QSI Quantum Engineer User manual

Quantum Engineer™
Add-on Control System
For Analog Operation of
Quantum Systems™with
QARC™ Technology
Version 2.0.1

Table of Contents
QUANTUM ENGINEER™ OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 3
INTRODUCTION 3
INSTALLATION 4
OPERATION IN RUN MODE 5
Primary Operation Keys 5
Locomotive Feature Keys 7
Automatic Features with “Take Control” Operation 11
Locomotive State Keys 14
Star Pad Keys During Normal Operation 17
PROGRAMMING WITH STAR PAD KEYS 19
Entering Program Mode 19
Scrolling through the Program Options 19
Entering a Program Option and Making Changes 20
Leaving Programming 21
Trouble Shooting 22

Quantum Engineer Operation Manual, Ver. 2.0.1 3/24 19 September 2006
Quantum Engineer™ Operating Instructions
Quantum Engineer Controllers are designed to easily and quickly operate locomotive
features that have QARC (Quantum Analog Remote Control) technology. Except for
simple horn and bell operations, the Quantum Engineer Control is not suitable for older
Quantum locomotives that do not include QARC technology (see your locomotive
Operation Manual).
Introduction
The Quantum Engineer buttons are organized by function to make operation simpler.
The buttons on the right are the Primary Control Keys for locomotive operation and
include horn, bell and brakes.
The set of fifteen gray keys to the left of the Primary Control Keys, are the Locomotive
Feature Keys, and provide operation of different locomotive settings such as lights and
fans, as well as controlling different effects like Doppler and Flange sounds.
The cluster of five keys in a star pattern in the upper left corner is used for two different
types of control. During operation, the vertical arrow keys control sound volume, and the
left/right arrow keys select the throttle mode. During programming, the arrow keys select
Star
Pad
Locomotive Features
Loco
State
Quantum Engineer
Power Light
Primary
Control
Tensohdo ®

Quantum Engineer Operation Manual, Ver. 2.0.1 4/24 19 September 2006
the different program options and allow you to change the settings. This group of five
keys is called the Star Pad Keys.
The keys in the lower left are used to control the locomotive states of Start Up, Shut
Down, Disconnect and Standby as well as locomotive Status reporting. This group is
called the Locomotive State Keys.
Note: Some keys have a small triangle in the upper right corner. These keys turn the
indicated feature on or off using a special technique: pressing these keys once will turn
the feature on while pressing it twice in quick succession (double-pressing)
1
will turn the
feature off. This allows you to know whether you have turned a feature on or off without
having to see or hear the locomotive. The only exceptions are the Start Up and Shut
Down keys where a double press produces an extended Start Up or extended Shut
Down sound effect.
Installation
Wire the Quantum Engineer to your power pack's variable DC output and to the track as
shown in the diagram below. The red wires connect to the power pack’s variable DC
output (throttle) and the black wires connect to the track.
Remove the backing from the loop side (fuzzy side) of the Velcro tape and
press it to the bottom of the Quantum Engineer. Remove backing from the
hook side of the Velcro tape and attach it to your power pack or to a
convenient place in your control area.
The unit will be in Run Mode
2
as soon as power is applied. In Run Mode the Bell and
Horn buttons will operate normally, and the red LED will shine steadily. Your unit is
ready to operate.
1
Like double-clicking a mouse button on your computer.
2
Quantum Engineer has two modes, Run and Programming. See Programming on Page 19.
Power Pack

Quantum Engineer Operation Manual, Ver. 2.0.1 5/24 19 September 2006
Operation in Run Mode
If Quantum Engineer has been installed correctly, the red Power Light will glow steadily
when the throttle is turned up.
The following is a list and explanation of the features for the four different key groups.
Primary Operation Keys
Pressing the Horn key will produce Horn or Whistle blasts as long as
the button is pressed. If you press and release it quickly, you will get a
short “Hoot” sound.
Note: Some Quantum locomotives have special Horn Endings that can
be triggered by releasing the Horn key and then quickly pressing and
releasing
3
or tapping the Horn key before the Horn sound quits. This
special effect can also be performed by releasing the Horn key and
quickly pressing the Bell key. (See your locomotive’s Operation Manual
for additional information on Doppler and special Horn Endings.)
Pressing and releasing the Bell key will toggle the locomotive’s Bell
effect on or off.
Apply Brakes and
Release Brakes You can apply brake effects with the Apply Brake button in
RTC (Regulated Throttle Control) or STC (Standard Throttle Control)
4
although RTC provides more realistic control
5
.
Without reducing the track voltage, press and hold the Apply Brakes
key. Hear air being released from the brake pipes continually. The
longer the air is released the greater the braking action. Diesel motor
3
Do not confuse this with a Doppler action, which is triggered by quickly releasing and pressing the horn key
during horn operation.
4
A Load value greater than “0” must be programmed in Program Option 2 (POP 2) and the Load must be
activated using the Load On/Off key in order for the Apply Brake key to have any affect in STC. RTC does not
require a Load value for the braking features to operate.
5
See description of RTC and STC in the Quantum Operation Manual supplied with your locomotive.

Quantum Engineer Operation Manual, Ver. 2.0.1 6/24 19 September 2006
sounds will automatically reduce to idle and steam chuffing will reduce
to its lowest Sound of Power®setting.
Let go of the Apply Brakes key to stop the air release. The train will
continue to slow at the last braking value.
Note: If you initially press the Apply Brakes key only briefly, you will
hear no air release sound and the locomotive will coast to a stop at its
Intrinsic Inertia
6
and Load setting without any braking applied.
If you want to apply more braking, press and hold the Apply Brakes
key to release more air. When you reach the desired amount of
braking, let go of the Apply Brakes key to stop the air release.
Press the Release Brakes key to release the brakes to return the
locomotive to coasting.
Press the Release Brakes key a second time and hear the Diesel
Motor or Steam Chuff return to its pre-braking throttle setting. The
locomotive will accelerate back to its original speed at a rate
proportional at its Intrinsic Inertia and Load setting.
Note: Apply Brakes will have no affect in STC unless the locomotive
has an active Load value (see Load On/Off on page 7).
Note: You will only need to press the Apply Brakes key once after the
locomotive has stopped to return to original speed
7
.
Note: If the locomotive is in Neutral when the Apply Brakes key is
pressed, a Long Air Let-off sound simulates setting the brakes.
However, no braking effect is activated
8
.
Note: If you apply brakes at a high throttle setting, the locomotive will
often come to a much smoother stop than simply lowering the throttle.
Note: When a locomotive is stopped with brakes, it will not enter
Neutral until the throttle is reduced below V-Start .
Note: We recommend using the brakes to stop a consist rather than
the throttle. After the consist has stopped, lowering the throttle below V-
Start
9
will ensure that all locomotives enter Neutral at the same time,
making it more likely that the consist can be reversed reliably.
6
RTC has Intrinsic Inertia; STC does not. Load value is set in Programming in POP 2 (page 19).
7
This applies to Q1a software released after July 2006. Q1 and early Q1a will require two Brake Releases.
8
If the brakes are set in Neutral, turning up the throttle automatically releases the brakes.
9
See the Analog section of your Quantum Operation Manual for an explanation of V-Start and entering and
leaving Neutral.

Quantum Engineer Operation Manual, Ver. 2.0.1 7/24 19 September 2006
Locomotive Feature Keys
Load On/Off Once you enter the Load value into Programming Option #2
(POP 2) and return to Run Mode, you can toggle this Load value on or off in
Neutral with the Load On/Off key. When Load is off, the locomotive will
accelerate or decelerate at its Intrinsic Inertia value.
Operation while in Neutral
Press the Load On/Off button once in Neutral to turn on the Load. You
will hear a Long Air Let-off.
Double-press the Load On/Off button in Neutral to turn off the Load.
You will hear a coupler clink.
Note: Labored sounds (Sound-of-Power™) are increased when Load is
on and the locomotive is accelerating.
Operation while Moving
With RTC
10
selected and the locomotive is moving in Forward or Reverse,
pressing the Load On/Off button will apply or remove a “Heavy Load” to the
locomotive. This represents a train that would take over ten to fifteen
minutes to accelerate to full speed or to coast to a complete stop. You can
apply “Heavy Load” as soon as you start moving or wait until you are up to
speed.
Press the Load On/Off button once in Forward or Reverse to turn on
Heavy Load.Hear a single Horn or Whistle hoot.
Double-press the Load On/Off button in Forward or Reverse to turn off
Heavy Load.Hear a double Horn or Whistle hoot.
Note: Heavy Load does not require you to program any Load values in
POP 2.
Note: If you apply Air Brakes while in Heavy Load, the locomotive will
return to operation using the programmed Load setting in POP 2.
Note: Be aware that once Heavy Load is turned on, the throttle will
have little effect in changing the speed of the train. If you turn the
throttle up, you will hear very intense Sound of Power effects or if you
turn the throttle down, you will hear very subdued Sound of Power
11
.
10
Load On/Off has no effect under STC.
11
If you turn the throttle down too far, the train will slow quickly as the available power to the track falls below
the level that is necessary for RTC to operate.

Quantum Engineer Operation Manual, Ver. 2.0.1 8/24 19 September 2006
You can use this feature to create heavy labored sounds while climbing
a grade or reduced labored sounds while descending a grade with very
little change in the speed of the train.
Dynamic Brakes Many prototype diesel locomotives have dynamic brakes
that cause the train to slow down by using the traction motors in generator
mode. This helps dissipate the energy of a moving train by converting it to
electrical power, which is then applied to a large air-cooled resistor load in
the locomotive.
While the locomotive is operating at a steady speed, press the
Dynamic Brakes key once to turn on the Dynamic Brakes. Hear the
Diesel Motor reduce to notch 1 followed by the sound of the powerful
diesel Cooling Fan starting up.
Double-press the Dynamic Brakes key to turn off the Dynamic Brakes.
Hear the Dynamic Brake Cooling Fan shut off while the Diesel Motor
returns to its original notch and Sound-of-Power setting.
Note: If the Dynamic Brakes key is pressed for a steam loco, the
Chuffing will reduce to a low level and return to its previous setting
when Dynamic Brakes are shut off. This makes steam locomotive
behavior similar
12
to diesels in a consist.
Note: In contrast to Air Brakes (F7), Dynamic Brakes do not increase
the deceleration rate specified by the Load setting in POP 2. The
Dynamic Brakes are only a sound effect and have no actual braking
action
13
.
Note: The Dynamic Brake function automatically turns off when
entering or leaving Neutral, or when the speed of the locomotive drops
below 7 smph
14
. The Dynamic Brakes cannot be turned on in Forward
or Reverse unless the locomotive is traveling over 8 smph. Dynamic
Brakes will not turn on if the locomotive is accelerating.
Note: Dynamic Brakes can be turned on in Neutral if the locomotive is
in Disconnect (see note under Locomotive State Keys, page 15).
12
It would be unrealistic for a steam locomotive to be working at full Sound-of-Power while Dynamic Brakes are
being applied to other locomotives within the same consist.
13
Prototype dynamic brakes are commonly used on down grades with the intention of maintaining a constant
speed rather than stopping the train.
14
Dynamic Brakes on prototype diesel locomotives are seldom used at low speeds where they are less
effective.

Quantum Engineer Operation Manual, Ver. 2.0.1 9/24 19 September 2006
Grade Crossing Prototype railroads use horn or whistle codes of long and
short blasts for communication or warning signals. One of the most common
is the code of two longs, a short and a long horn signal to warn of
approaching a grade crossing
15
. Although the Quantum operator can
perform these signals with the Horn button, we have made it even more
convenient.
Press the Grade Crossing key once to trigger the grade crossing
warning signal.
If you press the Horn key during the Grade Crossing scenario, you will
terminate this feature and take control of the Horn.
Note: Grade Crossing feature does not operate in Neutral.
Doppler You can trigger the Doppler effect by quickly interrupting the horn
signal in the same way it is described in the Analog section of your Quantum
Operation Manuals. Or you can use the Doppler Key dedicated to the
Doppler effect.
Start the Horn or Whistle by pressing the Horn key
16
and hear the
normal Horn or Whistle.
While still pressing the Horn key, press and release the Doppler key to
hear the Doppler shift. A few seconds after the Horn key is finally
released the locomotive sounds return to normal
17
.
Flanges Quantum provides automatic Squealing Brakes
18
sounds as a
locomotive slows to a stop. The operator can also control Squealing sounds
for continuous and variable brake sounds for protracted stops or to simulate
the sounds of wheel Flanges on curved track.
Pressing the Flanges key when the loco is moving at any speed will
manually activate Squealing sounds, and repeated pressings while the
Squealing sounds are occurring will continue the sounds uninterrupted.
15
Different countries use different coded signals (E.G. in Japan two longs are used for a grade crossing).
16
If you do not turn on either Horn or Bell, the Doppler shift will still occur with the locomotive sounds, but will
be less dramatic.
17
If the bell was on, it will shut off prior to all sounds returning to normal.
18
Squealing Brakes come on automatically when the speed is reduced from high-speed travel (over 40 smph)
to less than 20 smph.

Quantum Engineer Operation Manual, Ver. 2.0.1 10/24 19 September 2006
Note: Flanges are a sound effect only and will not slow the locomotive.
Coupler Sounds There are two ways to use the Coupler Sounds effect key.
As your locomotive is about to couple up to a string of cars, press the
Coupler Sounds key to trigger the Coupler Crash sound. Use the
Coupler Sounds key again as the locomotive moves out to trigger the
same sound as the slack is taken up in the cars
19
.
Coupler Sounds have a different effect in Neutral. While stopped in
Neutral in uncoupling position over an uncoupling magnet, press the
Coupler Sounds key once to produce the sound of the lift bar and
coupling pin being raised. This also Arms the uncoupling sound effect.
Press the Coupler Sounds key again while pulling away from the cars
(or remaining stationary in Neutral) to trigger the sound of the coupler
knuckle opening and air-lines parting.
Smoke Your locomotive may be equipped with an automatic Smoke Unit,
which may control the smoke differently in each of the directional states.
Press the Smoke key once to turn on the automatic Smoke Unit.
Double-press the Smoke key to turn off the automatic Smoke Unit. The
Smoke Unit will be off in all directional states.
Note: The Smoke Unit in your locomotive may be wired directly to the
power pick-ups in which case it will not be controlled by QARC
technology and pressing the Smoke button on the Quantum Engineer
will have no effect.
19
The locomotive must actually be moving in order for this effect to occur.