OK, Here goes, I admit, I am a total Newbie where DCC is concerned. I just installed two decoders in my atlas GP38-2's, and set up the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra on the layout. All is for all intents and purposes working well on a layout that was blocked out for DC ops when it was built. One thing I have noticed is the high end speed (Full Throttle) seems to be alot less than when I had the locos on the DC power pack. Is there something not adjusted right yet? or is that just the way it is with DCC?? Thanks, Mark
cool: Could be 2 reasons I know (others may give additional.) 1. your DC power pak may put out more than the continuos 12V or so that the Zephyr continuosly pumps. Your decoder manages the juice to the motor to control speed, but couldn't exceed the Zephyr's continuous power. 2. Your decoder may have an additional limit set by the CV for max speed (most do, I think.) Use your Zephyr's manual & decoder manual to explore CV setings. Change a few and if problems develop you can always "reset" the decoder to standard. (Decoder will then have address "03.") Have you used Zephyr to set the decoder address to each engne's number board (1st CV change all make?) smile: I have 2 Atlas classic GP-38-2's, one with a factory Lenz decoder, the other DC, and also use the Zephyr. Both can be run faster than I believe the prototype would ever have run safely; FWIW, I think my DC may be faster. When I link them in an MU through my Zephyr they run reasonably well together at prototype low speeds. biggrin: You are seeing reasonable behavior as is intended by standard settings.
Bill, Yes, I changed the decoder addresses to the loco number using the 4 digit addressing. I will have to see what the CV setting for MAX speed will be set at. I'll report back with what I find.
The max speed with DC usually is way faster then trains would ever run if trying to operate close to reality. One of the advantage of DCC is that you can set the top speed of an engine to be close to how the 1:1 operated. Saying that I just turn my DT400r or UTr throttles only as fast as the engine should go not as fast as they can go. I don't see to many local freights going 80 mph. Not to say I not done it once and a while just for the fun of it!:tb-biggrin: There is a learning curve with DCC when trying to find all that it will do. Sure can be fun though!
Thanks Bill, and Ken, Another interesting development... Using a "Jump" throttle, makes my loco "Suddenly Move", not the nice smooth start I get with using the the digitrax control station... I am wondering if that is "Just the way it works"? Or should I be changing some cv values to compensate for this?? Thanks again, I'm still reading and learning.. Mark
biggrin: Nice to hear you're using the "Jump" throttle feature of Zephy, so do I... many never reference it. Think you're not seeing an anomaly, only a characteristic of your DC pak. "Jump" throttles (I use both) provide an easy way to get three trains running for the fun of it. I use good power paks and response is smooth. Probably spent more (~$60) than needed on them, though. arghh: About CV's, there's an awful lot of them for control of braking, acceleration, speed vs. throttle setting, special effects, etc. Me, I use the simplest approach to just run the trains. (Biggest appeal of DCC to me is no switch flipping and no track plan requirements.) "Sound" is not a concern as I like to serenade my running times with radio noise-would drown out the many +$100 decoder upgrades! cool: Keep working the issues... It only gets better.
What you need to do is save up the get a UT4 throttle. (Always something else to get :we-yes It gives you all of the functions of the Zephyr except programming CV's.
