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DCC MUed Units Advice

I'm new to DCC, and have just added DH123 decoders to my P1K Milwaukee Road A-B-A Erie Built set. The loco numbers are 21A - 21C - 21B, which I've programmed as addresses 20,

21, and 22 (since a C-Liner is already address 23). I'm already seeing it is a pain to MU these units, and that with simple MUing, the headlight on 21B does not come on when it's the lead unit (it thinks it's going backward).

I notice in the Digitrax documentation that it would be OK to reprogram all three locos to address 21, being sure to set CV-29 for the 21B unit for normal operation in reverse. I plan to run them as a 3 unit set most of the time, and sometimes with one unit removed as the Milwaukee Road ran them in the 1950's. I don't plan to operate with Chance cards ("Main bearing failure on 21C; set out unit at next siding"), so I see little benefit in having the capability to un-consist the set and run a unit separately. How do you more experienced DCC operators modeling the early diesel era when multiple units were viewed as a single locomotive set up your multi-unit locos, and why? Geezer

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Geezer
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"Geezer" wrote in news:UeGdnQ2j0dRy1wfVnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

One of my club's members programs the locomotives he always runs together to the same address. This is the most simple form of consisting, and has a few advantages and disadvantages.

First, the address only takes up one slot in your command station. This means if you've got several people running on a Digitrax Zepher or Empire Builder, you wont run out of slots so quickly.

Next, you don't have to worry about consisting. Digitrax command stations use a command-station based consisting method by default (other systems use other methods), so if you take your locomotives to other layouts they're always good to run. You can also remove a locomotive from the layout and run other others and you don't have to tell the command station anything about it if you're trying to conserve slots.

Lighting and independent control of sounds might be an issue, however. Sometimes you want lights on or off regardless of direction, or you might want only one sound decoder to respond to the whistle function. I'm not sure it can be done with simple consisting... but don't be afraid to experiment. There's usually very little on a decoder that can cause problems that a reset won't fix. (Do be sure to write down the CVs as you program them.)

Puckdropper

Reply to
Puckdropper

If you use the Digitrax default consisting, that is each unit has it's own unique address (in your case 20, 21, 22) you can still control the lights and sound for each unit separately. If you are using a DTx00 throttle you will have the lead unit programmed on the right hand knob. Select either of the other units on the left hand knob and then you have control over all the functions, except speed and direction, for that unit available.

Dale Gloer

Geezer wrote:

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Dale Gloer

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