Class 37, by Accurascale

[farren]

7 hours ago, CUFCfan said:

Just confirming the post I replied to with the picture was not my 37. Here's mine with the current settings, when I first received it I didn't realise the dip switches were not set for DC running but the lights were working ok. A couple of days ago when giving some locos a run around the lights went off, that's when I had a look inside and noticed the dip switches under the blanking plate were not set for DC running. I don't know if the blanking plate switches also need to be set in any way as I have never tinkered around with them before?

 

I guess my fault for not checking the dip switches upon first running the loco if that has blown something along the way, although I would like to think that buying a loco that's only DCC ready, you wouldn't have to worry about anything like that. 

 I have to say I’m no expert on dcc I pretty much plug and play when it comes to dcc decoders. I found out the hard way buying a none sound fitted 37 and whacking in a spare decoder I had didn’t work for me.
Has in all the lights didn’t, which was one reason I bought a AS 37.
I have bought a Sound decoder and trash speaker since and after lowering one volume to the suggested number. It sounds great and runs very smoothly. However I do remember my planking plug dip switches were not all in the same position when first tested on DC and was wondering if this might have been the problem. 
 

just to be fair to Accuracale, I have since paid for 2 next batch 37s a class 50 a 66 and a 31 from rails. So I might have had a bit of learning curve but not put of in any way. 

Edited January 4 by farren

[The Meerkat]

1 hour ago, csvt2004 said:

I've been following the thread in regard to the sound cutting out problem. I am not a electronics expert, I was a railway signalling technician and we found complex failures by using methodical disconnections. So I thought that I would just share my experience in the hope that it may be of some value.

 

Purchased 37027 sound fitted from Accurascale. Put on layout, pressed F1, sound started then stopped after 2 seconds.

Purchased 37043 sound fitted from Accurascale. Put on layout, pressed F1, sound started then stopped after 2 seconds.

Both locos would eventually fire up after standing on the layout for some time, typically around 15 min.

Purchased 37051 non sound fitted from a box shifter. Purchased sound decoder from Accurascale. Fitted decoder, worked straight away no problems.

But the sound was crap using just the sugar cube, so I purchased an Accurascale thrash speaker.

When I fitted the new speaker it caused the same fault as on my 37027 and 37043. Sound started the cut out.

So I removed the sugar cube speaker and then it burst into life. Started straight away.

Then removed the sugar cubes from 37027 and 34043 and they now work fine.

Accurascale seem to be saying that the speaker set up is specially designed for the speaker arrangement by esu. 

The speakers that I removed had a resistance reading of 2.7 ohm. 

So by altering the impedance of my speakers , my stay alives are now charging in under 1 second whereas before it took about 15 min. Yeah right.

Sounds to me that the sugar cube speakers are out of spec. They should be 4 ohms?

So is it just me? 3 class 37s and all faulty?

 

could be also that it during more current and surge motor?  again im no expert theses posts above mine know way more then i do :)

[PieGuyRob]

Well, as a DC user not DCC, it seems that DCC is a headache at the best of times IF it works. Thank god I don't work at Accurascale and having to deal with people moaning. I get enough of that in my day job.

 

 

I'm just thankful I don't do DCC, as seems nore effort than what is worth.

[55020]

7 hours ago, hminh2005 said:

Hello

 

In the user manuals of Accurascale class 37 locos there is the function F6- Light Loco mode.
What is this function used for, please?

 

Thanks

 

 

When you select F6 (which should latch) the loco acceleration and deceleration rates are adjusted and everything happens much more quickly.  Just as if the loco was running light engine or hauling a very light load..
F5 has the opposite effect, decreasing the rate of acceleration and deceleration as if it were hauling a heavy load.

 

 

Steve

[55020]

11 minutes ago, PieGuyRob said:

Well, as a DC user not DCC, it seems that DCC is a headache at the best of times IF it works. Thank god I don't work at Accurascale and having to deal with people moaning. I get enough of that in my day job.

 

 

I'm just thankful I don't do DCC, as seems nore effort than what is worth.

 

I disagree 100%.  Each to their own though. 😉

 

 

Steve

[The Meerkat]

1 minute ago, 55020 said:

 

I disagree 100%.  Each to their own though. 😉

 

 

Steve

i disagree as well

[55020]

4 hours ago, csvt2004 said:

So is it just me? 3 class 37s and all faulty?

 

I have 3 Class 37s and all work flawlessly.  Also 3 Deltics with the same speaker setup, which also work flawlessly.  So is it just me?  😂

 

 

Steve

[Growling]

2 minutes ago, 55020 said:

 

I have 3 Class 37s and all work flawlessly.  Also 3 Deltics with the same speaker setup, which also work flawlessly.  So is it just me?  😂

 

 

Steve

 

What controller do you use Steve out of interest?

[55020]

 

1 minute ago, Growling said:

 

What controller do you use Steve out of interest?

 

I've deliberately tried not to mention this, as it may result in the debate heading off down the wrong "track".  😂

 

I use an ESU ECoS, which is set to give a track voltage of 15V.

 

 

Steve

[Growling]

6 minutes ago, 55020 said:

 

 

I've deliberately tried not to mention this, as it may result in the debate heading off down the wrong "track".  😂

 

I use an ESU ECoS, which is set to give a track voltage of 15V.

 

 

Steve

 

Haha yes.... these things seem to be a topic of debate at the moment!

[McC]

4 hours ago, spamcan61 said:

ESU are OK with people relying on the chip's internal over current cut-out to protect it. It is strange that it seems to be configured so that it is unlikely to work "out of the box" 

 

To be fair to ESU, who designed the entire PCB, there were some component issues around the pandemic, which required some additional tweaking, but with over 18k 37's (ignoring the pretty much identically configured / installed IRM A Classes, 92's, Deltics etc, the incidence of both sound cut out or any such issues, is so small to be a rounding error compared to most manufacturers. It's just online, any issue becomes a self-reinforcing-echo. As repeatedly stated, we're delighted to assist anyone who needs any help with any accurascale model, or feature, our team are standing by with the experience, know how, skills, documentation, parts, replacements and support from ESU and others as needed. If anyone has any issue, it's literally what we're here to help with :) 

 

[Gilbert]

I found this helpful - both my locos were retro-fitted with Acc speakers and decoders and both needed the tweak which so far seems successful. I have two factory fitted 37s which I am yet to try in earnest.

Chris H

 

Edited January 4 by Gilbert

[NIRCLASS80]

2 hours ago, PieGuyRob said:

Well, as a DC user not DCC, it seems that DCC is a headache at the best of times IF it works. Thank god I don't work at Accurascale and having to deal with people moaning. I get enough of that in my day job.

 

 

I'm just thankful I don't do DCC, as seems nore effort than what is worth.

DCC user since 1996. Good old Lenz system. Bullet proof. I think the secret of DCC systems is buying equipment manufactured by a DCC specialist manufacturer. 
Back to the 37’s, I have been playing around with the heavy train, light engine and three different brake functions available within the V5 decoder and all I can say is that it makes driving it so much fun. 
I prefer this type of functionality to sounds of doors slamming etc. 

 

[96701]

I use a MERG controller and booster powered by a 16V power supply which gives a track voltage of 14.57V when using the ac setting on a multimeter, so the peak to peak will be more. I have no issues with neither the factory fitted sound 37 nor the 37 which I fitted with a decoder and speaker purchased from Accurascale.

[hminh2005]

13 hours ago, 55020 said:

 

When you select F6 (which should latch) the loco acceleration and deceleration rates are adjusted and everything happens much more quickly.  Just as if the loco was running light engine or hauling a very light load..
F5 has the opposite effect, decreasing the rate of acceleration and deceleration as if it were hauling a heavy load.

 

 

Steve

As shown in the image of the instruction sheet I have attached, it is F6-Light loco mode. I think it has to do with the light modes?

[astropsidings]

On 03/01/2024 at 15:12, astropsidings said:

I have the same lighting problem with a 37001 version....headcode lights and tail lights don't appear to work. Switches as recommended, brightness experiments next.....

The lights do work, but were so dim as to be invisible in daylight, and only obvious in near darkness. They’ll be tweaked, slightly.

[ERIC ALLTORQUE]

1 minute ago, astropsidings said:

The lights do work, but were so dim as to be invisible in daylight, and only obvious in near darkness. They’ll be tweaked, slightly.

Its a problem we all have, often its a struggle seeing the light especially at the end of the tunnel........just goes to show how realistic the model is:)

[georgeds]

18 hours ago, csvt2004 said:

I've been following the thread in regard to the sound cutting out problem. I am not a electronics expert, I was a railway signalling technician and we found complex failures by using methodical disconnections. So I thought that I would just share my experience in the hope that it may be of some value.

 

Purchased 37027 sound fitted from Accurascale. Put on layout, pressed F1, sound started then stopped after 2 seconds.

Purchased 37043 sound fitted from Accurascale. Put on layout, pressed F1, sound started then stopped after 2 seconds.

Both locos would eventually fire up after standing on the layout for some time, typically around 15 min.

Purchased 37051 non sound fitted from a box shifter. Purchased sound decoder from Accurascale. Fitted decoder, worked straight away no problems.

But the sound was crap using just the sugar cube, so I purchased an Accurascale thrash speaker.

When I fitted the new speaker it caused the same fault as on my 37027 and 37043. Sound started the cut out.

So I removed the sugar cube speaker and then it burst into life. Started straight away.

Then removed the sugar cubes from 37027 and 34043 and they now work fine.

Accurascale seem to be saying that the speaker set up is specially designed for the speaker arrangement by esu. 

The speakers that I removed had a resistance reading of 2.7 ohm. 

So by altering the impedance of my speakers , my stay alives are now charging in under 1 second whereas before it took about 15 min. Yeah right.

Sounds to me that the sugar cube speakers are out of spec. They should be 4 ohms?

So is it just me? 3 class 37s and all faulty?

 

I have no issues with two 37s, three deltics and a 92. Some factory fitted, some I have added AS decoder and speaker to DCC ready.

 

It's interesting how some owners have the issue and some don't, there must be another variable at play that coupled with the speaker design causes the issue. Logically a layout variable if people either have issue with all or none of their AS models.

[Dunmar]

12 hours ago, NIRCLASS80 said:

DCC user since 1996. Good old Lenz system. Bullet proof. I think the secret of DCC systems is buying equipment manufactured by a DCC specialist manufacturer. 
Back to the 37’s, I have been playing around with the heavy train, light engine and three different brake functions available within the V5 decoder and all I can say is that it makes driving it so much fun. 
I prefer this type of functionality to sounds of doors slamming etc. 

 

Likewise, I have been running DCC sound for longer than I care to remember. I have been using a Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance system for over 10 hrs now and find that it works well. I have had none of the issues mentioned in this thread with regards to cutting out, lighting issues etc. with any of the 37's I purchased, all sound decoders and speakers purchased separately and fitted by myself. I did have an issue with the first batch of decoders which was readily dealt with the Tech dept at Accurascale. Just saying! 

[Gilbert]

14 hours ago, Gilbert said:

I found this helpful - both my locos were retro-fitted with Acc speakers and decoders and both needed the tweak which so far seems successful. I have two factory fitted 37s which I am yet to try in earnest.

Chris H

 

FWIW I'm using an NCE system with a DCC Concepts 18v 2A supply

[NHY 581]

21 hours ago, PieGuyRob said:

Well, as a DC user not DCC, it seems that DCC is a headache at the best of times IF it works. Thank god I don't work at Accurascale and having to deal with people moaning. I get enough of that in my day job.

 

 

I'm just thankful I don't do DCC, as seems nore effort than what is worth.

 

I have two layouts. One DC and the other, most recently built one, DCC. The latter was built initially as DC but after helping to operate a DCC layout at a show, I wanted to give it a go and bought a NCE power cab. Basic but did everything I wanted. I then converted the new layout to DCC. When I say converted, I simply installed the DCC panel and attached the same wires previously coming from the DC controller. Ten minutes tops. 

 

I’m about to start a new layout. It will be DCC from the outset. DCC is as complicated as you want to make it. I keep it simple and still benefit from using sound equipped locos and obtaining the degree of slow running that I want. 

 

The more tekkie types can indulge themselves in infinite DCC rabbit holes. Leave them to it and don’t, as it appears you have been, be influenced or put off by it all. 

 

The fun you get from locos such as a noisy Accurascale Class 37 just cannot be had from a DC set up. My noisy D6703 is intended for a bigger East Anglian project than I can currently accomodate. This will eventually be built using DCC and I’ll be adding sound to all the locos. 

 

I repeat, DCC is as complicated as you want to make it. At a basic level, there is no more effort involved in using it than DC and even at this level, it opens up a whole new world to playing with trains. 

 

 

Rob

Edited January 5 by NHY 581

[97406]

12 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

 

I have two layouts. One DC and the other, most recently built one, DCC. The latter was built initially as DC but after helping to operate a DCC layout at a show, I wanted to give it a go and bought a NCE power cab. Basic but did everything I wanted. I then converted the new layout to DCC. When I say converted, I simply installed the DCC panel and attached the same wires previously coming from the DC controller. Ten minutes tops. 

 

I’m about to start a new layout. It will be DCC from the outset. DCC is as complicated as you want to make it. I keep it simple and still benefit from using sound equipped locos and obtaining the degree of slow running that I want. 

 

The more tekkie types can indulge themselves in infinite DCC rabbit holes. Leave them to it and don’t, as it appears you have been, be influenced or put off by it all. 

 

The fun you get from locos such as a noisey Accurascale Class 37 just cannot be had from a DC set up. My noisey D6703 is intended for a bigger East Anglian project than I can currently accomodate. This will eventually be built using DCC and I’ll be adding sound to all the locos. 

 

I repeat, DCC is as complicated as you want to make it. At a basic level, there is no more effort involved in using it than DC and even at this level, it opens up a whole new world to playing with trains. 

 

 

Rob

 

The sound equipped AS 37s get used on track cleaning duties on my layout which involves a lot of drag from the cleaning wagon, which is great for enjoying the thrash and all perform faultlessly whilst on duty. 

[55020]

3 hours ago, hminh2005 said:

As shown in the image of the instruction sheet I have attached, it is F6-Light loco mode. I think it has to do with the light modes?

 

No.  It has nothing to do with "lights" and is exactly how I described it to you.  It makes the loco perform as if it were running light engine.

 

 

Steve

[Growling]

1 hour ago, Gilbert said:

FWIW I'm using an NCE system with a DCC Concepts 18v 2A supply

 

Thanks, that is useful. Have run into problems with my AS 37 after some more extensive running in (support ticket is with AS).

 

I am wondering if a DCC concepts upgraded power supply for my NCE powercab would alleviate root cause going forward.

[SRman]

10 minutes ago, Growling said:

 

Thanks, that is useful. Have run into problems with my AS 37 after some more extensive running in (support ticket is with AS).

 

I am wondering if a DCC concepts upgraded power supply for my NCE powercab would alleviate root cause going forward.

 

I have been pondering upgrading mine on a Power Pro system. Currently it uses a 15V AC 5 Amp computer laptop supply, which means the actual track voltage is lower (I haven't measured it, though). NCE say that the Power Pro can take 19V AC, so I have bought a suitable laptop supply with 4.5 Amps output. I haven't plucked up the courage to connect it yet.

How does this relate to the Accurascale 37s? Well, all of mine have the stay-alives working when I put them on my programming track with a Power Cab powering it, but when they are on the main lines with the Power Pro, none of the stay-alives are working. While all of my points are live frog and have auto-polarity switches, none of the locomotives stall on them, so it hasn't been a high priority for me to "fix" the problem (such as it is), but it is something I'd like to have working eventually.