New Bachmann smoke unit to fit K27

[KeithT]

Last year I had a Massoth XLS card fitted to my K27. In the process it was necessary to remove the factory fitted smoke unit as it was pulling a massive amount of current and the wires were melting! I was told the Bachmann were soon to release a new lower power smoke unit.
Has anyone any information on this?

 

[Neil Robinson]

I'd recommend a Massoth pulsed smoke unit.
If you wish to run analogue as well you may wish to use the lower voltage higher current smoke unit. Both digital and analogue units take their power directly from the rails and may share the pulse sensor with that for the sound board.

Then again you could use a Suethe type, https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/alternative-for-bachmann-smoke-unit.293240/

 

[KeithT]

I'd recommend a Massoth pulsed smoke unit.
If you wish to run analogue as well you may wish to use the lower voltage higher current smoke unit. Both digital and analogue units take their power directly from the rails and may share the pulse sensor with that for the sound board.

Then again you could use a Suethe type, https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/alternative-for-bachmann-smoke-unit.293240/

Thanks Neil I had my sights set on a Massoth pulsed unit originally but when the XLS was fitted P&S Models said that Bachmann were intending to bring out a revised/improved unit. That was last year.
Given the long term tempters put out by manufacturers generally and my abortive wait for the QSI card for this loco I think I had better go for the Massoth unit whilst I am still capable of enjoying it!

 

[Neil Robinson]

I had my sights set on a Massoth pulsed unit originally but when the XLS was fitted P&S Models said that Bachmann were intending to bring out a revised/improved unit. That was last year.

My understanding is that the current digital version 8413501 V 3.2 is a very recent version as is the round topped digital only 8415001

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Yep, I'd go with the massoth, no rumors over here about a new smoke unit from Bachmann... in fact very little new.

By the way, QSI decoders can be had, just ordered and received 10 of them.

Greg

 

[KeithT]

Yep, I'd go with the massoth, no rumors over here about a new smoke unit from Bachmann... in fact very little new.

By the way, QSI decoders can be had, just ordered and received 10 of them.

Greg

Hi Greg Thanks, I was hoping that you might pick up on my post. Sadly, I gave up on the Titan, it took so long to appear and there were so many disappointed users that I ended up with the XLS. I tried an early Titan and it screwed up the loco control completely. I use LGB MTS3.
Not sure that the XLS has been installed correctly though, in fact, I am sure it hasn't as I have no lights even though it is set to 14 speed steps.
I need to get it back to the installer.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Interesting. The BEMF on the motor control part of the Titan has not changed from the earlier model QSI Revolution (yes that is what it was called).

I did have some locos that refused to work well with it, but I just turned off that mode, there are 4 modes to motor control.

Most of the issue were the default BEMF parameters, and now they come set from the factory better, but you could always tweak them no matter what the hardware or firmware version.

Greg

 

[KeithT]

Interesting. The BEMF on the motor control part of the Titan has not changed from the earlier model QSI Revolution (yes that is what it was called).

I did have some locos that refused to work well with it, but I just turned off that mode, there are 4 modes to motor control.

Most of the issue were the default BEMF parameters, and now they come set from the factory better, but you could always tweak them no matter what the hardware or firmware version.

Greg

There were two possibilities for the problems I had with the loco. - It was also tried using an ESU card with even odder results,
It could be that the supplier did not understand how to pre-program the cards. I learned later that his programming device was returned for repair around that time.
Or, as I only discovered last year the locomotive despite being bought new was not in standard condition internally, there were additional and poorly soldered wires, on many the insulation had overheated.
When the XLS card was fitted last year the loco was completely rewired.
Given that the problem arose with two different makes of card I now strongly suspect that it was the loco that was the prime cause of problems.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

There are motors that drive BEMF decoders crazy, and one prime example are the Pittman gearhead motors coupled with a double-lead worm gear (you can roll the loco and it turns the motor).

This combination can generate so much electricity when coasting that the BEMF circuits go nuts and you get fits and starts.

The solution is to turn BEMF off.

Greg

 

[KeithT]

There are motors that drive BEMF decoders crazy, and one prime example are the Pittman gearhead motors coupled with a double-lead worm gear (you can roll the loco and it turns the motor).

This combination can generate so much electricity when coasting that the BEMF circuits go nuts and you get fits and starts.

The solution is to turn BEMF off.

Greg

That sounds a very good description of what happened when I tried the cards. Stuttering, running the wrong way, continuing even with the speed control turned to zero. Generally, not responding to the controller in any logical manner.

 

[KeithT]

There are motors that drive BEMF decoders crazy, and one prime example are the Pittman gearhead motors coupled with a double-lead worm gear (you can roll the loco and it turns the motor).

This combination can generate so much electricity when coasting that the BEMF circuits go nuts and you get fits and starts.

The solution is to turn BEMF off.

Greg

Just a thought, given the weight of say a K27 hauling a long train and I have long trains - is there not a real danger of trashing the gears with a sudden stop? Not likely I would do it but I do occasionally let others drive.