DCC Consist help

[chicken45]

I'm looking for advice on what to do with my new BLI centipedes.
What's he best way to set them up? I think there 3 options:

1. Set both loco address to the lead loco address.
2. MU them
3. use the DCC easy consist (copied below from the BLI manual.)

I think only one set of bells and horns work with option 3.  I'd like both horns to work.
Thoughts?
Thanks!



DCC Easy Consist
Start with each engine having a unique address.
You can create a consist by designating each engine as front, middle, or rear, then setting the consist address.
CV230 designates the position in the consist as follows:
CV230 = 1 for the Front Engine CV230 = 2 for allMiddle Engines CV230 = 3 for the Rear Engine
Front Engine: Set CV230 = 1. Pick a consist address between 1 and 127 (10 for example) and program it into CV19.
Middle Engines: Set CV230 = 2. Set CV19 = consist address (10 for example). (For a rear facing engine, Set CV 19 = the consist address plus 128. (138 for example if the consist address is 10).
Rear Facing Rear Engine: Set CV230 = 3. Set CV 19 = the consist address plus 128. (138 for example if the consist address is 10).
Front Facing Rear Engine: Set CV230 = 3. Set CV19 = Consist Address, then set CV 229=1 to set the lights

[jdcolombo]

On consists that I know will be more or less permanently coupled together, I set them both to the same DCC address (what I call a "hard" consist).   If you have one facing forward and one backward, you will need to program CV29 to have the backward-facing unit reverse its normal direction of travel.   With a hard consist, pressing the horn and bell will operate them on both locos.  If that's what you want, it is the easiest method. 

John C.

[chicken45]

On consists that I know will be more or less permanently coupled together, I set them both to the same DCC address (what I call a "hard" consist).   If you have one facing forward and one backward, you will need to program CV29 to have the backward-facing unit reverse its normal direction of travel.   With a hard consist, pressing the horn and bell will operate them on both locos.  If that's what you want, it is the easiest method. 

John C.

Luckily enough, I think they are already set up that way. The rear unit seems to be factory default to go backwards.

Just for giggles, I tried the DCC Easy Consist method and oddly enough, my locos actually pulled away from each other. Not sure how I messed that up.

[peteski]

If you use CV19 for consisting (the CV19 value is >0) then you are using advanced consisting (maybe it is called easy consisting too). To me that is the most complex way to consist locos (but the most flexible).  I do agree with John that on a permanently coupled locos the basic consist (using the same address on both locos) it the easiest and most intuitive to use.

I don't know what "MU them" means.

[eric220]

You didn't mess anything up. Like I mentioned in the shipping? thread, the non-trainphone unit actually seems to be wired backwards, not just programmed to run backwards. (In other words, if you program it to run backwards, you get a double negative and it runs forwards.) From the factory, they're both set to the same DCC address. I programmed mine to the address of the lead unit and set all CVs the same. So far, no problems.

[chicken45]

Thanks, guys! @eric220 you needed to say it again a second time because I just didn't get it the first time. LOL
Thanks!