Loc Sound Select Micro oddity.

[SkipGear]

I recently installed a Loc Sound Select in a GS-4 for a friend. It works flawlessly on DCC. When he took it home to test run it on his small DC test loop, it required at least 70% throttle to start up, and then it makes a jack rabbit start for a couple inches, shuts down and starts the whole process over. He was using a Tech 4 so I thought it might be DC pulses messing with the decoder. I have tried 4 different transformers, it acts the same on all.

I have made sure analog was enabled in the decoder. I have played with the analog start and max voltage settings. I have disabled the sound when in analog. Nothing makes it right. Turning the sound off seems to help the most so it seems like it may be current overload/voltage sag issue. I have never had a decoder act like this before. Any suggestions?

Yes it has stay alive caps installed.

[jdcolombo]

Hi Tony.

I can't help you directly, because I never run my LokSound-equipped locos on DC.  But there is an ESU LokSound group on Yahoo Groups that Matt Hermann, the head honcho of ESU's US operation, actively participates in, and there is collectively a lot of knowledge in that group.   You might try joining and doing a post there.

John C.

[peteski]

I'm curious what happens if the DC voltage is then increased beyond the voltage which makes the loco surge,. It might be possible that the voltage at that point is right on the cusp of being usable (by the decoder) so it shuts down and restarts.

[SkipGear]

At full throttle on the transformer, it still surges, but not as bad, and when it does run, it is WFO, hold on.

[Sdynamo]

Skip Gear,

When you programmed the LOK did you turn off the "Brake on DC" and all that?  There are a number of DC features on the Lok I've seen cause strange issues.  Our resident LOK guy tells us to turn off the brake on DC or you'll have issues trying to run the locos on a wheel cleaner powered by DC (the Trix brass thing).

[SkipGear]

Yes, already turned off all the odd brake features. I comes down to this decoders takes more voltage to run than others. There are some settings to adjust the start up voltage. I haven't found the right combination of settings yet.

Really not liking this decoder. There is a point when things become too adjustable.

[peteski]

Yes, already turned off all the odd brake features. I comes down to this decoders takes more voltage to run than others. There are some settings to adjust the start up voltage. I haven't found the right combination of settings yet.

Really not liking this decoder. There is a point when things become too adjustable.

You haven't seen "too adjustable" until you see the 434-page manual for the QSI sound decoders!   

My opinion is also that DCC decoders (sound on silent) were designed for DCC operation. Running on DC is strictly a supplemental feature.

[SkipGear]

You haven't seen "too adjustable" until you see the 434-page manual for the QSI sound decoders!   

My opinion is also that DCC decoders (sound on silent) were designed for DCC operation. Running on DC is strictly a supplemental feature.

The problem with the Lok Sound is that there are features that they mention in passing but never explain what they do in the manual.

The only reason this needs to run on DC is so the owner can test it before heading to shows and he doesn't have DCC at home.