Blackstone Models C-19 User manual

Tsunami®Digital Sound Decoder
Quick Start Guide
for the Blackstone Models C-19
May 2011

Notice
The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Neither Blackstone Models or SoundTraxx (Throttle Up!) shall be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained
herein; nor for incidental or consequential damages resulting from the furnishing, performance or use of this material.
This document contains information protected by copyright. No part of this document may be photocopied or reproduced in
any form without the prior written consent of Throttle Up! Corp.
Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Blackstone Models, SoundTraxx, Tsunami, SoundTraxx DCC, Digital Sound Decoder, Dynamic Digital Exhaust, Auto-Exhaust
and Hyperlight are trademarks of Throttle Up! Corp.

Table of Contents
All Aboard! ...........................................................1
Overview ......................................................... 1
Features and Specications................................. 2
Quick Start ...........................................................4
Let’s Get Started .................................................. 4
Programming and Reading CVs .......................... 5
Operating in Analog Mode.................................... 6

Overview
Congratulations on the purchase of your Blackstone Models C-19 with
SoundTraxx® Tsunami® Digital Sound Decoder™ installed. The Tsunami
Digital Sound Decoder (DSD) will provide all the pleasures of high quality,
digital onboard sound and the benets of today’s DCC (Digital Command
Control) technology.
This Quick Start Guide supplies essential information needed to get your
locomotive up and running as soon as possible. Detailed information
regarding the use and programming of the Tsunami sound system may be
found in the Tsunami User’s Guide and Tsunami Technical Reference
which are provided in electronic form on the CD packaged with your
locomotive.
If you are new to SoundTraxx Digital Sound Decoders, you should start
with the User’s Guide which will walk you through the various aspects of
programming your Tsunami decoder, as well as some tips on troubleshooting.
For the power user, the Tsunami Technical Reference will provide a list of
all the CVs available for use with Tsunami decoders and their exact function
and make-up for those who wish to have a complete reference for advanced
programming techniques. Please note that you need to have Adobe® Acrobat
Reader installed on your computer to open and print these les. This is
available as a free download from www.adobe.com.
Manual updates, Technical Bulletins and Application Notes covering various
topics are also published from time to time, and these may be downloaded
free of charge from our website at www.soundtraxx.com.
All Aboard!
Blackstone Models C-19 Quick Start Guide Page 1

Features and Specifications
Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders have a great number of features designed
to enhance your operating experience. Some features may require a little
explanation.
Tsunami Features
Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders have been designed with a powerful Digital
Signal Processor (DSP), which allows us to provide more features and better
sound quality than in previous designs. Some of the unique features include:
Sound Features
There are many sound effects (up to 22 sound effects!) and the ability to
adjust the sounds to suit your ear make the system truly customizable. You
can even adjust the volume of each sound effect individually with your own
built-in mixer!
The short whistle feature will allow the user to more easily incorporate
signaling practices into their operations. There is also the option of replacing
the short whistle function with an alternate whistle for the occasional engine
which carried two whistles.
For those with limited function keys, you may wish to enable the automatic
signal feature, which will activate Stop, Forward, Reverse and Grade Crossing
whistle signals automatically in response to train motion.
Throttle Features
Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders have advanced throttle features as part
of our Hyperdrive™ system. These features allow you to better control your
locomotive speed under varying conditions.
Lighting Features
In addition to controlling the headlight and backup light, our Dyno-Light feature
provides the missing element in the operation of the Dynamo, or steam
generator. This mimics the effect of the gradual increase in lumens as the
generator spools up and supplies power to the headlight.
Tsunami Specications
Decoder Specications
• Supports extended address mode for assigning any locomotive number
up to 9,999.
• Supports advanced consist addressing.
• Supports ‘Operation Mode Programming’, allowing CVs to be changed on
the mainline without using a programming track.
All Aboard!
Blackstone Models C-19 Quick Start Guide Page 2

Throttle Specications
• Supports 14, 28 and 128 speed step modes.
• Programmable acceleration, deceleration and starting voltage for
prototypical starting and stopping.
• Use of standard and alternate speed tables.
• Load Compensation
• Silent High Frequency Motor Drive
Lighting Specications
• Two function outputs for headlight and backup light
• Supports ”Rule 17” operation or automatic direction control
• Three built-in lighting effects:
Simple On/Off Lamp
Dimmable light
Dyno-Light
Sound Specications
• Adjustable Volume Controls for all sound effects
• 1-Watt Audio Amplier
Steam Sound Effects
• Synchronized Exhaust Chuff • Bell
• Whistle • Short Whistle
• Airpump • Dynamo
• Water Stop • Brake Squeal
• Brake Release • Side Rod Clank
• Snifter Valve • Johnson Bar/Power Reverser
• Firebox Blower • Cylinder Blowdown (Hiss)
• Boiler Pop Valve • Fireman Fred’s tool box
• Coupler Clank
All Aboard!
Blackstone Models C-19 Quick Start Guide Page 3

Let’s Get Started!
The Tsunami Digital Sound Decoder has been installed with all the CVs
programmed so you can begin using your locomotive immediately without
having to worry about what adjustments to make. The decoder is set to
operate using either a 12 volt DC power pack or NMRA-compatible DCC
command station.
Operating with DCC
Each model has its address set to match the road number of the locomotive
with the exception of unlettered versions which are set to address 3.
Since these decoders have two rather than four lighting outputs, we have
made some changes to the standard function assignments so that those using
command stations with limited functions keys can access some additional
sound functions. The table below shows the function assignments as well as
the default function assignments for after-market Tsunami decoders. Function
Assignments are as follows:
This will help you to match the function assignments if you have other Tsunami
decoders on your layout. The User’s Guide located on the CD will give you
all the information you need to adjust your decoder to suit your taste. Also you
can easily restore the function mapping to the same as your other Tsunami
decoders by restoring the settings in CV 30 and CVs 44-46 to the default
values listed in the Technical Reference.
For now, simply set your controller to the appropriate address, place the
locomotive on the mainline and away you go!
Quick Start
Blackstone Models C-19 Quick Start Guide Page 4
C-19 Tsunami Function Assignments
Function Key Default Effect After-Market Tsunami
F0 Headlight Headlight
F1 Bell Bell
F2 Whistle Whistle
F3 Short Whistle Short Whistle
F4 Cylinder Blowdown (Hiss) Cylinder Blowdown (Hiss)
F5 Water Stop FX5 Output
F6 Coupler FX6 Output
F7 Dimmer Dimmer
F8 Mute Mute
F9 Unassigned Water Stop
F10 Unassigned Injectors
F11 Brake Squeal/Release Brake Squeal/Release
F12 Injectors Coupler

Power In
Power In
Programming Track Output
Programming Track Output
Programming Track
To Programming Track
COMMAND
STATION
POWER
SUPPLY
COMMAND
STATION
PTB-100
BLACK
BLACK
ORANGE
ORANGE
YELLOW
YELLOW
Programming and Reading CVs
Certain command stations also allow you to read a CV during Service Mode
Programming, which is useful to verify its current setting. If you have trouble
reading or verifying CVs, the problem may be due to the design of your
command station and not the sound decoder itself. Tsunami and all other
decoders communicate back to the command station using what’s called an
acknowledgment pulse, which is dened in NMRA RP-9.2.3 as “an increased
load on the programming track of at least 60mA for at least 5ms.” Like most
decoders, Tsunami generates the acknowledgment pulse by momentarily
applying power to the motor.
If your sound decoder is otherwise working properly (i.e., responds properly
on the mainline to speed and direction commands) but your command
station is having troubles reading CV data from the decoder, it may be due to
incompatibilities between the electrical requirements of the Tsunami (which
are different from conventional decoders due to the added audio circuitry) and
the electrical characteristics of your programming track. In such an event, you
will need to use a Programming Track Booster, such as SoundTraxx PTB-100
(P.N. 829002). The PTB-100 amplies the programming track signals to levels
that work best with Tsunami. It is easy to install (see below) and inexpensive.
An advantage to using the PTB-100 is that it also provides short circuit
detection and some helpful diagnostics. It works well for all other SoundTraxx
decoders, too.
General Wiring Diagram for the SoundTraxx PTB-100
Quick Start
Blackstone Models C-19 Quick Start Guide Page 5

Operating in Analog Mode Using
a DC Power Pack
Your Tsunami-equipped Blackstone Models Locomotive will also work using
a conventional (DC) power pack. When analog mode is enabled, you may
control your locomotive using an ordinary power-pack though operation will be
a bit different than when running non-decoder equipped locomotives.
With the power pack’s throttle set to zero, Tsunami will be silent as it has
no power. The throttle must be turned up to around 5 volts or so to provide
sufcient voltage to power up Tsunami’s internal circuitry. At this point, you will
begin to hear the background sounds such as the blower and airpump start.
Increasing the throttle further to around 7.5 volts or so will set the locomotive
in motion, increasing speed as the throttle is increased. Note that the direction
can only be changed when the locomotive is stopped.
When operating in analog mode, be careful not to exceed Tsunami’s input
voltage rating of 27 volts. When your track voltage exceeds 21 volts, Tsunami
will automatically shut off the sound and motor and ash the front and rear
lights: back down on the throttle immediately.
Important: Tsunami will work best in analog mode when using a high quality,
electronically regulated power pack, preferably one that supplies smooth,
ltered DC power. Older rheostat style power packs and pulse power packs
will result in erratic and unreliable operation and should not be used with the
Tsunami sound decoder. If your power pack provides a ‘Pulse’ power switch,
leave it in the ‘Off’ position.
To run the locomotive on DC power, simply put it on the track and begin
to raise the voltage. The sound module is sensitive to changes in track
power. For example, whistle signals happen automatically as you increase
the voltage. Refer to the full Tsunami documentation (available on the CD
included with your model) for a complete explanation of DC operation and
programming features.
Quick Start
Blackstone Models C-19 Quick Start Guide Page 6

Automatic Sound Conguration Register
CV 197 selects which automatic sound functions are enabled when the
decoder is operating in analog or DC mode. This has been preset to have
the Automatic Whistle Signals activated so that whenever the locomotive is
stopped or started, Tsunami will produce the correct whistle signal appropriate
for the direction of travel:
One Short Toot = Stop
Two Medium Toots = Forward
Three Short Toots = Reverse
There are an additional four sound features that can be programmed for
automatic operation using a DCC system:
Automatic Grade Crossing Signal - When enabled, Tsunami will play a grade
crossing signal (two long whistle blasts followed by a short and another long)
triggered by a sudden upward spike in the throttle.
Automatic Bell - With this feature activated, Tsunami will turn the bell on and
off at preset speed points such as might occur when passing through a yard or
station platform.
Automatic Steam Release - If turned on, this feature will cause a short steam
release to sound whenever Tsunami is brought to a stop.
Automatic Brake Squeal - The brake squeal can be activated by slowing the
train down by a predetermined amount.
Additional information about automatic sound functions can be found in the
User’s Guide.
About the Whistles
The Tsunami Digital Sound Decoder installed in your C-19 has multiple
whistles to choose from. If you have a DCC system, you have the option of
selecting something other than the default whistle. The following table lists the
available whistles, selectable by programming CV 115.
Quick Start
Blackstone Models C-19 Quick Start Guide Page 7
CV 115 Whistle*
0 D&RG Single Chime
1 D&RGW 463
2 D&RGW 3-Chime
3 D&RGW 488
4 D&RGW 489
5 D&RGW 497
6 ET&WNC“Tweetsie”
7 Peanut
*Default whistle will vary with road number.

©2011 Throttle Up! Corp.
All Rights Reserved.
COMPATIBLE WITH
THE NMRA DCC STANDARDS
AND RECOMMENDED
PRACTICES
DCC
TM
140144 Rev. A 110410
210 Rock Point Drive • Durango, CO 81301 U.S.A.
[phone] • Fax: [phone] • Email: [email protected]