Tsunami decoders

[CIOR]

I would like anyone with Tsunami's to report issue that they have if any on this post.
For example, some people are reporting that they have light and motor control issues, some say sound cuts out and so I'm trying to get info together.

Personally I've noticed that the hard wire decoders have more of an issue then the board replacement decoders.

So if you have any issues, please report them here!

Thanks

[wvsecondary]

Did have an issue last night with one I have just installed. One thing I have found on the last three I installed was that start (CV2) was set at 255 so when you turn loco on it goes full speed automatically. Just reset CV2 to 00 and that takes care of it.
I installed one in a Kato C44-9W. Programmed it and everything was fine until I changed the horn (CV115) to the Nathan K5. After doing this the decoder acted strange and the bulbs were really bright. It was late so I decided not to mess with it anymore. Will play around tonight and see if I can't get it working right.

[CIOR]

Michael, thanks, please keep us posted.

What decoder was it that you used?

So far the 700 series motor and some steam have been the biggest issues that I've heard of.
I know Soundtraxx is working on it, but the more info they can be given the better.

[wvsecondary]

TSU GN-1000 for the GE FDL-16. Installed this same decoder in an OMI C39-8 as well as EMD 710 version in Athearn SD70 with great results. I have 6 more to install on the workbench so I will keep you updated.

[CIOR]

I've installed a couple of the FDL's now and haven't seen an issue yet.
But heard many bad things about the 710's.
Goes to show you how random this might be.

Please do, I plan on doing several more installs as I have the time (3 more this weekend at the hobbyshop).

[Smoke]

Matt,
I'll be able to give you some info later. I am installing one in a SD70MAC. I'll let you know if I have any issues.

[CIOR]

Andrew, thanks.

[wvsecondary]

The one decoder that has freaked out I have been unable to revive. It blinks the lights the correct number of times to say that the motor is wired incorrectly however it is not. Decoder does not respond to resetting at all. I am going to attempt removing from loco altogether and installing in another unit just for giggles to see if that works. Should have worked in the Kato but no telling. Now have 2 in Genesis SD70's and work great along with one installed in an Overland C39-8. Just need to figure out the right amount of momentum to add to the C39-8 as electrical pickup is only 3 axles on each side and this causing a little stutter every now and again. Any suggestions on the right setting for this?

[CIOR]

Michael, as most of my ops know, I HATE MOMENTUM... LOL, so I don't mess with it much.
I'm also no brass man either, so I can't help you their either. Although I've installed plenty of decoders in them.

[liquidfantasy]

I installed 1 ALCo 251 in an Atlas C420 and 3 EMD 645 turbo charged in Atlas GP40-2's and no big issues so far. I sometimes noticed that when I put in wrong parameters in some of the CV's that the locos are acting up strange. But when proper configured they are super sweet.

Something I noticed is about the volume: The ALCo sound with the same bassReflex Speaker is very quiet compared to the EMD 645 turbo charged sounds! If I have an 645 and 251 sound side by side and all sound values are set to 255, I can't hear the ALCo at all, that loud and CLEAR the EMD sound is. If I have the ALCO master volume set to 240 and the EMD master to 128, the EMD still appears louder than the ALCO.

The only thing I can complain a little bit is, that I can't get the locos to start up really smooth like I was able to do with some digitraxx non sound decoders. They always are a little jerkey at VERY low speeds, if momentum on CV212 is set to a max value of 32. If I get the momentum higher they run more constant, but then they get a start step, talking about VERY slow speeds are no more possible. At a certain point the loco jumps from 0 to a higher level than what I'm able to archive when momentum set to a low value. It also stops suddenly. I tried for days playing around and I figured out there is NO way to get Tsunami locos run with VERY low speeds as stable as I can get them with Digitraxx decoders. Know what I mean? like if with the digitraxx I can get the loco to run on level 1, then 2, then 3, and so on ... and when slowing down the same ... with Tsunami AND back EMF higher than 32 it appears that it jumps from 0 directly to speed step 3, and then onwards I can control it very stable. But the little step from 0 to 3 is noticeable and doesn't look prototypical. If I get CV 212 not higher than 32 I can start up also with each speed step, but the very low speeds are a bit jerkey... once it is a bit faster it runs absolutely silk.

[CIOR]

Well, I'm starting to notice in some of the engines that the decoders are all starting to have fussy motor issues. I've noticed a surging effect, its not constant, really random and in various locations, and doesn't matter if the engine is alone or with others or had a light or heavy train.

[liquidfantasy]

I didn't recognize something like this to be honest. I had my Tsunami engines working for 2 days on the "City Limits" layout, on which they did a great job (I guess!?) I was mostly busy with my workshop and my team mates operated them. Two times they had an issue and called me.

One time the loco was stopped at a siding and when calling it for duty a few minutes later it didn't operate any more. I took if off the siding and placed it at a different location, but still no live in it. Then I took it off the layout and checked if other Tsunami powered engines worked at the same tracks (just wanted to be sure the track had power!) and they did. Then I just put the 1st one back to see if there is any change and it worked again without problems! Now what was that?

The next time my friends asked for advise I couldn't help at all, the engine started to act up blowing the horn randomly - lol - but this somehow got solved by alone... no Idea what it was related to...

[CIOR]

Heat issues possibly. I know there are issues when you run them for periods of time. I've not really had a full session on any of the Tsunami's to test this out. I know the older ones got hot, but nothing that bad.