bang on the sleve bearings, maybe only a couple microns of motion, but many times per second, results in damage to tiny coreless motors over a fairly short period of time. I have always been able to find the offending CV's to quiet a decoder, it just takes a few minutes reserching the CV's used. -Robert
The buzz is normal at slow speeds. Once you get moving, the buzzing disappears. See the second post in this thread (and the one from Robert above). http://www.trainboard.com/ultimatebb.php/ubb/get_topic/f/12/t/000694.html There's nothing wrong with your locos!
Eric: You can't use the XPA to interface with the computer and Decoder Pro.You need a Lenz LI-USB interface to make the connection work. Here is a thread that I posted showing you how to interface Decoder Pro with the computer using the Lenz system: Computerizing the JJJ&E ... (with photo's) Stay cool and run steam...... [ January 13, 2006, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: Powersteamguy1790 ]
NH2525. The buzz is normal if the decoder is not capable of running the motor on high frequency. Once the decoder is operated at 16kHz the buzz is noticeably reduced. A higher frequency eliminates the buzz altogether. That's why all ZIMO decoders can be set to 40kHz! Regards, Art Zimo Agency of North America http://www.mrsonline.net/
