https://bigbluetrains.com/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 01:27:51 +0000 MyBB https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=10270 Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:56:13 +0000 tompm]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=10270
At first things were going well. When I do break-in sessions I switch back and forth with sound on and off. Personally, I am not a fan of sound. After a time for me it just becomes noise. Also, I want to hear the locomotive and its motor.

I was running with the sound turned off and suddenly; the sound comes on. It took me several tries to get it turned off. Everything is good until a few moments later when the horn starts blowing continuously. Again, it took several attempts to turn the horn off. Then the bell comes on. I do a factory reset and things return to normal and I have no more issues and I call it a night.

Tonight I go to the layout to finish the break-in.  The random sound turning on issues starts after a few minutes. Now if that is not enough the locomotive starts stalling at random spots. I do another reset and first it helps but then we are back to the sound and stalling issues. Another reset. I now try DC. The locomotive does not run.

At this point I pull out another locomotive. The locomotive is my LNE Bachmann DCC onboard 2-8-0 Consolidation. The Bachmann runs without any issues.

I am beginning to think I have a bad decoder. Am I right or could there be something else?]]>
At first things were going well. When I do break-in sessions I switch back and forth with sound on and off. Personally, I am not a fan of sound. After a time for me it just becomes noise. Also, I want to hear the locomotive and its motor.

I was running with the sound turned off and suddenly; the sound comes on. It took me several tries to get it turned off. Everything is good until a few moments later when the horn starts blowing continuously. Again, it took several attempts to turn the horn off. Then the bell comes on. I do a factory reset and things return to normal and I have no more issues and I call it a night.

Tonight I go to the layout to finish the break-in.  The random sound turning on issues starts after a few minutes. Now if that is not enough the locomotive starts stalling at random spots. I do another reset and first it helps but then we are back to the sound and stalling issues. Another reset. I now try DC. The locomotive does not run.

At this point I pull out another locomotive. The locomotive is my LNE Bachmann DCC onboard 2-8-0 Consolidation. The Bachmann runs without any issues.

I am beginning to think I have a bad decoder. Am I right or could there be something else?]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=10032 Fri, 09 May 2025 01:31:46 +0000 andy.chandler71@gmail.com]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=10032
Am i doing the impossible?  thanks]]>
Am i doing the impossible?  thanks]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=10014 Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:26:06 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=10014 https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9995 Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:41:15 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9995
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]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9994 Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:31:10 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9994
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]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9944 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 03:25:54 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9944
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]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9942 Thu, 24 Oct 2024 21:32:57 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9942
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]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9938 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 21:12:38 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9938
https://youtu.be/TulhseHIHlE?si=BdE-E230JUdgvPJt]]>
https://youtu.be/TulhseHIHlE?si=BdE-E230JUdgvPJt]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9936 Sat, 05 Oct 2024 13:37:59 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9936
This was a simple, quick and satisfying install that really make this engine pretty damn nice.




What do you guys think.]]>
This was a simple, quick and satisfying install that really make this engine pretty damn nice.




What do you guys think.]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9935 Wed, 02 Oct 2024 03:26:07 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9935
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]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9934 Wed, 02 Oct 2024 03:19:38 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9934
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]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9932 Sat, 28 Sep 2024 19:27:18 +0000 Charlie B]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9932
I just got an SD70ACe in HO scale and it is DCC/sound equipped with their system. It runs and works well but programming is a little bit different. 

I am trying to set the ACC and DCC rate  to zero as I do all my locomotives.  Can anyone tell me what PWM mode is on these machines? I think it has something to do with the motor control but I don't like to guess. 

Charlie]]>
I just got an SD70ACe in HO scale and it is DCC/sound equipped with their system. It runs and works well but programming is a little bit different. 

I am trying to set the ACC and DCC rate  to zero as I do all my locomotives.  Can anyone tell me what PWM mode is on these machines? I think it has something to do with the motor control but I don't like to guess. 

Charlie]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9709 Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:20:52 +0000 tompm]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9709
Since I have a large number of DC locos the layout is wired for both. I still have a lot of wiring to do. Currently only half the track is wired using drops and the layout is sectioned into two blocks. I do have a surge protector between the track and the cab/transformers. I have a toggle which controls whether the layout is in DCC or DC mode.

Now for the true purpose of my post. I am ready to start converting my DC locos over to DCC. I am going to start with the DCC ready ones first. I need to work on my soldering skills before I try the others. I have an assortment of Walthers Proto, Proto 2000, Atlas Silver, Bowser, Athearn, and Bachmann. I have searched for mobile decoders. At this time, I am not interested in sound. To my dismay I have seen a gazillion different types of decoders to choose from. As a matter of fact there are so many I am overwhelmed to the point of indecision. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that the costs of many decoders is not outrageous as I had feared.

My question or request is what decoders should I consider using in these DCC ready models?]]>
Since I have a large number of DC locos the layout is wired for both. I still have a lot of wiring to do. Currently only half the track is wired using drops and the layout is sectioned into two blocks. I do have a surge protector between the track and the cab/transformers. I have a toggle which controls whether the layout is in DCC or DC mode.

Now for the true purpose of my post. I am ready to start converting my DC locos over to DCC. I am going to start with the DCC ready ones first. I need to work on my soldering skills before I try the others. I have an assortment of Walthers Proto, Proto 2000, Atlas Silver, Bowser, Athearn, and Bachmann. I have searched for mobile decoders. At this time, I am not interested in sound. To my dismay I have seen a gazillion different types of decoders to choose from. As a matter of fact there are so many I am overwhelmed to the point of indecision. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that the costs of many decoders is not outrageous as I had feared.

My question or request is what decoders should I consider using in these DCC ready models?]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9664 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 02:18:31 +0000 TMo]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9664
I call Sam "Mr. Microhands".  Seriously, he has really tiny fingers and hands and we'd always employ him for tightening fasteners in really tight quarters.  He's also a Ford guy - drives a 66 Fairlane as his daily driver, has a 66 Galaxie convertible, does all the maintenance and repair on them, has a '60 Impala and his wife has a '69 Camaro R/S.  He's also an electrical engineer, so I anticipate he'd have no issue installing an encoder.

Figured we'd start slow and easy - he bought a Digitrax encoder (no sound) with a harness with long leads that we're going to fit into an Athearn blue box Alco 1000 switcher.  It'll be good to have some foreign power run through the gorge at some point soon and I'll get some pictures.]]>
I call Sam "Mr. Microhands".  Seriously, he has really tiny fingers and hands and we'd always employ him for tightening fasteners in really tight quarters.  He's also a Ford guy - drives a 66 Fairlane as his daily driver, has a 66 Galaxie convertible, does all the maintenance and repair on them, has a '60 Impala and his wife has a '69 Camaro R/S.  He's also an electrical engineer, so I anticipate he'd have no issue installing an encoder.

Figured we'd start slow and easy - he bought a Digitrax encoder (no sound) with a harness with long leads that we're going to fit into an Athearn blue box Alco 1000 switcher.  It'll be good to have some foreign power run through the gorge at some point soon and I'll get some pictures.]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9630 Mon, 22 Aug 2022 09:48:35 +0000 Schraddel]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9630
in March 2019 i ordered ordered two of the then announced ALCo RS-3s from Bowser. In August 2022 one of the reserved units arrived at my dealer.






My first attempt to fit sound into the loco. Zimo has a new speaker type in their assortement. They use the same 13 x 18mm driver, but fit them into a new lower casing, so the whole speaker is of only 8mm height.
Beforehand said, i was not so amused; but listen yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZhzPfZZ_SY The translated text: "Flat sound capsules produce flat sound too."

#1861 is the new Bowser loco and #1806 is a old Atlas one.
Both locos have the same sound decoder Tsunami 2 installed.
Both locos have the same adjustments of the decoders; in real i paste the sound configurations of #1807 sounddecoder and copy it into #1861 sounddecoder. So they have the exact same CVs and configuration.
The only difference are the speakers.


This is one speaker of #1807 the Atlas ALCo, later i removed the flywheel and installed a second Zimo speaker of 13 x 18 x13mm size


My conclusion:
"Hubraum ist durch nichts zu ersetzen, ausser durch noch mehr Hubraum." (Old American wisdom)
My translation attempt: Cubic capacity can be replaced by nothing, except by still more cubic capacity.

I am going to put things right.


Lutz]]>
in March 2019 i ordered ordered two of the then announced ALCo RS-3s from Bowser. In August 2022 one of the reserved units arrived at my dealer.






My first attempt to fit sound into the loco. Zimo has a new speaker type in their assortement. They use the same 13 x 18mm driver, but fit them into a new lower casing, so the whole speaker is of only 8mm height.
Beforehand said, i was not so amused; but listen yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZhzPfZZ_SY The translated text: "Flat sound capsules produce flat sound too."

#1861 is the new Bowser loco and #1806 is a old Atlas one.
Both locos have the same sound decoder Tsunami 2 installed.
Both locos have the same adjustments of the decoders; in real i paste the sound configurations of #1807 sounddecoder and copy it into #1861 sounddecoder. So they have the exact same CVs and configuration.
The only difference are the speakers.


This is one speaker of #1807 the Atlas ALCo, later i removed the flywheel and installed a second Zimo speaker of 13 x 18 x13mm size


My conclusion:
"Hubraum ist durch nichts zu ersetzen, ausser durch noch mehr Hubraum." (Old American wisdom)
My translation attempt: Cubic capacity can be replaced by nothing, except by still more cubic capacity.

I am going to put things right.


Lutz]]>