Running DMUs in pairs - decoder setup

[maq1988]

Hi, 

 

I've got a some Farish DMUs I'd like to run as a permanent pair (2-cars per set, 4-cars total), looking for a bit of advice on two options on setting this up. (Each car requires it's own decoder, one motorised, the other for dummy car lighting). From what I see I have two options:

 

A. Set up each 2-car set with it's own address (one decoder per set will need to be programmed to be 'in reverse' for dummy lighting). Join the two sets together as a consist on the controller, which in my case is a Prodigy Advanced.

B. Set up all cars with the same address (two decoders will need to be programmed to be 'in reverse' for dummy lighting).

 

Is there a best practice for this kind of thing? I can always uncouple the two units in the future and re-programme if I'd like to run them separately.

 

Cheers,

 

[muddys-blues]

Hi, what system are you using ? does your system have a consist function ?

 

Best regards

Craig.

[maq1988]

Hi, I'm using a Prodigy Advanced 2. It has a consist function that I've used a few times before, but only for temporary double-heading. Cheers.

 

Edit: As a note, I've not purchased decoders yet for the DMUs

[muddys-blues]

Hi, you should be able to set up the 2-car set as one unit by programming both coaches on the track together, this will give you your lighting direction, but in truth you don't want any lights on the 2 cab ends that are coupled together, so I am not sure if you can programme the coupled cab ends so they can be switched off.

 

Best regards

Craig.

[maq1988]

Great, thanks for the info, how the middle facing lights should be was going to be my next question in the UK Prototypes Questions section. The Farish 101 models have little switches underneath to turn off the lights for each cab manually which will solve the coupled ends. Brilliant.

[muddys-blues]

Good news, job done then, just remember to have both cars on the track in their usual set up and programme them as one.

[Adrian Wintle]

You can also set them up as advanced consists by setting CV19 in each decoder to the consist address (assuming the decoders support advanced consisting). This would allow each unit to have its own address (allowing independent control of the lighting functions), but the whole set to operate together and respond to the consist address. Look up advanced consisting as thre are sone subtleties to it.

 

Adrian

[Phil S]

Surelythe  'cab lights' switch is not the directional lights, but the cab itself ??? - at least, that is how Bachmann interpret it in 00 - I assume N is the same, with graham Farish??.

With 4 decoders - ie 1 per coach, there should be no problem with controlling the lights, and even passenger interior lights independantly. [Although, in N, you may be finding space limitations]

 

The 'worst case' scenario is to have all 4 decoders as different addresses - lighting is obviously not then a problem as its all individual, and then use 'Consist' for the 2 outer driving cars.

 

A better solution is to use decoders which allow the Functions to be redefined to different F keys - so that, for each pair, each coach has independant F-keys for its lights.

The cheapness, in 00 at least (I only have N in narrow gauge myself) of 4-function decoders with definable functions now makes independant lighting much easier ... unfortunately the Hattons decoders I am now using - to replace some of my earliest decoders with 1 or 2 functions ... don't allow dimming of the lights (although they have many programmable lighting styles)

Hardware dimming/brightness control  therefore needs a range of resistors when fitting ... and with modern LEDs, a 1k resistor is too bright in many cases.

[Stevelewis]

If  you  are  running  as  a  4  car  set   and  you  dont  require  the INNER marker  lights  to be  illuminated at  all, then simply  remove  the  blanking plug from the  unpowered car and couple  these nose to nose,  if the  format  is incorrect  then  it  should be poss to do a body swop on 1 of the 2 car units.

 

As far as  programming is concerned simply reverse the  direction of  1 decoder  ( see decoder instructions  re  CV 29)  then set   the address to the  same number for  each powered car

 

Ironically  I set  up  a  friends 00   6 car DMU (  3  x 2 car units)  not  long  ago.

 

6 car DMUs ( 3 x 2 cars)  were quite a common sight in the Manchester  area in the  late  50s  when i was  young!!

[muddys-blues]

Hi Steve, I have found with DMU's with 2 x decoders there is no need to reverse CV29 as when the units are placed on the track the power pick ups would be opposite for the wiring anyway as they are in effect position opposed to each other, hence when say the motorised car s going forward, the chip in the dummy car knows it is travelling in a reverse direction so it illuminates the red marker lights.

 

I hope that what I have written makes sense ???

[Adrian Wintle]

Hi Steve, I have found with DMU's with 2 x decoders there is no need to reverse CV29 as when the units are placed on the track the power pick ups would be opposite for the wiring anyway as they are in effect position opposed to each other, hence when say the motorised car s going forward, the chip in the dummy car knows it is travelling in a reverse direction so it illuminates the red marker lights.

 

I hope that what I have written makes sense ???

 

It makes sense within the DMU, but when running two DMUs with the power cars at each end of the consist you would have to reverse 'normal direction of travel' (NDOT) for one of them (or consist them such that one is set up to be reversed).

 

Adrian

[TomJ]

The easiest thing to do with the inner lights is to couple up the units with the dummy units inner most - next to each other. Then just remove the blanking plate from the plug so there are no lights at all. Also saves a couple of decoders as well