QSI Quantum Revolution-A Mounting instructions

1
Quantum Revolution-A
Atlas Format, Advanced DCC Sound and Power Decoder!
User Operations Manual, Revolution-A
By: Josh Shedaker, with contributions from Don Fiehmann
Caution: The Revolution-A has been designed as a very thin circuit board to minimize
the height needed for installations. Please do not damage it by bending when installing.
Rev 04/29/09
“U.S. Reissue Patent Number RE38,660”
A
t QSI Solutions we pride
ourselves on our unequaled
Customer support. If you need
help please call 800-671-0641
Software ID
Other Steam Diesel

2
A
t QSI Solutions we pride
ourselves on our unequaled
Customer support. If you need
help please call 800-671-0641
Quick Start
1. If you want to test, explore and appreciate the great sound and performance features offered in
the QSI before you familiarize yourself with the operations manual, then please review the
information listed below!
2. Observe Anti-Static Precautions!
3. Insure your test area is free of metal debris from sanding, filing, drilling etc is clean and well
lighted!
4. Familiarize yourself with the decoders DC/DCC Inputs, motor outputs and lighting outputs.
5. Connecting these incorrectly will most likely let the smoke out. See: Pg-7
6. Test the decoder before installing, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PROGRAM NOW!
7. Use a decoder tester if you have one, if not you can use alligator clips to make the necessary
connections. This should be done with care to avoid possible inadvertent contact of the
alligator clips to each other that may short the decoder. Use tape to keep the
wires/connections from moving.
8. You can use a 12v-16v bulb to simulate the motor. Its intensity will vary according to your
throttle speed setting. Make sure your test speaker is 8 ohm.
9. After you are sure all your connections are correct and will not short connect your test set up to
either an HO, (10v-14v), DC or DCC Power Unit.
10.In DC you will need to increase the throttle to about 7v to fire up the sounds, etc
11.In DCC, select ADD=3, the factory default, and advance the throttle and the decoder will
function.
12.Test all lighting functions you may have connected.
13. After you are satisfied the decoder is operating properly then program as you wish.
Special Precautions
1. Do not use too much heat when soldering. A 15 to 25
watt iron should do just fine.
2. Never touch the speaker wires together
3. Never touch the motor wires together
4. There are no in additional resistors required when using
LED’sor1.5vbulbs
Caution: The Revolution-A has been designed as a very thin circuit board to minimize
the height needed for installation. Please do not damage it by bending when installing.
Caution: The Speaker terminals are close together
–
usecaretoavoidasolder
bridge between the pads when connecting the speaker wires!

3
Quantum Revolution-A: User Operations Manual Table Of Contents
Quick Start: Pg-2
1: Introduction; Viva La Revolution! PG: 4
1A: Revolution features PG: 4
1B: Revolution Specs. PG: 5
2: Installation Overview PG: 5
Caution: The Revolution-A has been designed as a very thin circuit board to minimize
the height needed for installations. Please do not damage it by bending when installing.
2A: Preparing the Locomotive Pre-Install Precautions PG: 6
2B: 2b: Pre-Installation Loco Modifications PG: 6
2C: 2c: Speaker Selection PG: 6
2D: Installing and Wiring Your Decoder PG: 7
3: Programming your new decoder: Factory Reset and “Talk Back Feature” PG: 8
3A: Basic Operational CV's PG: 9
3B: Analog Programming PG: 12
3C: Individual volume Levels PG: 15
4: Revolutionary Operations PG: 16
4A: Functions and Features Explained PG: 16
Sound of Powe
r
PG: 17
Braking PG: 17
Doppler Effect PG: 18
Grade Crossing PG: 18
Disconnect/Standby/Shutdown PG: 18
5: Fine Tuning Your Performance PG: 20
5A: BEMF Explained PG: 20
5B: RTC Explained PG: 20
5C: PID Explained PG: 20
6: Customizing Sound Files Using the Quantum Programmer PG: 22
6A Changing the software set PG: 22
7: Special Operation and Troubleshooting PG: 22
8: Using 1.5v, 15ma. Lamps and LEDS PG: 24
9: Configuring Light Ports on Quantum Revolution-
A
PG: 25
10: Addendum PG: 27

4
1:Viva la Revolution!
Congratulations; you are now the delighted owner of the Quantum Revolution, the most advanced sound decoder
on this planet. With this decoder you will have access to 8-channel, high fidelity sound, as well as the most
sophisticated motor drive and lighting effects ever combined into one unit. The addition of the Quantum
Programme
r
(MSRP $99.95) makes the Revolution the most easily customize
d
sound decoder available
–
perio
d
!
Follow the procedures outlined in the following, and you'll soon discover that this decoder is simply, well…
Revolutionary!
For a long time, those of us in the model railroad “sound world” were stuck with whatever horn, whistle, air
pump, chuff and bell the manufacturer decided was suitable. As a result, most of us, at one time or another,
thought something like: "Well, I really like the exhaust sound, but man, that horn is terrible.” The QSI Revolution
obsoletes ALL such limitations. Simply tell us what you want when you order your decoder, and we'll program it for
you before we ship it! Further, with the Quantum Programmer, you can add or change whatever sounds (and
more) you want, whenever you want. So read on
–
and join the Revolution!
1a: Revolution Features and Specifications
1: 8-Channel Sound
–
enabling multiple sounds to play at one time.
2: 6 Lighting Outputs, with many programmable settings, including:
Headlight/Tail Light
Fire Box Flicker
Front and Rear Mars Light
Front and Rear Ditch Light
Front and Rear Number Board Light
Cab Light
Exclusive: All lighting outputs support 256 intensity levels for “Revolutionary” brightness control!
3: Motor Control RTC (Regulated Throttle Control/BEMF)
–
for supreme low - speed performance, smooth
acceleration, braking, and incomparable power - sharing between locomotives in consists. (Have you
ever dared to try and prototypically consist a helper at the rear of a train? RTC makes it possible.)
4: Load-responsive exhaust sounds.
5: Verbal CV, speed and status reporting.
6: Sound-o
f
-Power (see section 4a for a full description of this feature) for even more control over
exhaust sounds.
7: Dual-mode operation
–
designed to run on DC or DCC.
8:
A
dvanced Analog: All sound features available in DCC are available in DC using
the Quantum Enginee
r
add-on controller (sold separately) to your DC power pack.
9:
A
ll Quantum 2 products can be upgraded with new sounds and software from the QSI Solutions
website using the Quantum Programmer (sold separately). This keeps your revolutionary sound
system perpetually up-to-date with new features, improvements and sounds. You might say we’ve obsoleted
obsolescence!
10: Simple installation. Two, distinct decoder formats means most locomotives will be
accept either of the following decoders:
Revolution-A: For all locomotives that have an Atlas or Kato style board, and
Revolution-U: For generic wired-style loco’s with/without the 8-pin NMRA Socket and/or a 9-pin Quick Plug.

5
Automatic Features
The following Quantum features are automatically controlled as a function of the directional state of the locomotive!
Featur
e
Forward Neutral From Forward Revers
e
Neutral From Reverse
Headlight Bright Dim Dim Dim
Rear Tender Lt. Dim Dim Bright Dim
Mars Light Strobing Steady On Steady On Steady On
Ditch Lt. On Off Of
f
Of
f
Num. Board. Lt.On On On On
Marker Lights On On On On
Cab Lights Off After 10
Secs.
On After 10 Secs. Off After 10 Secs On After 10 Secs.
Steam Blower Off After 10
Secs.
On After 10 Secs. Off After 10 secs. On After 10 Secs.
Cylinder Cocks If Armed, Plays
16 times or
until speeds
greater than
12 smph.
A
rms after 25 secs. If Armed, Plays 16
times or until
speeds greater
than 12 smph.
A
rms after 25 Secs.
Vents & Cooling
Fans
Off On at random times Of
f
On at random times
1b: Quantum Revolution Specifications
Dimensions: Revolution-A, 0.69” x 2.86”, Revolution-U, 2.13” x 0.69”
Maximum Peak Voltage: 25v
Steady State Current: 1.3 amp
Stall Current : 2+ Amps
Speaker Load: 8/16 ohm or two, 8 ohm speakers in series (Not parallel)
Caution: The speaker solder pads are close together
–
use care to avoid a solder bridge
between them- when connecting the speaker wires! See: Pg-7
Audio Amplifier: Advanced D Style Format (2 watts)
Light Outputs: 6 with 256 Intensity levels ea.
Function Current: 100ma (A 180 Ohm resistor on the circuit board limits this current.)
2: Installation Overview
A
s model railroaders, we understand the need for instant gratification when we get a new locomotive or decoder. We ask you to defer
this for a moment or two while we go over some installation specifics. These days, most manufacturers produce DCC-ready
locomotives
–
meaning that DCC installation is oftentimes literally a snap (which is the case with the Revolution A)! However, before
you highball on into your installation, there are a few things you should do beforehand that will make things a lot easier in the long run.
1: Read this ENTIRE manual! (We know
–
yuk!)
2: Remember that decoders are static-sensitive devices.
A
lways discharge any static electricity you
may have built up by touching a grounded pipe or a piece of sheet metal before beginning your installation.
3: Make sure you have a clean, wel lighted area consisting of a non-conductive surface on which to perform your installation.
4: Never do installation work with power applied to the decoder. This can burn up the decoder. We all love engines
that smoke
–
but this is the wrong way to get it!
5: Never touch your speaker output leads together.
6: Never touch your motor output leads together.
7: Never exceed the designated output ratings specified in section 1B.
8: Work carefully, take your time and have fun. (What may be frustrating tonight, probably won’t be tomorrow.)
10: Read this ENTIRE manual! (Yuk, etc.)

6
2a: Preparing your Locomotive: Pre-Install Precautions
We've already covered a few of the things that you don't want to do when installing your decoder. Now let's
look at some things you do want to do to get your locomotive ready to roll.
1st: Isolate the motor.This is one of the most critical aspects of any DCC decoder installation, regardless
of make or model. You MUST make sure your motor no longer receives ANY power directly from the track. In other
words, if you can find pick-up wires going directly from one side of your wheels/trucks to the motor terminals, you'll
want to disconnect them where they connect to the motor not from the trucks. Disconnecting them will keep the DCC
from “backfeeding” into the decoder and burning it up (see Step 5 of Section 2 regarding “smoke”!).
Note that on certain locomotives the motor draws power directly from 2 sides of a split frame, which the
motor is enclosed inside. Isolating this type of motor can be more difficult, and can require insulation of the
inner parts of the frame. If you have any doubt about the type of motor set-up you have, please contact QSI
Solutions for clarification before proceeding with the installation.
Most modern models already have the motor isolated. If the locomotive instructions say anything about it
being “DCC Ready,” then your model already has the motor isolated.
2nd: Trace your wires. By identifying which wire goes where, you'll make things a lot easier. We
recommend you devise some method of marking the wires once you have them traced out. That way, when
you want to reconnect that headlight, you won’t be left sitting there, looking at a bundle of wires, thinking
uhhhhhhh..... Hint: On the Revolution-
A
, move ONE wire at a time from the circuit board to the new decoder.
2b: Pre-Installation Loco Modifications
Now that you've isolated your motor and traced your wires, it is time to figure out where to put that speaker.
In steam locomotives, this is often pretty easy since most tenders are reasonably open inside. In diesels, it
tends to be a bit more difficult. We'll outline a couple ideas and let you decide.
2c: Speaker Selection
Since we've talked about where you're going to put the speaker, let's take a step back and talk about which
speaker you're going to use. QSI offers a plethora of new speakers with varying frequency responses
–
which means you now have many options. We recommend you experiment, so that you can decide how
much modification you’re willing to do to accommodate a particular speaker. Hint: Be sure to use some type
of baffle (enclosure) with your speakers. You can either use one of the available speaker enclosures, or with
appropriate “sealing,” the body shell itself. If you're unsure about what kind of speaker you're going to need,
feel free to call QSI Solutions for recommendations.
Next, make the final decision on where you'll put your speaker(s). Some locomotives have a cover on the
fuel tank that, when removed, reveals a weight that can also be removed. This is actually one of the better
configurations, because it accommodates the largest speaker. Another option includes: removing weight
from the top of the frame and broadcasting the sound out, quite prototypically, through the exhaust fan grills.
The last (and possibly most common) configuration is to remove any cab detailing and locate your speaker
in the remaining open space.

7
2d: Installing and Wiring Your Decode
r
If you've followed our instructions so far, you should already know what this section covers because you’ve
already read the entire manual, right ? That being the case, you should also have accomplished the
following:
1: You've verified that your motor is isolated
2: You've traced your wires so you know where they all go
3: You've figured out a location for your speaker
4: You've performed any modifications necessary to fit the selected speaker into said location
Now, take a moment to study the diagram below, as it will be referred to often in the coming paragraphs.
Okay, here comes the fun part. After grounding yourself, orient your decoder so that it matches the diagram
above in terms of direction. Next, locate the pick-up wires coming from the trucks (these may be the same
wires that you disconnected from the motor tabs when you isolated the motor). These wires will be tied into
the outer-most contacts on the ends of the decoder. The left rail pick-up will be tied into the output marked
TRK-L (you'll note there are two tabs marked TRK-L , either tab will
work if you do not have individual rail pick-up on the front and rear trucks) the right rail pick-up will attach to
TRK-R (again either/or will work if you don't have the provisions to do both).
Next, locate the motor + and
–
tabs. Tie the lead from the + motor tab to the left (motor +) tab on the
decoder, and the - motor tab to the right (motor -) tab.
A
t this point the locomotive should run on address, 3. You won’t have lights or sound yet, since we haven't
hooked them up.
Board Notches are for
connecting foil type motor
lead tabs on some Atlas
and Kato Models
Note: The
magnetic reed
switch is not
installed on this
unit. You can
j
umper the pads
to do a hard reset
by (1) Turning the
power off, (2)
Jumper the pads,
(3) Restore
power. (4) You
should hear
Reset.
The decoder will
now respond to
A
dd=3. Remove
j
um
p
er
Caution: The speaker solder pads are close together
–
use
care to avoid a solder bridge between them- when
co
nn
ect
in
gt
h
espea
k
e
rwir
es
!

8
Important! The Quantum Revolution lighting wiring is unique
–
please read carefully!
Now, let's get the lights working
The Quantum Revolution has extremely flexible lighting outputs that support either 1.5 volt 15 ma incandescent
lamps, or LEDs. This eliminates the need for larger incandescent lamps, which take more space and generate more
heat, and are not currently supported by the Quantum Revolution product. LEDs. (Note: the Revolution lighting
outputs differ from those of most decoders. First, the “blue” wire provides +5 volts instead of rectified DCC voltage.
Second, each lighting output has a 220, ohm resistor in series with the output transistor.) Look at the diagram above,
and you'll notice circuit diagrams on the right and left-hand side of the page. Simply go from the FO-F (or, FO-R) to
the tab immediately next to it (marked on the diagram as +5). This second tab serves as the common (same as the
blue wire on most decoders). When using LEDs, be sure to wire the polarity correctly. Wire the anode of the LED to
the +5, and the cathode to the light function output. No additional resistors are needed.
Incandescent, 1.5 volt lamps
should be a low-current [15 ma]
lamps. Okay, we're getting close
to being done now The pad closest
to the interior of the board (shown
here as SP+) is the + terminal for
the speaker, while the second
solder pad (shown as SP -) is the
–
terminal. Connect these to the
terminals on your speakers and
install your speaker into the
location you've prepared for it.
(These outputs may be
connected to eithe
r
speaker terminal if they’re not marked.)
Put the shell back on, and put your loco on the track. (If you have a program
track, check to be sure there are no short circuits after the shell is installed.) The
moment you issue any sort of command (be it applying DC track voltage or
issuing a function command on your DCC system) you should hear your newly
equipped locomotive thunder to life! Congratulations! You've done it! That wasn't
nearly as hard as you thought it was going to be was it?
3: Programming Your New Decode
r
Now that you've got it installed, let's take a look at programming some of the CVs in your decoder.
This section is primarily for DCC users
–
but you can also do it DC; it just requires some different steps. First we’ll
cover DCC programming, then programming with a DC power pack.
If you get into trouble you can do the manual reset, See Pg-7, or reset the decoder by entering the following CV's:
CV 49 = 128
CV 50 = 255 THIS WILL NOT AFFECT THE SOUNDS LOADED IN THE DECODER!
CV 56 = 113
The decoder will speak the word “RESET” when the last CV is entered (if done on the mainline) OR when power is
next applied (if done on the program track). The decoder responds to Add=3 after reset.

9
QSI’s Exclusive Decoder Talk Back Feature
A
ll QSI Decoders have a unique, exclusive “Talk Back Feature” when using
OPS-Mode Programming. These decoders actually “Talk Back” to the user via the decoders Verbal Announcement feature to
tell the user the values of programmed CV’s. CV62 governs the exclusive “Talk Back”.
This can be extremely handy as it confirms that the decoder has not only acknowledged the information, but taken it as well. .
Especially when programming indexed CV's as the decoder will speak back the entire 3 decimal value when programming is
complete. (Example: if you program CV 56.18.1 the decoder will say “CV Five Six point one eight point one equals xxx )
This works well with most DCC Systems but there is a notable exception with NCE
N.C.E. has an auto-programming feature in Ops Mode for setting a long address. When you enter a new long address into an
N.C.E. system it does three things: Programs CV17, programs CV18 and programs CV29. The problem is that the “Talk Back”
tries to acknowledge the change made in CV17 and in doing so interrupts the N.C.E. systems information flow causing the
address programming to fail. For NCE, in order to have these automatic address programming features work correctly you need
to turn off the verbal read back by setting CV62 to a value of 0. Or conversely, you can also program CV17, CV18 and CV29
individually, (not use the NCE auto feature) and maintain the “Talk Back” feature without programming interference. If you are
j
ust programming single CV’s at a time then the talk back feature may remain enabled
3a: Basic Operational CVs
Programming of all CVs in this decoder is performed according to the instructions provided with your DCC system.
It should be noted that due to the relatively high in-rush current required to run this decoder, most systems require
it to be programmed on the main line (or in “Ops Mode”). If that’s a problem with your particular DCC system, you can
purchase a program track booster called the PowerPax from Tony's Train Exchange that will remedy the problem.
*NOTE: These CV's are grouped so that similar CV's are together
CV# CV NAME DEFAULT RANGE
1Primary Address 31-127
17 Extended Address Lower Byte 192 *
18 Extended Address Upper Byte 0*
29 Configuration Data #1 60-55
2Vstart (start voltage) 80-255
5Vhigh(topspeed) 10-255
3Acceleration Rate (momentum) 00-255
4Deceleration Rate (momentum) 00-255
51 Master Volume 127 0-127
52 Horn Volume 11 0-15
62 Verbal Announcement “Talk Back Feature” 1(ON) 0-1 0(Off)
* = Special Range; See Pg-10
CVs Explained
QSI CV#’s
QSI uses several unique CV’s in these decoders. These have up to 3 parts.
Example: CV 55.70.1
1. 55 is the CV Number (think of this as a room in a house)
2. 70 is the Primary Index (think of this as a closet in the room)
3. 1 is the Secondary Index (think of this as a shelf in the closet)
To Program these unique CV’s
1. Set CV49 to the Primary index value
2. Set CV50 to the Secondary Index value (If none is shown set CV 50 to 0)
3. Now set the CV# to whatever value gives you the feature desired.

10
CV1 Primary Address:If you're going to use a short address (between 1 and 127) you can simply enter that
address as the value of CV1
CV17/18 Extended Address: CVs 17 and 18 are known as a “paired” CV, meaning that the two CVs together hold
one piece of information. If your DCC system does not compute the values of CV17/18 for you, here is a way to
compute the values, by using a different value in each CV to “build” the address you want. To determine the values
that are placed into these CVs use the following equations or the online calculator here:
http://ruppweb.dyndns.org/xray/comp/decoder.htm
A. Start with the locomotive address and divide it by 256 Sample 4449 ÷ 256 = 17.3789...
B. Use the whole number (17) from 17.3789 and add 192. Sample 17+192=209
C. Program the value (209) in step B is into CV17.
D. Multiply the whole number (17) from step A by 256. Sample 17 X 256 = 4352
E. Subtract the computed value in step D from the Sample 4449  4352= 97
Locomotive address.
F. Program the value (97) in step E is into CV18.
(Somesystemmayrequirea0tobeplacedinfrontofnumberslessthan100.
That would make the 97 a 097.)
G. To activate 4, digit addressing a value of 32 (bit 5) needs to be added to CV-29.
Wasn’t that fun? Here’s a simpler way to determine these values.
CV29 Configuration Data 1: CV29 controls 4 things at one time. First, it controls which speed table is accessible in
the decoder (i.e., 14, or 28/128 speed steps). Second, it determines whether or not your locomotive will still run in
analog mode (DC). Third, it tells the locomotive which direction is its “normal” travel direction. Lastly, it determines
whether your loco will accept a 2 or 4 digit address. For the specific value to enter use this chart below
CV Value for CV29: Hex or Dec Speed Step / Speed Table Analog Mode Normal Travel Direction 2/4 Digit Address
X00 HEX 0 14 Off Forward 2
X01 1 14 Off Reverse 2
X02 2 28/128 Off Forward 2
X03 3 28/128 Off Reverse 2
X04 4 14 On Forward 2
X05 5 14 On Reverse 2
X06 628/128 On Forward 2
X07 728/128 On Reverse 2
X10 16 14 Speed Table Off Forward 2
X11 17 14 Speed Table Off Reverse 2
X12 18 28/128 Speed Table Off Forward 2
X13 19 28/128 Speed Table Off Reverse 2
X14 20 14 Speed Table On Forward 2
X15 21 14 Speed Table On Reverse 2
X16 22 28/128 Speed Table On Forward 2
X17 23 28/128 Speed Table On Reverse 2
X20 32 14 Off Forward 4
X21 33 14 Off Reverse 4
X22 34 28/128 Off Forward 4
X23 35 28/128 Off Reverse 4
X24 36 14 On Foward 4
X25 37 14 On Reverse 4
X26 38 28/128 On Forward 4
X27 39 28/128 On Reverse 4
X30 48 14 Speed Table Off Forward 4
X31 49 14 Speed Table Off Reverse 4
X32 50 28/128 Speed Table Off Forward 4
X33 51 28/128 Speed Table Off Reverse 4
X34 52 14 Speed Table On Forward 4
X35 53 14 Speed Table On Reverse 4
X36 54 28/128 Speed Table On Forward 4
X37 55 28/128 Speed Table On Reverse 4

11
Commonly Used CV’s and Values
Programming Indexed QSI CV's
Important QSI CV's are listed above. The programming of the values listed needs to be done in a specific order
using CV's 49 and 50. When you see an indexed value like CV56.18.1 you actually need to change up to three
CV's to modify the information contained within the CV. If there are 3 decimal places (like in the example above)
then you must program CV50 first, then CV49 second and then which ever Master CV you're trying to change
third. For simplicity this has been color coded above. You will program the GREEN VALUE FIRST,where
applicable the RED VALUE SECOND,andtheBLUE VALUE LAST.
Individual Sound Vol. CV's CV CV50 CV49 CV52 Effect
Horn Volume 52
X
00-15 0= Minimum Volume. 15= Maximum Volume
Bell Volume 52.8
X
80-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Motor Volume 52.10
X
10 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Turbo Volume 52.14
X
14 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Air Pump Volume 52.16
X
16 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Cooling Fan Volume 52.19
X
19 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Long Air Let-off Volume 52.21
X
21 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Short Air Let-off Volume 52.22
X
22 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Squealing Brakes Volume 52.24
X
24 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Generator Volume 52.26
X
26 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Dynamic Brake Fan Volume 52.28
X
28 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Coupler Volume 52.34
X
34 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Air Brakes Volume 52.37
X
37 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Alternate Horn Volume 52.40
X
40 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
User Sound Effect Volume 52.46
X
46 0-15 0= Minimum Volume, 15= Maximum Volume
Quantum Configuration CV's CV CV50 CV49 CV52 Effect
System Configuration 56.0.0 0 0 0-1 0= Sound Off at Powerup 1= Sound on at Powerup
Throttle Mode (STC and RTC) 56.4.0 0 4 0-1 0= Stand.Throttle Control 1= Regul. Throttle Control
R.T.C Minimum BEMF 56.5.0 0 5 0-31 0= NO BEMF for RTC, 31=ALL BEMF for RTC
Quantum PID CV's CV CV50 CV49 CV52 Effect
Very Low Speed Proportional Gain 56.18.0 018 0-255 Special See Section 5C
Very Low Speed Integral Gain 56.18.1 118 0-2 Special See Section 5C
Very Low Speed Differential Gain 56.18.2 218 0-255 Special See Section 5C
Low Speed Proportional Gain 56.19.0 019 0-255 Special See Section 5C
Low Speed Integral Gain 56.19.1 119 0-2 Special See Section 5C
Low Speed Differential Gain 56.19.2 219 0-255 Special See Section 5C
Medium Speed Proportional Gain 56.20.0 020 0-255 Special See Section 5C
Medium Speed Integral Gain 56.20.1 120 0-2 Special See Section 5C
Medium Speed Differential Gain 56.20.2 220 0-255 Special See Section 5C
High Speed Proportional Gain 56.21.0 021 0-255 Special See Section 5C
High Speed Integral Gain 56.21.1 121 0-2 Special See Section 5C
High Speed Differential Gain 56.21.2 221 0-255 Special See Section 5C

12
3b: Analog Programming
PART OF RESETING AND WORKING WITH THIS UNIT IN ANALOG MODE IS THROUGH A
MAGNETIC REED SWITCH WHICH IS AN OPTIONAL PART. IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED THIS PART PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR DEALER.
There is another simple option. Solder two wires to the reed switch pads and touch them together momentarily to
simulate the reed switch function, see Pg-7.
Your locomotive can be programmed using a standard power pack.
A
ll advanced operations are easily programmed using your standard HO power pack. After entering
programming (described below), the various features are selected and operated by using the direction switch.
Program
Option
#'s (POP's)
Option Name
(Default Value)
Message When
Entering Option Option Description
1System Volume
(16, Max) “Volume equals X” Sets System volume (17 level) where level 16 is max and level 0 is off.
2Load
(0, No Load) “Load equals X”
Selects the starting and stopping inertia for both Regulated
Throttle Control (RTC) and
Standard Throttle Control (STC). Level 0 (no load), Level 1-
15, increasing Load with
acceleration to full speed from 15 seconds to 210 seconds
in RTC and from 3 seconds
to 45 seconds in STC.
3Helper
(Normal)
“Helper Equals”
“Normal”
“Lead”
“Mid”
“End”
“Pusher”
Selects Normal, Lead, Mid, End, or Pusher Helper in
consists.
Normal Locomotive has all sounds and lights enabled.
Lead locomotive has all sounds enabled and Reverse Light
disabled.
Mid Helper has Horn, Bell and all lights disabled11.
End Helper has Horn, Bell and all lights disabled except
Reverse Light.
Pusher has Reverse Light on all the time as train warning
light. Horn, Bell and all other
lights are disabled.
4Directional
(Normal)
“Direction Equals
X”
Selects if the features associated with the locomotive’s
direction are “Normal” or“Reversed”.
5-7 Reserved “Reserved”
8V-Start(8.5v)
“V-Start Equals X” Sets track voltage at which locomotive will leave Neutral.
(See Example below)
9 V-Max (12v) “V-Max Equals X” Sets track voltage at which full track power is applied to motor.
10 Throttle Mode
(RTC) “Mode Equals X” Selects between Regulated Throttle Control (RTC)
and Standard Throttle Control (STC)
11 Programming
Reset
“Warning-about to
reset”
Selects between Regulated Throttle Control (RTC) and
Standard Throttle Control (STC).
12 About “Model Number”
Each Quick or Slow Operation provides progressive
information about Quantum Model Number, Software
Version, and Software Release Date.

13
Entering Programming:
Use this simple sequence to enter Programming using the direction switch.
1. Apply power and turn up the throttle to hear the sound system come on.
2. Within five seconds of powering up, turn on the Bell with a Quick Flip-and-Back operation of the direction switch.
3. Within three seconds of the Bell turning on, turn off the bell with a second Quick Flip-and Back operation.
4. Within three seconds, turn the Bell back on again with a third Quick flip-and-back operation.
NOTE: If you delay too long after power has been first applied, the opportunity to enter Programming will “time
out,” and you will need to start again by shutting of
f
, and reapplying track power.
Once you perform the three bell operations after applying power, the bell will shut off automatically, you will hear “Enter
Programming,” and the headlight and
r
everse light will flash alternately off and on.
Scrolling through the Program Options:
A
fter entering Programming, you will hear an announcement of the first Program Option, “Option 1 - System Volume”.
To access other Program Options, simply flip the direction switch to the opposite position and leave it there. Listen as
each option number is announced in order.
When you hear the Option Number you want, flip the direction switch back and leave it there. After you stop at an option
you will hear the option number and name announced. When you are scrolling through and stopping at Program
Options, you are not making any changes. To make changes you must actually enter the Program Option.
Note: If you accidentally go to a higher option number other than the one you wanted, simply turn the power off, re-
enter Programming and start again.
Once you reach the last Program Option, i the decoder will continue to announce the last option number.
Entering a Program Option and Making Changes:
A
fter the verbal announcement of a Program Option, you can enter that option by performing a Slow or Quick Flip-and-
Back operation of the direction switch. Upon entering a Program Option, you will hear the present
setting for that option. For unused Program Options, you will hear “Reserved”. For any volume option, you will hear
“Volume equals X” (where “X” is its present volume setting). After a moment, you will hear the sound at its present
volume.
Note: It is easy to distinguish between doing a Quick and Slow operation. When you flip the direction switch to do a
Slow operation, wait until you hear a low level “hiss” sound from the locomotive; then immediately flip the direction
switch back. To do a Quick operation, make sure you flip the direction switch back before you hear the “hiss” sound.
Note: Entering a Program Option does not change the settings for that option; it only provides information about its
present value. After entering the Program Option, additional Slow or Quick flip-and-back operations will program new
settings as described in the above table. For all level adjustments, a Quick operation will decrease one level, while a
Slow operation will increase one level.
Note: Since “System Volume” is the first Program Option, you can use Quick or Slow operations immediately after
entering Programming to change the System Volume.
Moving on to Other Program Options or Exiting Programming:
Flip the direction switch at anytime to the opposite position, and leave it there. The Quantum System will first return to
and announce the present Program Option, and then automatically advance on to higher options.Exit Programming
anytime you want by turning the power off, and then back on again.
Example 1: Setting Throttle Mode (Program Option # 10):

14
Program Option #10 determines whether your locomotive uses Regulated Throttle Control (RTC) or Standard Throttle
Control (STC).
Enter Programming after powering up your locomotive by turning the Bell on, then off and then on as described above.
12 of 28
A
fter the “Enter Programming” and “Option One - System Volume” announcement of the first Program Option, flip
the direction switch and leave it there. You will hear “Option 1, 2, 3 … etc.” Stop when you hear “one-zero” by moving
the direction switch back. You will hear “Throttle Mode”.Use a Slow or Quick flip of the direction switch to
enter this option. If the throttle mode is at its default value (RTC), you will hear “Mode equals Regulated;”
otherwise, you will hear “Mode equals Standard.”Use a Slow or Quick flip of the direction switch to change the
Throttle Mode. Repeated Slow or Quick operations will cause the throttle mode to alternate between its two
possible values “Regulated” or “Standard”.
Once you have selected the Throttle Mode you wish to use, turn the power off. When you power up again,
your locomotive will be using the Throttle Mode that you have just selected.
Example 2: Setting V-Start (Program Option # 8 ):
This option determines the voltage (and throttle position) at which the locomotive will leave Neutral and begin
moving. Enter Programming after powering up your locomotive by turning the Bell on, then off and then on - as
described above.
A
fter the “Enter Programming” announcement followed by “Option One - System Volume” announcement for
the first Program Option, flip the direction switch and leave it there. You will hear the announcement “Option 1,
2, 3 … etc.”. Stop when you hear the number “8” by flipping the direction switch back. You will hear “V-Start”.
Use a Slow or Quick flip of the direction switch to enter this option. You will hear “V-Start equals X” in
which“X” is the track voltage value presently set for leaving Neutral.
Use a Slow or Quick flip of the direction switch to activate this option. Hear the message “Set throttle to V-
Start.” After three seconds, the voltage will be announced. If you move the throttle, the new track voltage value
is announced a few seconds later. Once throttle is set, use a Slow or Quick flip of the direction switch to begin
the V-Start voltage setting procedure. The locomotive will move at a slow speed and the bell will ring
continuously for about 25 seconds, indicating the correct value is being calculated. If you chose a very low
voltage setting, be patient. If the locomotive does not move during this procedure, return to the beginning of
this option or start over and choose a slightly higher throttle setting. At the end of the process, the locomotive
will stop moving and the Horn will blow, signifying the end of the operation, and you will hear the message “V-
Start = X” where “X” is the new setting.
To leave Programming, turn the throttle off, and then power up for normal locomotive operation.
Or continue to the next option (
V
-Max) by moving the direction switch and waiting for the next Programming
Option to be announced.
Example 3: Setting V-Max (Program Option # 9 ):
V
-Max is set in the same manner as
V
-Start except upon entering this Program Option, you will hear “Set
throttle to V-Max” which is the throttle position at which you want full track voltage to be applied to the motor
(usually about 80% of full throttle). Then do a Quick or Slow operation to start the
V
-Max setting procedure.
Like
V
-Start, the bell will ring continuously until the voltage is set followed by a horn blast to indicate the
procedure has been accomplished. Setting
V
-Max is much faster than
V
-Start!

15
3C: Individual Sound Volume
Thanks to it's 8 sound channels, the Quantum Revolution allows for an extensive amount of user control over
individual sound volumes. The CVs to change these individual volumes are listed in the chart below:
Changing Individual Sound Volumes (CV 52.X )
X’ refers to the value in column 1 of the table, the Primary Index number that will be entered into CV 49.
To change the volume of individual sounds listed in the table below do the following:
Set CV 49 to the Primary Index for the individual sound from the table below.
Enter Volume level in CV 52 as follows: “0” = No sound, “1
–
15” sets volume from the lowest level at “1” to
the highest at “15”, with volume levels at 2db increments. Defaults are typically set to 11.
*= Turbine Models Only
**= Non-Turbo Charged Models Only
Primary Index
EnteredintoCV49
CV Range Individual Sound
Vol.
0520-15 Horn
8 52.8 0-15 Bell
10 52.1 0-15 Diesel Moto
r
13* 52.13 0-15 Turbine Whoosh Vol
14 52.14 0-15 Turbo Charger Vol.
15* 52.15 0-15 Turbine Whine Vol.
16 52.16 0-15
A
ir Pump
19 52.19 0-15 Vents and Cooling Fans
21 52.21 0-15 Long Air Let-off
22 52.22 0-15 Short Air Let-off
24 52.24 0-15 Squealing Brakes/Flanges
26** 52.26 0-15 Generato
r
28 52.28 0-15 Dynamic Brakes
34 52.34 0-15 Coupler Sounds
37 52.37 0-15
A
ir Brake Sounds
40 52.40 0-15
A
lternate Horn Vol.
46 52.46 0-15 User Added Sound Effects

16
4: Revolutionary Operations
We've covered all the particulars, now lets have some fun. Again, since this decoder is full featured in both DC
and DCC we'll split this into two sections again. First the DCC:
With your locomotive on the track, call up the address on your DCC hand-held (which will be address 3 if you
haven't already changed it). Upon entering the address you should hear the locomotive hiss briefly followed by
the sound of the prime mover starting up. Depending on your system , you may need to issue a function
command to start it up. From here when you toggle function 0 (or push the headlight button) the lights will
come on.
Now, give the horn a toot and roll your throttle up. The loco will begin to accelerate according to any
momentum programming you did earlier. As the locomotive accelerates listen to the notching, notice that just
previous to the notch up you can hear the motor quiet down a bit before it ramps up through the notch. This
will continue until you reach either top speed or (where applicable) the transition (essentially shifting gears)
where you will hear another couple notches.
Now let's slow down and pull into the station or freight yard. As you slow you'll hear the brakes engage and
start squealing, when you reach stop you'll hear the cylinders bleed off the last bit of pressure with a quick
hiss.
With DC the process is essentially the same except in order to play the horn and the bell you'll need to throw
the direction switch back and forth, not quite as much control but the fun is still there and more so than ever
before).
There is another DC sound control option we haven't discussed yet.
A
tlas makes a product called the
Quantum Engineer, which is a sound control device connects directly to the two track output wires. It provides
a 28, button interface with individual controls for all the sounds within the decoder, as well as buttons to apply
and release the brakes. (If using the Quantum Engineer you should consult the manual for proper operation
procedures). Like we said: the most advanced sound control on the planet!
4a: Functions and Features Explained
First we'll go through function by function and discuss the uses of each of the basic functions. Please keep in
mind that the following applies exclusively to DCC users.
F1: Toggles Bell On or Off
F2: Toggles Horn On or Off (also toggles alternate horn after triggered using F11)
F3: Plays Coupler sounds. The first time you push the button the couplers will clank as they join
together. The Second time you push the button you'll hear the pressure release and the pins bang
apart.
F4: Toggles Cooling Fans On or Off
F5: Toggles Dynamic Brakes On or Off
F6: When in neutral plays start-up sounds. When moving in forward or reverse triggers the Doppler
effects causing the all locomotive sounds to “Doppler down”. This can be especially fun at the end of a
grade crossing, or when used in conjunction with other sound effects.
F7: In neutral plays long air let off. When in forward Or reverse plays the flange/brake squeal sound.
F8: Mute.

17
F9: In neutral puts loco in standby/disconnect mode. When moving activates the Sound Of Power
function, when sound of power is activated you'll hear the horn hoot once. As you throttle up the loco
will sound as though it's under a very heavy load. Concisely, if you throttle down you'll hear the motor
ramp down like it's coasting. Neither of these functions will effect speed until F9 is pressed again when
you will hear a double whistle hoot or horn blast indicating that Sound Of Power has been turned off.
F10: Status Report. In neutral the loco will read back the address and any mode that it may be in
(e.g., standby/disconnect). When moving, F10 acts as a speedometer giving a verbal read back of the
scale miles per hour.
F11: Toggles between the primary and secondary horn. After pressing F11 once F2 will control the
secondary horn normally.
F12: Toggles extra light function on or off.
The Quantum Revolution also allows for changes in the “mapping” of these functions.
Mapping is the ability to change which button on your handheld controls what function.
Sound of Power:
When a diesel locomotive starts to pull a heavy load, the engineer opens the throttle causing the engine to rev
up before the train even starts moving. In steam engines the chuff gets louder as the engineer opens the
throttle. As a train reaches its set speed, the sound level drops. When the throttle is cut back, the sound level
cuts back. A diesel engine should drop to an idle. These are all possible with the Sound of Power feature.
Sound of Power works by comparing the speed set by the DCC command to the speed of the locomotive. The
greater the difference between the two, the higher the volume. Keeping that in mind, it should be noted that
putting a value in the momentum CVs (CVs 3 and 4), will make the effect more pronounced.
Checking out the Sound of Power:
First increase the throttle on your DCC system. When the desired speed is reached push F9 you will hear the
horn blast once and the volume increase. As you ad
j
ust the throttle you'll notice the sound of the locomotive
change dependent on the direction of throttle change. I.E. If you increase the throttle you'll hear the sound get
louder like the locomotive is under a load, if you decrease the throttle you'll hear the locomotive quiet down
and go to idle as if it's going down a hill and no longer struggling. When finished using this feature simply
press F9 again and you'll hear a double horn blast and the locomotive will go to whatever speed step the
throttle is set to when Sound Of Power was disengaged.
Braking:
You can get even more control over speed by braking with F7. As the engine is coasting, with speed set to
zero, F7 will act as a brake with the added sound of the brake squeal. When you press F7 you will also hear
an air release. The longer you press, the faster the braking. This feature requires values to be set in CV3 and
CV4. If you don't have momentum in the locomotive when you drop the throttle to 0 and your loco will stop
immediately negating the usefulness of the brake. Set CV3 and CV4 to some value. We like CV4 set to half of
CV3’s value. So for starters, try about 50 in CV3 and 25 in CV4. You can program this on the main or “Ops
mode”. This adds to the fun of switching. Be sure and try the braking feature you’ll enjoy the challenge of
running an engine more like the prototype.

18
The Doppler Effect:
Sound waves move at the speed of sound. As a train approaches its speed vs the speed of its soun
d
causes
its sound wave to compress, which in turn, causes the pitch of its sound to seemingly increase. When the
engine passes by, the opposite happens and its sound waves are stretched and the pitch of its sound drops.
The greater the speed, the greater the shift in sound frequencies as the engine passes by.
Checking out the Doppler Feature:
Model locomotives do not move fast enough to create such a shift in sound frequency. To achieve this the
Doppler feature needs to be triggered as the locomotive passes. There are two ways to trigger the Doppler
feature. First, with the whistle blowing for longer than a second,quickly release the whistle/horn key and then
reapply. This quick drop out of the whistle signal will trigger a drop in the sound frequency, simulating the
Doppler effect.
The second way is to use F6 key. F6 is used for startup when the engine is stopped, when the locomotive is
moving F6 is used to trigger the Doppler effect. The change in sound is impressive as the engine passes -
sounds like the real thing! The faster the speed, the more pronounced is the effect.
Grade Crossing:
Engineers use specific signals on the horn/whistle to communicate various actions (forward, reverse all stop
etc.) one of the universally recognized signals is the grade crossing, used whenever a train is approaching an
active roadway. Several other decoder manufacturers have included this signal in the past. But all were fairly
limited in realism because they lacked a method for changes in signal timing. QSI has remedied this by
including a provision in the Quantum Upgrade software that provides very fine control of the timing. (If you do
not own a Quantum Programmer see your local dealer.)
Checking out the Grade Crossing:
Unlike other functions the grade crossing does not come set to a default function key. You'll have to change a
couple CVs to use this fun effect. We recommend that you assign this to F3 because the coupler clank sound
is one most people can live without. In order to assign the grade crossing to F3 set CV50 to a value of 0, CV49
to a value of 5 and then change CV53 to 154. Now, while moving, you should be able to simply press F3 and
hear the classic long, long, short, long. Horn/whistle signal. For a real treat, while the last long horn blast is
playing hit F6 and listen to the way the Doppler effect really ties the grade crossing together! Now, go to your
programmer and “fine tune” this fine tune! Or, read the following and program it with your DCC system
Disconnect/Standby/Shutdown:
Locomotive Shut Down has three distinct user-controllable stages. Each stage is entered by double-pressing
F9 key.
Stage One: Disconnect
To enter “Disconnect,” double-press the F9 key in Neutral (neutral=speed step 0). You will hear a long air
release. The motor drive will be disabled. The DCC throttle can be opened or closed without the locomotive
moving As the throttle is opened or closed, you will hear the motor rev up and down in response to the throttle.
Note that all Function Keys are active in Disconnect. To exit Disconnect, either double-press the F6 Start Up
key as described in the Start Up section, or double-press the F9 key again to reach Standby, which is the
second stage of the Shut Down mode.
Note: In Disconnect, you can also turn the Dynamic Brakes on (see Dynamic Brakes below) to create
Sound
–
o
f
-Power as the throttle is opened and closed. Prototype engineers use dynamic brakes to
load and test the motor generator’s output efficiency while the locomotive remains stationary,.

19
Stage Two: Standby
To enter “Standby,” double-press the F9 key while in Disconnect, and you will hear a long air release, followed by a
distinctive “low idle” sound. The directional lighting and optional ditch lights or mars light will also shut down.
Note:In Standby, the motor will remain disconnected, while the air pumps, automatic cooling fans, number board lights
and cab lights will continue to operate.
A
lso in Standby, the locomotive will not
respond to throttle or function keys with the following exceptions: The F6 Start Up Key, the F8 Mute Key (described
below) and the F10 Status Key (also described below).
To exit Standby, either double-press the F6 Start Up Key (as described in the Start Up section), or double-press the F9
key again to access Total Shut Down, the final stage of Shut Down.
Note: Standby is ideal for leaving your locomotive running on a siding. In addition to hearing the sound of the diesel at
low idle, the locomotive will not respond to accidental changes in throttle settings or function keys.
Stage Three: Total Shut Down
Total Shut Down allows you to take the locomotive “off line” (turn off sounds and
lights, ignore throttle settings and function commands) independent of the operating session. Note that the locomotive
will still be “off-line” when power is next reapplied, regardless of whether the next session is analog (conventional DC),
or DCC.
Double press the F9 in Standby to enter Total Shut Down. You will hear a Long Air Let-off. The Air Pumps will turn off,
followed by the Number Boards (if so equipped) and the sounds of the Cooling Fans shutting off, the louvers closing,
the Diesel Motor shutting down and finally, the Cab Lights (if so equipped) turning off. A few seconds later you will hear
the engineer’s door open and then shut.
Note: In Total Shut Down, the locomotive will not respond to the throttle
–
nor will it respond to function keys except for
the F6 Start Up Key (described below) and the F10 Status Key (also described below). 17 of 28
To exit Total Shut Down, double-press the F6 key.
Note: If power is turned off at any stage of Shut Down (Disconnect, Standby or Total Shut Down) or during a Shut
Down procedure, the locomotive will remember the last Shut Down stage it was at during power down, and the
locomotive will power up in the same stage.
However, if Start Up is initiated during any of the above Shut Down procedures, the Shut Down is aborted,
and the locomotive will return to normal operation.
Start Up
You can return your Quantum Revolution-equipped diesel locomotive to normal operation during any stage of
Shut Down by double-pressing the F6 key. Start Up will be different for each stage of Shut Down, but enter
normal each will start up with a long air release, and will operation.
Start Up from Disconnect: Double-presstheF6keyinDisconnect, and the diesel locomotive will produce a long
air release, the dynamic brakes will shut off and the locomotive will enter normal operation.
Start Up from Standby: Double-press the F6 key in Standby, and your diesel will produce a long air release,
directional lighting will turn on, the diesel motor sound will change from special low Idle to regular Idle, and the
locomotive will enter normal operation.
Start Up from Total Shut Down:
Double-press the F6 key in Total Shut Down, and the locomotive will produce a long air release, you will hear the cab
door opening and closing, and if so equipped, you’ll see the cab lights and number boards come on and the directional
lighting turn on (if it was on previously). These actions are followed by the sounds of vents opening, the diesel motor
starting up, the air pumps starting up and the locomotive’s entering normal operation.
Note: During the Start Up procedure, no DCC function keys are active. However, in the event the throttle is
advanced beyond ze
r
o during any of the above Start Up procedures, the Start Up procedure will abort and the
locomotive will enter normal operation.

20
5: Fine Tuning Your Performance
The Revolution offers many ways to fine-tune your locomotive for truly revolutionary motor response. This is
accomplished through Regulated Throttle Control, Back EMF and what are referred to in the DCC industry as PIDs. The next
section explains what each of these do and how to use them to really tune your locomotive for prototypical operation.
Smooth Starts using QSI Decoders.
Some locos tend to jump when they start moving. This can be lessened or eliminated by one of the following:
1) Make sure the loco is in Regulated Throttle Control (RTC)
2) Increase the value in CV2 V start. Inc
r
easethisvaluebyavalueof10untilthelocostartsmoving
at speed step 1, or 2. If it moves too fast then back it off by 5 until the ideal setting is reached. If CV2
does not fix the problem, increase the value in CV56.5 (RTC Min. BEMF).
3) If the problem still persists then try increasing the values in the PID Parameters, CV56.18.0 (P Gain)
and CV56.18.2 (D Gain)
Any setting here will also work when the loco is running on DC as well
5a: Back EMF (Back Electro-Motive Force) Explained
One of the better ways to explain BEMF is to compare it to the way an electric motor functions. For example, if you
apply power to a motor, the shaft turns. Conversely, if you turn the motor shaft, the motor will generate power, or in our
case, produce a voltage. Similarly, when a decoder applies power to a motor, it begins to rotate. However, the decoder
applies power in pulses. As a result, there is a time between pulses when no voltage is applied to the motor. During this
time the decoder can “read” the voltage produced by the motor. If the motor slows, the BEMF voltage drops, if speed
increases, the voltage also increases. This is how a BEMF decoder can determine the speed of the motor, sense any
change in motor speed, and respond accordingly to provide realistic load-related variations in speed as trains ascend
and descend grades, for example.
5b: Regulated Throttle Control (RTC) Explained
Regulated Throttle Control (RTC) adds realistic momentum to your train operations. Although it has been available in
analog from QSI, it has not been available in DCC until now. RTC uses Back EMF to simulate the massive inertial
characteristics of prototype operations. An RTC-controlled locomotive will move through such “obstacles” as tight
turnouts, raised track joints, etc., with little change in speed
–
and will easily maintain speeds of less than 1 scale mile
per hour! However, if the locomotive encounters a long uphill grade, it will slowly reduce speed just as does the
prototype. Similarly, when a downhill grade is encountered, it will slowly increase in speed like the prototype.
Unlike Speed Control, which is a feature used by many older decoders. RTC is a true, comprehensive throttle control
system, and is controlled by the same CV's that control speed curves, including (CV2, CV3, CV4, CV5, CV23 and
CV24, and all CVs related to the speed curve.
The best news: since RTC-controlled locos slowly adjust their speed based on load, locomotives in consist’s tend to
share power equally. This makes advanced (and truly prototypical) consisting extremely easy since the locomotives can
actually “talk” to each other. Put that helper in the middle of the train, or that pusher at the end
–
where they belong!
5c: PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) Control Explained
The PID control process is a little like a three ring circus. Each of
its three components play a part in the control process. To
oversimplify, think of PID as a black box with the output as the
power to the motor and the input as the BACK-EMF from the
motor. We “tune” for smoothest operation by changing the CV
values associated with PID parameters. But first, a little more tech.