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Author Previous Topic: Older decoders, what to use them for. Topic Next Topic: sudden speed shifts  

High Ball

Posted - 11/04/2009 :  09:59:16  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hello;

Operating on DC it is not possible to MU a non sound loco with a sound loco on DC because of the different starting voltage. The non sound unit will be long gone before the sound unit starts to move???

Operating on DCC it is possbile to MU a non sound loco with a sound loco provided the speed values are set the same????

Is my understanding correct?

thank you.
nicholas

Country: USA | Posts: 643

Sharkman

Posted - 11/04/2009 :  10:44:58  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I can not say for sure, because I do not have sound decoders, but DCC provides full power voltage to the decoder unlike the gradual power increase in DC. So from that alone I would think that it is not an issue provided the locomotives are speed matched. I have cohorts that use sound in N scale, and they have run intermixed sound and non sound units with no problems.

Our Future is what We Make It!!!!!

Country: USA | Posts: 2173 Go to Top of Page

wjstix

Posted - 11/04/2009 :  12:41:26  Show Profile  Visit wjstix's Homepage  Reply with Quote
You are correct, assuming you've "speed matched" the locos you can run two or more engines together regardless of whether some have sound and some don't.

The only thing to keep in mind (if you have a large layout running many trains anyway) is that a sound engine does still use more power than a non-sound one. A rule of thumb is to count a sound-equipped engine as two engines, when determining how many engines you can run. (So say your system has a maximum of 11 engines, you could run 11 non-sound engines at the same time, but maybe only 5 or 6 sound ones.)

Although many folks feel all engines need sound to be realistic, many of us are OK with running a train with 2 or 3 diesels where only the first one has sound, or an A-B set of F units or E units where only one unit has sound.


Stix

BNSF / CP to you...CB&Q / Milwaukee Road to me !!

Edited by - wjstix on 11/04/2009 12:44:42

Country: USA | Posts: 2188 Go to Top of Page

Jens_Wulf

Posted - 11/04/2009 :  13:30:33  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
some sound decoders (or sound projects) provide a delayed start by playing a startup-sequence before the loco (motor) starts to move. So the non-sound-decoder may still be ahead during acceleration. Balancing with CV3/4 may be real tricky here.


Country: | Posts: 657 Go to Top of Page

ACL1099

Posted - 11/04/2009 :  15:01:27  Show Profile  Send ACL1099 an AOL message  Reply with Quote
You're correct. You can MU sound and no sound on DCC. Exception is Loksound because they have a slight delay in moving away from a stop, but it's not a huge deal.


Country: Western Samoa | Posts: 1318 Go to Top of Page

atsfman

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  14:46:04  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I have several mixed consists set up and yes, speed matching works fine. I really don't like sound (hard on my hearing aids) but visitors like it, so when on tour, I run the mixed sound/no sound.

Bob


Bob Miller
Modeling the Santa Fe
in Oklahoma 1989
http://atsfmodelrailroads.com

Country: USA | Posts: 2738 Go to Top of Page

BRVRR

Posted - 11/07/2009 :  09:54:56  Show Profile  Visit BRVRR's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I have several sets of sound/non-sound locomotives. Some are even mixed and matched from different manufacturers.

The key is speed matching the locos.

I selected one loco to be the 'master loco' and speed matched everything else to it. That way I can make up a power set with any combination of locos that strike my fancy. So far this system has worked well.

For instance I have run a BLI Mikado with a set of Athearn BB F7s, A-unit with sound, B-unit powered, without problems.

The key is speed matching the locos. I use my computer and DecoderPro for matching. It makes it much easier believe me.


Remember: It's your railroad.
Allan
See my layout & web site here: http://intergate.com/~acoates149

Country: USA | Posts: 749 Go to Top of Page

k9wrangler

Posted - 11/07/2009 :  17:29:47  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I did the concept one better, I took a set of P2K Alco FA/B-2s and run them with one QSI Revolution decoder and ran the wires from both units to the decoder in the B unit and have speakers in both. They run well together that way. The set looks about like one of the UPs big turbine with all the wires running between then. Next time I'll put the decoder in the A unit so I don't have to deal with headlight wiring between the two units.

Karl Scribner
H.M.F.W.B.I.C.
Sunfield Twp. Michigan

Signature image too big.
graphic by McCann
Just a grumpy old man playing with my toy trains!
Friend of SPIKRE

Edited by - k9wrangler on 11/07/2009 17:30:52

Country: USA | Posts: 2223 Go to Top of Page
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