Consisted Locos don't keep settings after power cycle

[haasmarc]

I am having an issue and I thought maybe one of the DCC experts here might know the answer.

I just got 2 ESU 58721's programed with EMD SD50 sound files.  I installed them in 2 Atlas SD50's and when running individually they work fine.  When I consist them together using my EasyDCC system, everything works fine, correct lights light up depending on direction and sound on in both units, until I turn off power and turn it on again.  Now, the lead unit retains it's lighting and sound settings (i.e. lights on and sound on) but the trailing unit has it's lights and sound off.  I tried swapping lead units and the same thing happened to the new trailing unit.  When I select the trailing unit by itself, the sound and lighting come on as expected.

I thought this was strange and I had a 3 unit set of atlas gold C420's that were consisted.  When I fired them up, only the middle unit's sound was on, I didn't look at the lights.  Is there some cv to retain settings when consisted or is this something EasyDCC is doing?

[haasmarc]

I just tried 2 BLI F7s and they work perfectly so I don't think it is an EasyDCC issue.  Must be an esu decoder issue.

[peteski]

Marc,
I think CVP uses advanced consisting method.  CV 19 holds the consist address to which the locos will respond to (as far as motor control). Then CV20 and 21 are used to determine whether the decoder's functions are controlled by the consist address or by the locos's "normal" address.

Is this the first time you have tried using ESU decoders in a consist?

[haasmarc]

Pete,

Not the first time but since I turn down the sound level it is the first time I noticed that not all the engines were making sounds.  I usually have music playing as well when I'm just dinking around.

[haasmarc]

I'll look at those cv's but my BLI locos work perfectly consisted the same way.

[peteski]

When you state "turn the power off then on", do you mean lift locos of the track, or power cycle your CVP EasyDCC command station?

If advanced consisting is in fact being used then the decoders retain their CV settings (19, 21, 22), so their behavior should not change due to power being removed.

[haasmarc]

I tried lifting the locos and deselecting the block.  I did not power cycle the command station.

[peteski]

I tried lifting the locos and deselecting the block.  I did not power cycle the command station.

Before additional troubleshooting can you verify that advanced consist is in use?  Can you read out the contents of CV 19, 21, 22 from both locos?

[rodsup9000]

   With Easy DCC, you can do it either "standard" or "advance".

[haasmarc]

I've had a chance to play with this some more.

I have been using the standard consist mode with EasyDcc.  I like it because I can use the lead loco's number for the consist number.  Again, this works great with the BLI locos I've tested.

I used both the Lokprogrammer and the command station to set up advanced consists to try.  Advanced consists do seem to resolve my issue with lighting and sounds except I can't get the lighting to respond correctly.  On the lead unit and trailing unit, I have cv 22 set to 1 which should only light up the headlight and not the backup light.  However, on both units, the backup lights light when those units are traveling in reverse.  Any idea what I am missing?  The middle unit has cv 22 set to 0 and the lighting stays off as it should.

I really do not like having to restrict the consist address.  Using the loco number is nice in standard mode.  I used the last 2 digits of the lead loco for my tests.  What do most people use for a naming convention when using advanced consisting?

[reinhardtjh]

On the lead unit and trailing unit, I have cv 22 set to 1 which should only light up the headlight and not the backup light.  However, on both units, the backup lights light when those units are traveling in reverse.  Any idea what I am missing?  The middle unit has cv 22 set to 0 and the lighting stays off as it should.

That does sound familiar where someone was having problems with the BLI P3 or P4 not doing Rule 17 lighting correctly or something like that.