DCC Chip Energy Storage Modules

[Dikitriki]

Hi

I have been hugely impressed with the running qualities of conventionally powered locomotives fitted with Lenz chips and the power 1 modules.

My coreless motor powered locomotives do not like Lenz chips, preferring a Zimo chip instead. The question is this.

I have been advised that the Lenz power 1 modules cannot be used with the Zimo (MX64) chip. Is this so? Instead, Zimo do their own DIY bag of bits to provide a more modest energy storage module, together with instructions that I am not bright enough to understand. Has anyone had experience of building their own energy storage modules for the MX64 chips? How did they go about it? Does anyone have an idiot proof step-by-step guide?

(enter Steph stage left......)

Thanks for your help.

Richard

 

[Steph Dale]

Cough, mutter, shuffle, awkward silence, etc.

You called?

'Tis on my 'site and should shortly be updated for ESU LokSoundv4/LokPilotv4.  'Ere's the SP and sorry for being so predictable...:http://euram-online.co.uk/dcc/zimopp/zimopp.htm

Steph

 

[28ten]

Is this like KERS for trains?

 

[Steph Dale]

More like an electronic flywheel than a boost system, but similar in concept I suppose.

Works a treat at exhibitions and can help enormously with any loco suffering dodgy pick up.  I'm really very pleased to see the same approach being adopted by ESU too.

Steph

 

[Dikitriki]

Hi Steph

Thanks, I knew you'd know wot's wot.

I shall try to identify what I've got and see if I can make sense of things. It must be smaller than the one you built, ideally much the same size as a Power 1.

You will be pleased to know that we seem to have cracked the DCC issues, and are starting to see really good running.

Yours

Richard

 

[Steph Dale]

Thanks, I knew you'd know wot's wot.

If only...

I shall try to identify what I've got and see if I can make sense of things. It must be smaller than the one you built, ideally much the same size as a Power 1.

You will be pleased to know that we seem to have cracked the DCC issues, and are starting to see really good running.

Richard,
General pointers are that these power units are nowhere as near as effective as the Lenz Power1+Gold combination, but arguably having a postage-stamp sized loco cross an A4 sheet of paper is a bit extreme anyway.  With the 2-8-0 referenced in the website piece we got about half a revolution of the drivers with the power off; more than enough when you consider the frankly horrid motor it came with.  With coreless motors the current draw is considerably less, so the effect is much more noticable.

Oh, and probably a good call to keep the Lenz decoders clear of coreless motors.  Until Lenz release info on their drive parameters I'm wary myself.

What did you end up doing to get the better running on Heyside?  You can't leave that as a throwaway comment... 

Steph

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

What did you end up doing to get the better running on Heyside?  You can't leave that as a throwaway comment... 

Steph

Too right, Steph - come on Richard; what did you do...?? (if you actually know, of course... or was it just random button-pushing..??  :vista:   )

 

[Dikitriki]

Hi Steph, Jordan

It was a mix of things, and I can't pin it down to one as all were done at the same time:
*I fitted snubbers to all the circuit ends to terminate them properly.
*DCC Supplies changed the EPROM in the base unit
*10001 which was causing a lot of problems had one of its motors removed.

Touchwood, since then, we have not experienced any loss of control. Indeed, as we learn to fine-tune the chips to the engine characteristics, the running is getting better and better. We had some SVR drivers over this week, and they commented it was just like the real thing. No, not that one, the REAL real thing.

Cheers

Richard

 

[Steph Dale]

Richard,

Thanks for letting us know!

The snubbers would have helped clean up the DCC signal on the track.
EPROM change, hmm; new firmware?  I wonder what that was for...
Removing a motor from 10001 raises a possible couple of issues there:
CV settings for the drive incorrect (too high feedback)
Two motors drawing too much current. Were the motors connected in series or parallel?  I've heard that connecting them in series helps (it would also reduce current draw from the decoder).

Steph

 

[Phill Dyson]

I'm very glad to hear you have resolved your running problems Richard   

I wish I had a clue what you guys were talking about when it comes to this DCC milarky though  :-[.......it all sounds very impressive though  ;D

Phill (getting his coat)  :wave: