The Official Rapido APT-E Thread

[JSpencer]

Surprisingly, I found the APT-E worked well 1st time round on the Hornby e-lite and Railmaster PC system (the Rapido LRC struggles on some functionalities).

 

I say surprisingly, because most of my other DCC locos have various quirks when running from it.

Edited June 29, 2016 by JSpencer

[Mr.S.corn78]

Kit this should help took an age to find but it works and is so simple

 

Pressing HEADLIGHT will display “F10 through F19 on the bottom line of the cab.

Releasing the SHIFT key and pressing a digit will toggle that number plus ten. For example: Pressing 6 will toggle F16, with the display returning to normal.

 

Pressing HEADLIGHT a second time will display “F21 through F28” on the cab. Pressing a digit with this display will toggle that number plus twenty.

 

Pressing HEADLIGHT a third time will return to the F10 through F19 display.

 

Pressing  Prog/Esc at any time will abort the operation.

Regards Paul.

HI Paul,

 

It should be OPTION that you press to toggle up the Function sets not headlight, unless you have changed the key mapping on the handset

 

Cheers

Simon

[bossy]

Well got mine and have a problem. Both power cars run the same way so fighting against each other. its the sound fitted units. hoping its just a cv adjustment. 

 

Had both cars running on their own so must be sound chip decoders in each power car.

 

Also one runs jerky at low speed 

 

Any pointers to solve this.

 

My luck 2000 sold and I get the faulty one!

[bulver]

Was trying out my new NCE controller today, and decide to run the APT and my Trix HO SVT 137 and was surprised at how low the APT is compared to the Flying Hamburger given one is OO and the other HO. I suppose you could say that both trains were advanced for their era (and the APT still looks futuristic, doesn't it?) also both locos perform very well using either this controller or Hornby Railmaster. Will try to post a picture if I can find out how to do it!

Have to say that I find no improvements over the Hornby Railmaster from the PowerCab, the only slight advantage so far is it being handheld. The downside....lots at present, but perhaps I am being overly pessimistic, being used to the user-friendly Railmaster format, will give more time to it and see if I can overcome my concerns.

 

Rod

[mvwilson]

Well got mine and have a problem. Both power cars run the same way so fighting against each other. its the sound fitted units. hoping its just a cv adjustment. 

 

Had both cars running on their own so must be sound chip decoders in each power car.

 

Also one runs jerky at low speed 

 

Any pointers to solve this.

 

My luck 2000 sold and I get the faulty one!

you should only have one sound decoder in pc1. Pc2 runs as a slave off pc1

[Mr_Tilt]

.........and decide to run the APT and my Trix HO SVT 137 and was surprised at how low the APT is compared to the Flying Hamburger given one is OO and the other HO.

 

E-Train's lack of height is deceptive Rod. The actual body shell is low compared to the normal BR C1 gauge, but the Power car exhaust blisters are almost on the gauge limit. The pic below shows E-Train at Shildon alongside the Deltic prototype and you can see what I mean. E-Train's roof is way below the Deltic's but the exhaust blisters are only a bit lower than the Deltic's roof line.

 

The pic was taken at the APT team reunion we held 5 years ago (blimey, was it THAT long ago?  ) BTW.

 

[UP 4000]

Well got mine and have a problem. Both power cars run the same way so fighting against each other. its the sound fitted units. hoping its just a cv adjustment. 

 

Had both cars running on their own so must be sound chip decoders in each power car.

 

Also one runs jerky at low speed 

 

Any pointers to solve this.

 

My luck 2000 sold and I get the faulty one!

 

Have to agree with MrWilson,Sounds like 2 PC-1's, If they both have PC-1 wrote on them then they are 2 master units, It could be just shelled wrong if PC-2 is on.

 

Either remove the shells to check if there is a decoder in each one, or remove the rear bogie unit, you can just see the decoder and PCB board for PC-1, PC-2 has no PCB board.

 

Don't run them together, You are connecting 2 decoders together, and could blow the pair of them!

 

Best thing to contact Sandra of Locomotion, or Charlie of DC Kits, they'll give you the address of where to send them, and the correct PC-2 car will be returned to you.

[bulver]

Thank you for the info, Kit, what a great adventure that must have been - forefront of technology and all that.

I thought of you on Wednesday, I was told by a cardiologist I have got to have a 'Tilt' test, I thought 'I know just the man' lol

[Mr_Tilt]

Thank you for the info, Kit, what a great adventure that must have been - forefront of technology and all that.

I thought of you on Wednesday, I was told by a cardiologist I have got to have a 'Tilt' test, I thought 'I know just the man' lol

 

Hehehe, I've had a few of those too, but for vertigo testing. 

 

A little ironic that I of all people should be prone to vertigo, eh? A good thing I didn't have it back in the 70s. 

 

I hope your test goes OK, apparently the specialists can tell a lot from your reactions to them. 

[bossy]

Have to agree with MrWilson,Sounds like 2 PC-1's, If they both have PC-1 wrote on them then they are 2 master units, It could be just shelled wrong if PC-2 is on.

 

Either remove the shells to check if there is a decoder in each one, or remove the rear bogie unit, you can just see the decoder and PCB board for PC-1, PC-2 has no PCB board.

 

Don't run them together, You are connecting 2 decoders together, and could blow the pair of them!

 

Best thing to contact Sandra of Locomotion, or Charlie of DC Kits, they'll give you the address of where to send them, and the correct PC-2 car will be returned to you.

thanks for info I ran them separately and both had sound and address 3. the are labeled as PC1 and PC2. I read elsewhere that both cars did have sound decoder in each?. Will contact Charlie.   

[UP 4000]

thanks for info I ran them separately and both had sound and address 3. the are labeled as PC1 and PC2. I read elsewhere that both cars did have sound decoder in each?. Will contact Charlie.   

 

Definitely wrong shell on one of them,

 

Both power cars do have sound, albeit 1 decoder, PC-2 has a speaker and that's it, it gets its sound and lighting via the 10 way multiplug built into the bogies and runs the length of the train that all come from PC-1, unlike Hornby's class43's that require decoders at both ends for sound and lighting.

 

Rapido's method is far more superior and reliable, I hope they build this into the HSDT, (works over 8 coaches Jason & Bill) Totally plausible with the HSDT.

[bossy]

just opened it up PC2 has a chip!. wonder if its just a case of taking the chip out?.  nothing is connected to the chip itself any one got picks of the pc2 layout?

 

wondered what the burn smell was nowI realize all appears to work ok lucky it did not burn them out. hope motors not been damaged 

Edited July 2, 2016 by bossy

[bossy]

Definitely wrong shell on one of them,

 

Both power cars do have sound, albeit 1 decoder, PC-2 has a speaker and that's it, it gets its sound and lighting via the 10 way multiplug built into the bogies and runs the length of the train that all come from PC-1, unlike Hornby's class43's that require decoders at both ends for sound and lighting.

 

Rapido's method is far more superior and reliable, I hope they build this into the HSDT, (works over 8 coaches Jason & Bill) Totally plausible with the HSDT.

 

Does PC2 have the circuit board for a decoder?  

[UP 4000]

Does PC2 have the circuit board for a decoder?  

 

No circuit board in PC-2, Don't put a blanking plug in, You will make it a DC model, And could fry the motor, At the moment wait for Charlie I know it's tempting to run her, but time to put her away for the moment, the turnaround is very quick so you won't have long to wait.

[UP 4000]

No circuit board in PC-2, Don't put a blanking plug in, You will make it a DC model, And could fry the motor, At the moment wait for Charlie I know it's tempting to run her, but time to put her away for the moment, the turnaround is very quick so you won't have long to wait.

 

Inside the factory sound PC-1 & 2 if it's any help.

[bossy]

Inside the factory sound PC-1 & 2 if it's any help.

Thanks great help. Was looking for a quick fix myself but looks to me PC2 is wired differently so not going to tackle this.

 

Unfortunately I have already connected and run the units which identified a problem. was a slight burning so I removed it but it did move up and down the track. Lights were bright so going to now check them with Pc1. In PC2 the solder/wires on the board at the back end of the car ie the 2nd coach connection pin side is slightly melted and the board shiny around the solder. ouch!...... just opened PC1 and all appears on on this.

 

Going to email Charlie.

 

Stephen

[UP 4000]

Thanks great help. Was looking for a quick fix myself but looks to me PC2 is wired differently so not going to tackle this.

 

Unfortunately I have already connected and run the units which identified a problem. was a slight burning so I removed it but it did move up and down the track. Lights were bright so going to now check them with Pc1. In PC2 the solder/wires on the board at the back end of the car ie the 2nd coach connection pin side is slightly melted and the board shiny around the solder. ouch!...... just opened PC1 and all appears on on this.

 

Going to email Charlie.

 

Stephen

 

I'd send both back from the sound of it, just to make sure, I'm guessing your in the U.K? (you've had a long wait if so) so definitely contact Charlie, He'll give you the address to send them back to, It's not him, It's Darlington, County Durham.

 

If your outside the U.K then I think you contact Rapido Trains and send them back to them in Canada.

Edited July 2, 2016 by UP 4000

[LongRail]

Thanks great help. Was looking for a quick fix myself but looks to me PC2 is wired differently so not going to tackle this.

 

Unfortunately I have already connected and run the units which identified a problem. was a slight burning so I removed it but it did move up and down the track. Lights were bright so going to now check them with Pc1. In PC2 the solder/wires on the board at the back end of the car ie the 2nd coach connection pin side is slightly melted and the board shiny around the solder. ouch!...... just opened PC1 and all appears on on this.

 

Going to email Charlie.

 

Stephen

e

 

Stephen

 

Suggest you email Sandra at locomotion as they are the retailer depending on your location Sandra will advise on what to do.

[charliepetty]

Well got mine and have a problem. Both power cars run the same way so fighting against each other. its the sound fitted units. hoping its just a cv adjustment. 

 

Had both cars running on their own so must be sound chip decoders in each power car.

 

Also one runs jerky at low speed 

 

Any pointers to solve this.

 

My luck 2000 sold and I get the faulty one!

 

Sound like you have TWO decoder fitted cars, PC1 Chassis with a PC2 Body, you should have 1 X PC1 & 1 x PC2.  Contact please:   charlie@dckits.co.uk

[Mr_Tilt]

HI Paul,

 

It should be OPTION that you press to toggle up the Function sets not headlight, unless you have changed the key mapping on the handset

 

Cheers

Simon

 

I tried to get F10 and above to work on our club NCE throttle tonight with zero success. When I press 'Option' all it says on the screen is 'Programme on Main' or something similar and no F Nos. appear anywhere. I can't even get F10 - F12 to work using the 'Shift' key and the bottom row of buttons.

 

I'm getting seriously frustrated by this now, and I can't find anyone at the club who knows enough about the throttle to help out. 

[Jitmen]

more pictures from Crewe trip.

[BruceV]

Kit,

 

The NCE Power Cab manual can be downloaded from https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201565799-Powercab-Manuals

Scroll down the list and find Power Cab V 1.65 Manual.pdf

Go to page 20.

Look at Extended Function Control (F10 - F28) and you may have to program the Option Key which is explained in Cab Setup.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Bruce

[Mr_Tilt]

Kit,

 

The NCE Power Cab manual can be downloaded from https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201565799-Powercab-Manuals

Scroll down the list and find Power Cab V 1.65 Manual.pdf

Go to page 20.

Look at Extended Function Control (F10 - F28) and you may have to program the Option Key which is explained in Cab Setup.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Bruce

 

Thanks Bruce, I have the manual at the club room, but it's such a pain to understand all the umpteen entries I didn't see the bit about the Option Key setup. I've done the Extended Function Control bit already, but didn't get the expected results so far.

 

I'll give it another go in a couple of weeks when I'm there next time. 

[UP 4000]

Looks like you were having a good time there,,,

 

I do hope Rapido do the P-Train, Especially that one with the black window surround, Looks better than the Hornby "City of Derby"? model, And I found the other half of mine last week. 

[piranha230]

We do need a new APT-P model, Rapido, to replace the Hornby toy.