|
|
Post by bogtudor on Sept 2, 2016 13:49:10 GMT -5
Hello, Any idea how to remove the shell from the chassis of a SD70Ace?  I want to install a TCS AZL4. Should I pull downwards from the fuel tank? It seems mode difficult than the SD70 ... Thanks |
|
|
|
Post by shamoo737 on Sept 2, 2016 14:07:44 GMT -5
pull the fuel tanks down, then wedge your finger nails between the fuel tank and the shell and wiggle it up. Be careful with the power pickups. They will come off easily. Also, the AZL pcb is wedge in tightly, so I used a flat jeweler screwdriver to push it out. Doing it gently, because I am not sure how strong is the chassis. After the GP38, I have cracker chassis phobia.
|
|
|
|
Post by bogtudor on Sept 2, 2016 15:06:49 GMT -5
I did it, you were right with the PCB, I used a small pliers to pull it out without damage.
Thank you for the help!
|
|
|
|
Post by bogtudor on Sept 2, 2016 17:11:42 GMT -5
After installing the decoder, the engine is running badly.
Can it be a contact problem? Or the decoder itself? I didn't open the chassis yet.
The decoder is TCS AZL4 with a Roco Multimaus Pro.
|
|
|
|
Post by shamoo737 on Sept 2, 2016 17:16:02 GMT -5
Check the power pickups make sure the truck pickups are under the leaf springs.
|
|
|
|
Post by BAZman on Sept 2, 2016 17:49:39 GMT -5
Does the forward light stay on, or 'blink'? If the LED stays on, then it is the motor control. If it is the LED blinks, then there may be poor electrical contact, like the 2 main contacts. You may want to take the board back out and then hold the board outside the chassis where you can push just one board contact into the notch on the frame. This will test if there is a good friction fit or if it is quite easy to put in the notch, meaning the board has potential poor or intermittent contact to the frame. Also, turn off the BEMF (Back ElectroMotive Force), where the board tries to compensate for loads. Their algorythm was developed for HO motors and they admit it wont work correctly with the super low current Z scale motors. Turning off the BEMF means that the motor gets a pure, constant PWM (pulse width modulated) signal. That means of you want Speed Step 5, then you get that percentage on cycle (no compensation). This makes troubleshooting easy. To turn it off, program CV 61 to 0. This CV is also part of the lighting control (Rule 17, etc). If you want the Forward light to Dim on Reverse, then CV 61 =32. If you want the Forward light to also Dim when stopped, then CV 61 =16. If you want both, then CV 61 =48 (add the two together). Read more in your manual that came with the decoder or here: www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Literature/Decoders/Z_Scale/AZL4/AZL4.pdfIf you want more info, see their Comprehensive Programming Guide: www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Technical_Info/Tech_Manuals/Comprehensive%20Programming%20Guide.pdf |
|
|
|
Post by shamoo737 on Sept 2, 2016 18:15:52 GMT -5
Also check if the decoder is loose. I have one where I will have to add solder.
|
|
|
|
Post by tjdreams on Sept 2, 2016 19:13:23 GMT -5
I've seen that stop go motion in your video before.
It is a power contact/pickup problem what's happening is when power is applied the motor starts to turn and the torque forces the motor to twist/move ever so slightly pulling it away from the contact on the board. Once the contact is lost the motor stops and settles back to where it was. at which time contact is made again and it starts to move again as soon as it dose it looses contact again and stops. This is repeated over and over which gives you the stop go jerking motion seen in your video.
The repair is as simple as adjusting /bending the contacts (The little copper tabs that stick down in the middle of the board) a little more so they stay in contact with the motor contacts. Be careful not to bend adjust the contacts too much you want them to make contact with the motor contacts only and not the frame half's
David
|
|
|
|
Post by bogtudor on Feb 10, 2017 14:49:29 GMT -5
Thank you very much for the feedback. You are right, the problem is the contact of the decoder with the motor tabs. I have managed to fix a SD75, but the SD70Ace in this video still creates problems. The decoder was loose in the SD70Ace but I have added solder. Maybe I should run a wire from the motor tabs to the decoder?
Also, I couldn't ignore the fact that SD75 has a superior chassis compared to SD70Ace, both in design and quality.
Still, the latter is more expensive, even without the metal handrails.
|
|
|
|
Post by shamoo737 on Feb 10, 2017 15:47:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by bogtudor on Feb 15, 2017 14:45:33 GMT -5
Thank you for this information, I will check the contact pickups on SD70Ace.
|
|
|
|
Post by bogtudor on Aug 30, 2019 8:36:41 GMT -5
Update:
After a long break from Z, I replaced recently the TCS AZL4 installed in the SD70Ace with a Digitrax DZ123Z0 and it works perfectly, no more stop go motion, it's a smooth runner now. It also works fine with original board, so no pickup problems.
Could be the decoder itself, I will test it more with the next purchase.
Cheers,
Bogdan
|
|
|
|
Post by bogtudor on Sept 23, 2019 15:35:29 GMT -5
Update:
I tried the culprit TCS AZL4 decoder in an ES44AC and I got the same stop go motion, even after a reset BEMF disabled. I also tried another new TCS AZL4 with the same results, however with the original board or with the Digitrax DZ123Z0 it works perfectly.
Did anyone had the same experience with the AZL4 in ES44AC or SD70ACE? The TCS AZL4 works perfectly with the old SD70/75M.
Cheers,
Bogdan
|
|
|
|
Post by BAZman on Sept 23, 2019 19:14:02 GMT -5
I have had a few problems with the TCS that was resolved by disabling the BEMF with CV61=0. They told me they did not know the current was so small with Z and they used the HO ratings. You can shut off the BEMF (Back Electromotive Force,buy sensing the current of every drive pulse [approximately 16,000 per second] and correlate it to the Speed Step). Here is the simplest DCC Programming guide in the world: tcsdcc.com/sites/default/files/AZL4.pdfNote that CV61 can also set the lights to dim when stopped by programming to 16 and CV64 sets the "Dim-ness" The nice part is a 4 function decoder for 2 extra lights, like . . . Ditch lights ! But I've had problems with the Digitrax too and both the SD ACE and SD45 have the same design and have running issues with DC too. So its either: - Truck pickup (axle to tabs, tabs to chassis pickup.
- Chassis pickups along the body.
|
|
