|
Lenz Gold Series Decoder Review
by Don Fiehmann
Buy Lenz Decoders
Lenz Gold Series Intro
More about Lenz Asymmetrical DCC and
ABC
Lenz USP Test Video
Don's initial evaluation supports Lenz's specs
for this remarkable new release.
This is a review of the new Gold Series decoder
made by Lenz. The decoder in this review has some remarkable features
for such a small decoder. The source of this information comes the
Lenz manuals, the internet and some real life testing.
The Lenz Corporation
In the 1980's the NMRA was looking for a command control scheme
that could become an NMRA standard. After looking at many different
systems the Lenz approach looked the best. The Lenz method of data
transmission became the NMRA standard we have today. The Lenz DCC
system is a product of German engineering and continues to come
up with some very innovative ideas. The Gold series decoder incorporates
many of these new ideas plus all the accessories you would expect
from a full featured decoder. All of this fits into a very small
thumbnail sized decoder. The Gold series decoders is like a building
block. A power modules and SUSI sound system can be added later
to the decoder.
This decoder has a motor rating of 1 amp continuous
and 1.8 amp max. The four function are rated at 200 mA each. The motor
and function outputs have short circuit protection. The Gold series
decoders have a lot more to offer than a minimum function decoder.
All this with a 10 year Warranty!
Here are a few of the standard features in the Gold
Series decoders.
Standard Features
• 2 and 4 Digit Addressing - 2 Digit 1-127 and 4 digit 0001
to 9999
• 14/28/128 Speed Steps - Use the standard settings or user
defined (CV 67 to 94)
• Back EMF - Adjustable for slow speed operation
• Silent High frequency Motor Drive - Operates at 23 kHz or
can be set for low frequency
• Four Function Outputs - Directional, mapable, can be set
for special lighting (Mars, strobe and so on)
• DCC/dc operation - Will operate on dc, this function can
be disabled
• Advanced Consisting - Used CV-19 for addresses 1 to 99
• OPS Mode Programing - Supports On-The-Fly programming
• Supports all forms of Programming - All as shown in NMRA
RP 9.2.3
• JST 9 pin or 8 pin NMRA Connector - 9 pins on card, comes
with 9 pin to 8 pin adapter cable
• Size L 0.91X W 0.66X H 0.2 - About the size of my thumbnail!!
Advance Features
Not only is there all the standard features, but also a bunch of
very advance features.
• ABC (Automatic Brake Control)
Stopping distance can be set so loco will stop at the same distance
regardless of speed
• Decoder Locking Allows locking a decoder to prevent changes
when another decoder is modified
• Controlled Directional Stopping Called Asymmetrical DCC Control-Allows
auto signal stopping
• Connections for USP 3 solder pads allow a connecting an optional
USP power module
• RailCom Support The new purposed NMRA Bi-directional data
communications
• SUSI Interface Four solder pads to connected SUSI modules
for sound and other functions
The USP (Uninterruptible Signal Processing) feature
is ability to continue to operate over dirty track even when it
no longer make connect with the rails. The USP feature can also
can pick up signals off the rails even when rails hit a dirty spot.
An added power module is required for this feature. The optional
power module connects to the decoder with 3 wires. The module is
charged from the decoder and when a dirty spot is hit the power
is fed back to the decoder. This is a big step forward in the model
railroad war against dirty track. The USP feature could eliminate
“table thumpers” forever! Lenz had a demo of this
feature where they ran a locomotive over a piece of paper and the
loco continued without stopping.
Another advance feature is RailCom that allows
Bi-directional DCC data communications. The decoder can respond
by sending out data during the preamble of the packets from the
command station. The data is detected by special block detectors
and can be sent to other devices like a computer or the comm and
station over a net or lan. Realtime information like decoder identity,
current speed and direction, absolute position reporting, decoder
load, operations mode programming, and turnout location can all
be part of this feedback information. This will enhance computer
operations. Without Bi-directional communications the DCC system
is what the computer industry calls “Ship and Pray”. DCC
packets are sent and the system hopes they get to the addressed
decoder. The DCC system sends out multiple packets to be sure that
at least one reaches the target decoder. This process requires extra
time. With Bidirectional communications the command station could
be signaled by the decoder that it got the packet and no more packets
were needed. This will speed up DCC as fewer packets are needed.
RailCon is the method the NMRA is planning to use as part of the
DCC PR.
Asymmetric DCC is a feature
that lets a section of track automatically control train speeds
and stops. This gives the ability to have a train automatically
stop at a signal or station. Braking functions are controlled by
bits in CV-51. The automatic stop can be set for directional control
so the train will stop in one direction and continue and the other
direction. Asymmetric DCC can be used to control a display layout
or run trains in the background on a single operator layout. This
feature can be used in conjunction with the ABC (Automatic Brake
Control) feature that sets a constant stopping distance regardless
of speed. This feature is activated by an offset in the DCC signal
fed to the rails. The constant stopping distance is also activated
when the speed is set to zero.
The Switching feature used function key F3
for activation. When on the feature cuts the speed in half. Key
F4 delays the acceleration and deceleration rates. Both of these
are a help with switching actions.
Setting up the Decoder
This decoder has default settings that allow you to operate with no
changes other than maybe the address. The such a wealth of features
in this decoder it is a shame not to take advantage of them. The decoder
comes with a 12 page manual that has a lot of information. Even though
the decoder is very flexible, you must carefully read the manual to
understand all of its flexibility. There is more on these features
as the decoder is run through some tests.
Bench Test
I like to check out a decoder before installation. Much easier than
having to remove it after it is installed! The new NCE decoder tester
has a 9 pin JST connector that makes checking out this decoder very
easy. I have added a motor with a flywheel to this tester (see Enhancing
the NCE Decoder Tester).
There was no problem reading back CVs and setting
a 4 digit address. The motor started to spin at speed step 1 and
turned very slowly. The current was only a few milliamps. I put
my finger on the flywheel to increase the load and it did not stall.
The current to the decoder increased to near half an amp. The current
increase is the results of the back EMF feature.
Then I tested the four functions. Test OK. The function
outputs have a number of special lighting settings. I changed the
headlight (F0 forward) to a Mars light. The light action looked
good even though the tester used LEDs. The Gold series now uses
the NMRA recommendations of CV-33 to 46 for the function mapping
CVs.
On the Main Testing
I have a dc version of the new Atlas FM TrainMaster. The decoder
was set up for use in this locomotive. The decoder comes with a
connecting jumper with a 9 pin JST connector on one end and the
8 pin “DCC ready” NMRA connector on the other end. This
was convenient because the Atlas engine was DCC ready with the 8
pin socket. All I had to do was to remove the plug on the board
then install the 8 pin end of the cable to the board on the engine.
The decoder manual suggests first operating the engine without the
body to check it out.
While running at speed step 1, the engine was stopped
by putting my finger on the rails. The flywheel continued to turn
and slip the wheels. Although the flywheel turned very slowly, it
did not stall.
I did some switching using the switching feature
(activate with F3). The slow speed operation was excellent. One problem
I always seem to have is to shake the couplers loose over an uncouple
magnet. It sometime takes a few back and forth movements. This can
be a problem with slow acceleration and deceleration. By using the
delayed acceleration/ deceleration feature (activated with F4) a couple
of quick reversing movements and the cars were uncoupled.
A few running tests were done with the Back EMF feature.
With B-EMF on the engine would start to roll at speed step 1. At
speed step 1 the engine ran at less than one scale mile per hour.
With BEMF off the engine would not start to until speed step 8.
( I did not try to adjust CV-2.)
There is a TrainSpeed four channel “speed trap”
installed on my layout. This lets me check speeds in four locations.
Three are on flat track and one is on a grade. I’m running
in 28 speed step mode and used a speed step of 20 for all the tests.
With B-EMF on and no load the speed was about 46 SMPH through all
four locations. I added three 80 foot passenger cars and run the
same test. The speed stayed much the same and only dropped to about
45 SMPH. Then I turned B-EMF off. First the average speed dropped
the a low of 35 and a high of 39 SMPH on the flat sections. The
speed on the grade was where things really changed! The down hill
speed was 49 SMPH and the up hill was only 27 SMPH. The B-EMF feature
made a big difference.
While using my NCE system if power was lost the headlight
would turn off and not come back on when power was restored. The
problem is Lenz and a few other brands of decoders do not retain
some function settings when power is lost. The Zephyr was OK because
it does a periodic function refresh and the headlight would come
on after a power interruption. I corrected this problem on the NCE
system by setting the FUNCTION REFRESH RATE to 400. The NCE factory
default is 0. (See the NCE system reference manual for more information
on setting this up.)
One of the new features in the Gold decoder that
intrigued me was Constant Stopping Distance. This feature
needs to be activated by setting Bit 1 in CV-51. (Note page 3 shows
this as CV-50, I used the information on page 10 showing this as
CV-51) The length of stop is controlled by the value in CV-52. (Again
page 3 shows CV-61 and page 10 list this as CV-52.) My test was
to see if when the brake button was hit (Speed Step 00) as the engine
passes a point would the train stop with the last car at the point
where the brake was set to stop. This would let you hit the brake
just before a station and have the train automatically stop in the
right place. Once the value of CV-52 was adjusted for the length
of the train I could stop from any speed when the engine passed
a point and have the observation car stopped just where the brake
was set. At reasonable or slow speed the train would come to a gradual
prototypical stop. At low speeds the train would continue slowly
and go very slow until it stopped at the same place as the high
speed run! At high speed the train would roll past the point where
the brake was set for a distance then stop rapidly. (Glad I was
not in the dining car with a cup of coffee! ) Once activated the
function continues until it is finished. When backing up to try
another value in CV-52 the feature would work in reverse and I have
to wait until it was finished. I found to stop before it was finished
was with the emergency stop button or to use F3 for the switching
speed, then turn F3 off. Speed changes were very smooth as long
as you did not get to step 0 to activate this feature. I tried this
feature with both an NCE system and a Digitrax Zephyr and got almost
the same results. With the Zephyr the train stopped about a half
car further. When the constant stopping distance feature is not
active stops are smooth even when the brake was used.
Another new feature is the ABC or Automatic Brake
Control. The ABC feature works in conjunction with Asymmetrical
DCC. So not to confuse you (and me too!) let's go over this
operation slowly. The ABC feature is programmed in the Gold series
decoder. CV-50 bit 1 (Value 2) activates the ABC feature. CV-50
bit 2 (Value 4) deactivates the ABC directiondependency. With this
bit off you can control which direction ABC will work. With the
bit on the function is active in either direction. CV-50 bit 0 (Value
1) controlled the constant stopping distance feature.
Now what we have is a way to stop the train over
a constant distance. The ABC feature adds to this the ability to
activate the stopping feature automatically at a section of track
with Asymmetrical DCC. This means we can setup a section of track
in front of a station and have a passenger train automatically slow
down and stop at the station. Lenz is planning on releasing 3 different
Asymmetrical DCC Generators that will connect between the power
booster and the track. The asymmetrical signal is one that has either
the positive or negative at a different voltage levels. The Lenz
information states that a simple generator can be made with 5 diodes,
3 in one direction and 2 in the other direction (See drawing). These
diodes are connected in series with the track power on a section
of track that will trigger the ABC feature.
I built the 5 diode generator and installed it in
a section of track in front the passenger station. But could not
get it to work. I didn’t know if it was incorrect CV settings
or something else! I finally figured that since it was the offset
of the DCC signal that triggered this function if one of the two
diodes were removed it would increase the offset voltage. IT WORKED!
The train would come to the section of track powered through the
diodes and then slow down and stop just like it did for the constant
stopping distance. The train stopped right in front of the station.
The next problem is how do you get the train running again. That
turned out to be simple. Just short out the diode circuit and the
train started up and left the station. A toggle switch was install
on the control panel to short out the diode circuit. I ran other
locomotives through the section of track and there was no change
in speed. The only locomotive that the circuit works with is the
one with the Lenz decoder.
The Asymmetrical DCC function would work if used
on a section of track in front of a signal. When the signal is red
the circuit would stop the train and when clear a relay could bypass
the circuit and the train would continue.
Getting Help
There is a Yahoo Chat Group for Lenz with over 1200 members. Questions
posted here should get a quick answer.
There are a number of ways of contacting Lenz Elektronik
GmbH:
Europe
Lenz Elektronik GmbH
Huettenbergstrasse 29
D-35398 Giessen
Germany
Phone: 49 (0) 6403 900 133
Email: info@digital-plus.de
North America
Lenz Agency
PO Box 143
Chelmsford, MA 01824
USA
Phone:1-978-250-1494
Email: support@lenz.com
We welcome comments or suggestions
from readers; please write
or call.
|
