23rd November 2015 – Operation Your ‘L’ Class With Sound

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23rd NOVEMBER, 2015 – OPERATING YOUR L CLASS WITH SOUND

Due to a  higher than norman volume of phone calls regarding the operation of the sound version of our ‘L’ class, we firstly draw your attention to the following points:

1. The model has been deigned specifically for the ESU Loksound decoder. It is the first diesel locomotive model in Austrlaia to have factory fitted sound.
2. It is therefore important to read the accompaning manual BEFORE  placing the model on the track and operating it
3. The following notes have been created to help you better understand the operation of your model locomotive.

SRM L class operation using factory installed ESU Select decoder (DCC)

The factory installed ESU Select decoder operates with sophisticated hardware and software. The software emulates the prototypical operation of a real locomotive, in this case that of ex WAGR L class member L251. The following information is provided as a guide only:

1)      Place the model on the track

2)      Prime mover start-up. Press F1 on the DCC cab controller. The prime move start-up sequence commences. With a 16-645E3 prime mover, the first sounds heard are of the turbo lube and fuel prime. Then the main engine cranks over and fires. The cold engine start-up sequence takes approximately 10 seconds. If the engine is restarted, an alternate  warm engine start-up sequence will occur. This follows prototypical operation.

3)      Once the prime mover completes its start-up sequence, the idle sound will loop until throttle is applied. The idle cycle length is 3.6 seconds long but as it is made up of 4 elements, when throttle is applied, the model will respond within 1 second. This has been developed so as to provide a smooth idle sound as well as a model responsive to throttle inputs.

4)      Reverser. F4 simulates the prototype’s reverser (forward, neutral, reverse direction in real locomotive). When the loco’s prime mover settles into idle from start-up, the engine sound will be in “low idle”, which is achieved when the selector is in the neutral position. With the model stationary, engage F4 and apply throttle. The loco will not move, as the selector is in the modelled “neutral” state.

5)      By default, the decoder has been set with the following acceleration and deceleration values which emulate prototypical prime mover response:

CV 3 (acceleration): 104, CV 4 (deceleration): 82

Changing the values in CV3 & 4 will have an affect on the rate of change of speed at which the model accelerates                               and decelerates. Any chnages should not be set too low, otherwise the sound speed will get out of phase from the physical speed of the model. Either CV can be set to a maximum value of 255. At such a setting however, the model will be slow to respond to throttle inputs.

6)      Applying throttle from rest (idle) and the decoder will follow one of two routes, depending upon the rate of speed  application: 1) Moderate increase in prime mover notching from notch point 1 through to 8, or 2) Heavier increase in prime mover work output such that notch 8 will be reached sooner.

7)      Manual notching. This feature, controlled through the use of F5 & F6 enables the “notch point” of the model to be set higher than the natural notch of the model for a given speed. For example, if notch 4 occurred at 50% of the loco’s maximum speed, to simulate a heavy load, press F5 and the decoder will notch-up from notch 4 to notch 8, one notch at a time (so long as F5 is on). To prevent the notch rising all the way to 8, only activate F5 for a shory period, say 2 seconds, then turn it off. In this case the notch will increase from 4 to 5 or 6, depending on how low F5 was active for. Conversely, use F6 (with F5 off of course) to bring the notch back down to F4, in this example. Manual notching can be best practised with the model in the stationary position. With the idle sound playing, press F5 and leave it on. The notch point will rise from idle to notch 1 and all the way to notch 8. Then, with it in notch 8, turn off F5 and then turn on F6. The decoder will respond by bringing the notch point back down to idle, as that was the original starting point.

8)      Prime mover shutdown. With the model in the staionary position, turn off F1. The prime mover will commence the shutdown sequence. If F1 is pressed before the model comes to rest, the prime mover sound will mute. To unmute, press F1. 

Any questions regarding L class decoder operation may be directed to Mike Walters at the following email address: mike.dccsound@gmail.com

By the way, the third shipment containg the 3 ARG versions and the WAGR two tone blue version left China over a week ago and are due to arrive aroung the 28th of the month

Regards

Rocket