mikeg

I have a KA in my O gauge class 60 which together with the large flywheels will enable the loco to run about 100ft if the power is turned from full to zero in one turn of the knob, my class 20's run about 15ft but have much smaller KA I think they are a third of the class 60 as have two capacitors and the 60 has 6. my fowler has not had the KA unit fitted and runs on about 2ft so is a very slow and positive runner I think due to the chip that came with it but not fitted. regards mikeg

Paul, Thanks for your reply, the motor I was going to use it for draws 1-1.5 amps so will have to think again. The loco has two motors so I thought would use a decoder on each, I have a spare 1.5-2amp TCS T1 that I have used on one motor the same in a small tank engine that runs well, so was hoping that a TTS on the other in the 59 would give me sound! mikeg

Malc, pictures.

Can anybody tell me what amps the TTS are as thinking of using one in a class 59 using the 66 one, the loco has two motors so was going to use standard decoder on the other motor and use to two as a consist to keep the motors in sinc. mike g

Hi Malc, sorry the track plan was on my old laptop and the main disc drive went and I was unable to retrieve any files, I have looked for the photo's I took before dismantling but they must be on my phone that I used for wireless control of my Z21 DCC system that is not linked to this computer. I will look tomorrow and see if I can email them to this computer and then place on here. regards mike

My list from Digitrans goes upto F28 so I think you have a page missing! mike g

The problem with the wiring is if common return has been used on the layout in question as if DCC is connected to this I suspect that a direct short will in place somewhere on the layout. I had this problem on a club layout and had to remove the common return from the two track that we wanted to use DCC on. We now have DPDT switches to use either DC or DCC on each circuit which has been in use for 2/3 years without any problems. regards mike g

I have modelled Swanage in O and got a condensed version in 22ft by 2ft6in length shortened by 40% and width for only 2 sidings, is now being dismantled as I no longer can easily get into loft so have gone for industrial layout 18ft 6in by 2ft 6in using the old layout base frames with 9mm ply tops. Used 10mm MDF with just track bed on original Swanage layout, but it had sagged a bit but still ran OK. As has been said to model it in O requires about 30ft by 8ft to allow 6+ coach trains and the full approach sidings past the engine shed. regards mikeg

Phil, its not the motor, the sound chips have this effect if you have BEMF turned on, also the start voltage needs to be turned up as this also helps the motors to start at speed steps 1-4 above that the motors usually start without studdering. If you search in the DCC section you will find the CV values that have been given to stop this. regards Mike G

I have a Z21 and not railcom, the Z21 will read on the programm track or on the main if only one loco is on the track, I found this out whilst using on my workshop test track that has a switch between the two outputs when I forgot to switch from the main to program and it still read the chip. mike g

Have you turned BEMF off as coreless motors do not run well if its ON, I had to do this with a Dapol Q1 as it would go very fast from start on speed step 2/3, will craw on speed step 1 with BEMF OFF, on my O gauge loco's with portiscap motors the same applied which is how I knew this was the problem, found out in 1998 with TCS chips. regards mike g

I have found that the DCC forum's on here are the best place to find details of most thing you need to know about programming, been using DCC for about 20yrs and still learning, so just have ago, any problem you can normally do a reset CV8 = 8, and start again. regards mike g

I also have Zimo chips in my 2 class 20's and have them in a consit with one running each way, very good results and the sound is superb. I don't think you can better Pauls sound files and he is always glad to help online if you need it. regards mike g

I'm also a Z21 use and find with the Ipad that both loco & point control come up on a sideways screen so do not have to keep changing from one to the other. I also use a £35 phone for basic testing of locos and accessories as it is kept with the layout, only problem it sometimes will not read CV's or program 4 digit numbers but that's due to it being a cheep model! The other thing I find good is the fuction programming for sound, also that it is displayed on screen with the loco control. regards mike g

Hi, I have used Lenz, TCS, Bachmann, Hornby & ESU for sound, but have now standerdised on Zimo for both sound & non sound as I have found that the programming of CV's easy and they seem to give me the best control. Also there is a wide range of sizes and I have not had any space issues even with narrow gauge locos. regards mikeg

In the loco settings press the function bar and a function map appears together with two lists and a test button, select the first box and then press F0 then the symbol you wish to use, then the test button to check the function. Then proceed with F1 etc until you have all the functions you require. Hope that is clear, it's very easy once you have done one. regards mikeg

Paul, have rebooted my Z21 and found that 266 was set to 64 but I got an error from 313 so reprogrammed to 0, still no sound so set 265 to 101, loco now back to normal all sound plus lights on right F#, so thank you one again for your help, if it goes wrong again I will get a reboot with your latest offering. regards mike g

Paul, I think it will be F19 as I think I switched that on and as my hand set does not show over F12 I may not have switched it off, I will do the resets you suggest as the sound has been very good. I will let you know but due to not being able to use my controller at the moment,it will not be until later next week when I will have it back set up. thanks for your help mike g

Thank for your replies, I know that F1 turns it on and off and it is doing this due to the slow start up when its on the loco goes through the start up and then starts moving on step 1, if F1 is off the loco moves as soon as the control is touched. I have tried F19 & 27 using my computer interface and they have no effect, hence my question, con any thing else cause loss of sound. I have checked the chip and speaker connections and they are all OK! Any further suggestions very welcome. mike g

I have lost the sound in my class 31, but as the chip setting were custom set with the help of Paul C about 4 years ago I do not want to do a reset has anyone any idea which F# turns the sound off, I think the chip is a 645 but not sure as I cant find the original tin or instructions mike g

Andrew P, if you use the prodigy to change the number it automatically turns DC on it was only when I changed to the Roco Z21 that I found this out when reading the CV's from 1 to 29 to check the settings and found that all had DC on, I was doing the check after one decoder that I thought was faulty had had the chip set as 0000 using the prodigy POM and left the address box blank so had set it to 0000 by mistake. This has happened twice but the second time I just did CV8=8 and I was back to 3, I found that some chips will reset to 3 if there is a short on the whole layout, most disconcerting when several move at once when the short is removed. regards mike g

Keith, when I had a layout in the garden I to used a block with hardboard and it does an excellent job. I have also used end grain of 2x1 timber and I think its better as once dirty, and it gets very black, you just cut a slice off, say 1/8th and its a new cleaning tool. simples! regards mike g

Hi Clive, I've had this problem with shorts and gaugemaster chips, I always do a reset CV8=8 and then renumber to correct address but I do not turn DC off as I found this was part of the problem, the two loco's now rarely stop working. regards mike g

All I've had is silence, I have sent information and not had any reply's! mike g

Found the problem with my point, the feed wire had come out of the screw connecter by not far enough to see it was out but no power to motor reconnected and all working well. Also all my loco go the way they should, but still not right on the android! so will not be using it. I think that it should be made clear on the Roco site that the system is designed for Apple system, and Andriod is the second choice. regards mike g