RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion
Keep Alive installation w/ Railpro
nodcc4me:
I would also like to thank Alan and everyone else who contributed to this thread. I just installed my first KA4 in one of my oldest engines, an AHM Rivarossi RS2 that is about 45 years old. It has sintered wheels and one-truck pickups. That old locomotive sputtered along and the prime mover was cutting out about every 3 seconds. I was about ready to remove the LM2-s and park it on the layout. With the addition of the KA, it runs like new, never stalls and the sound never cuts out. It does take a bit more power to get going but runs smoothly, even at slow speed. ;D
KPack:
Bring back an old topic for an update.
I remember Bill saying somewhere (might have been in an email to beta testers) that he has changed to adding KA's to LM-3S's without a bridge rectifier so that there isn't a drop in voltage to the module. Apparently the drop in voltage was causing the loco to not play nice with others. Bill can you confirm?
I have a KA4 and a bridge rectifier installed in two different locomotives and did some testing over the past few days to see if I had the same issues. I did not. The KA'd locos MU'd just fine with any others and there was no perceptible difference in behavior. The KA'd loco was not slow on starting and always ran perfectly with any other loco (this includes a lashup of 5 very different locomotives). It did fine as either a leader or a follower.
The only thing I can think of that would cause such a difference between my experience and Bill's experience is that on both of my locomotives were "fresh" installs. Meaning, both modules had all data erased (previously used), new programs and sounds loaded, and the Full Load Motor Current was redone. Bill, did you redo the Full Motor Load Current when you installed a bridge rectifier and KA? I think that may have made the difference for me. I assume the FMLC is different for a locomotive that is seeing less voltage (12.9 on the readout).
-Kevin
William Brillinger:
Kevin,
I may have been hasty with my conclusion that the Bridge Rectifier was causing issues between locomotives.
I will do some testing this evening to confirm how my units are behaving.
Yes, I reset the FLMC values after making any changes to a locomotive.
One thing I am wondering about: I recall reading that you have adjusted the startup speeds. I have not done this, and it may be a factor.
KPack:
I adjust the start voltage depending on the locomotive. I try to get it moving at about 5% throttle or so. Most of them are set between 7-11% start voltage. I also drop my top speed on almost all of them to 70% or lower, again depending on the locomotive's gearing and how fast they like to move. Adjusting the top speed will affect how fast the locomotive moves at low speeds.
Basically I try to get my locomotive to run as smoothly as possible and not take off like a rocket. Railpro is hands down far smoother than DCC ever was, and far better at slow speed control. I can have a full MU set crawl along at a snail's pace perfectly in unison. Never could get that will DCC.
-Kevin
Alan:
--- Quote from: KPack on September 20, 2017, 01:29:06 PM ---I adjust the start voltage depending on the locomotive. I try to get it moving at about 5% throttle or so. Most of them are set between 7-11% start voltage. I also drop my top speed on almost all of them to 70% or lower, again depending on the locomotive's gearing and how fast they like to move. Adjusting the top speed will affect how fast the locomotive moves at low speeds.
-Kevin
--- End quote ---
I've found when working with new locos it is sometimes necessary to revisit these two settings after the unit gets well broken in. I have a 22"R loop for break-in but still like to tune after the powertrain has some miles on it.
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