SoundTraxx Union Pacific Gas-Turbine Electric - Manual (Page 5)

Tsunami User’s Guide for the Union Pacific Turbine Page 2
Using Your Tsunami Union Pacific Turbine
Digital Sound Decoder
Your SoundTraxx Tsunami for the Gas-Turbine Electric, representative of
the Union Pacific Turbine, has been shipped with all CVs pre-programmed
so you can begin using your locomotive immediately without having to worry
about what adjustments to make. However, the software for this decoder is
as unique as the prototype, and we have several special features to enhance
the experience of running your ‘Big Blow’.
These locomotives were truly unique and thus require a sound decoder that
is as well! Just like the prototype the decoder has both a diesel prime mover
and a turbine. The diesel prime movers found on these locomotives were
designed primarily for running the air compressor and hostling the locomotive
around the yard, while the turbine supplied the horsepower necessary to pull
heavy tonnage trains throughout the Union Pacific system. Using extensive
research the operating characteristics of the decoder have been designed to
correctly match the operation of the prototype turbines.
Operation Overview
This decoder has five modes of operation. The following describes these
modes and their uses. Additional programming information can be found in
the Tsunami Diesel Technical Reference.
Mode 1 - Full Auto mode (default)
Setting CV 116 between 1 and 15 enables Automatic Engine Notching Mode.
Automatic notching causes the engine RPMs to change in proportion to
the throttle setting. Pressing Emergency Stop will cause the diesel engine
to shut down. In the Turbine decoder, this mode is identical to other diesel
Tsunami decoders, except that is also includes a turbine timeout mode.
After the turbine has been idling and no function commands are sent to the
decoder for a set period of time, it will automatically shut off, thus returning
the locomotive back to an idling diesel. This timeout period is selected by the
user with CV 200.
CV 116 sets the number of speed steps per engine notch. With a setting of
one, the engine speed will increase one notch for each speed-step. When the
engine sound reaches notch 8, no further increases will take place. With a
setting of seven (default), the engine speed will increase one notch for every
seven speed-steps.
By varying CV 116, the sensitivity of the engine sound to the throttle is
changed. If you operate on a small layout or are having trouble keeping the
engine sound synchronized to the locomotive speed, you might want to use
larger CV values (12-15) to keep the engine from becoming ‘over-throttled’.
CV 199 sets the Turbine Start Speed. This CV sets the speed step when the
turbine will turn on in automatic mode. The default value is 7 which equates
to the turbine starting at speed step 7. You can set a value from 0 to 127 for
Operation