Tsunami2 Digital Sound Decoder. Diesel Manual - part 18

Miscellaneous Features

Tsunami2 Diesel User’s Guide

CV 218 (Analog Mode Motor Start Voltage) determines the voltage level applied to start the
motor in analog mode. Set CV 218 to a value greater than the value of CV 219 to ensure engine
exhaust sound effects are activated prior to motor start.

Note: Tsunami2 preforms better in analog mode when a higher quality, electronically regulated
powerpack is used to supply filtered DC power. Using older rheostat-style or pulse powerpacks
will make operation erratic and should not be used to power Tsunami2-equipped installations in
analog mode. If your powerpack has a pulse power switch, make sure that it is turned off.

Operating With a CurrentKeeper™

Your Tsunami2 has been designed to operate far more efficiently than previous generations of
SoundTraxx DSDs giving you more reliable operations over dirty track, isolated frogs or other
electrical imperfections than ever before. If your model has limited electrical pick-up or you
desire to add more energy storage to the installation, a SoundTraxx CurrentKeeper can be used
with any Tsunami2 decoder to provide added reliability. Refer to the Tsunami2 Installation
Guide for more information about how to connect a CurrentKeeper to the various styles of
decoders.

The CurrentKeeper is designed to work with most decoder installations without the need to
adjust any CVs. Occasionally, there are a few features and operating scenarios that warrant a
minimal amount of programming for optimal operation. For more information including how to
optimize the decoder for use with a CurrentKeeper in analog (DC) mode and how to limit the
duration of operation of the model

when it’s being powered by the CurrentKeeper, please refer

to the

“CurrentKeeper Reference” found on our website.

Miscellaneous Features

Tsunami2 Diesel User’s Guide

Gas Turbine Electric (GTEL) Features & Operation

The sound set for the Gas-Turbine Electric (GTEL), representative of the Union Pacific
Turbines, has been shipped with all CVs pre-programmed so you can begin using your
locomotive immediately without having to worry about what adjustments to make. However, the
software for this sound set is as unique as the prototype, and we have several special features
to enhance the experience of running your ‘Big Blow’.

Operation Overview

These locomotives were truly unique and thus require a feature set that is as well! Just like the
prototype, the sound sets have both a diesel prime mover and a turbine. The diesel prime
movers found on these locomotives were designed primarily for powering the air compressor,
radiator fans and hostling the locomotive around the yard, while the turbine supplied the
horsepower necessary to pull heavy tonnage trains throughout the Union Pacific system. Based
on extensive research conducted during the development of this feature, the operating
characteristics of the decoder have been designed to correctly match the operation of the
prototype turbine locomotives.

Selecting the Prime Mover

We’ve made prototypical operation of your Turbine
locomotives easier than ever before! Your decoder features
pre-configured prime mover options for each of the 4 most
common types of Union Pacific Turbine locomotives.
Selecting one of the GTEL specific prime mover sounds
using CV 123 (Prime Mover Select) automatically enables all features associated with the Gas
Turbine Electric sound set including proper diesel engine sounds, proper diesel engine
operation and muting of unused sound effects.

Selecting the “Slab Side” turbine option chooses a Cummins diesel engine. It also allows this
small hostler engine to shut down once the turbine has been started.

If you select the “Veranda”

turbine option, the Cummins diesel engine will continue to run after the turbine has been started.

Selecting one of

the “Big Blow” prime mover options splits the operation of the diesel engine

and turbine into two groups

: A unit and ” unit. The A unit contained a Cooper-Bessemer diesel

engine, air compressor, radiator, dynamic braking and all other controls and appliances. The
trailing B unit contained only the turbine and a cooling fan. Choosing the A unit will mute the
turbine sound effects to replicate the operation of the leading control unit. Choosing the B unit
option will allow only the turbine and brake squeal effects to play, mimicking the trailing unit.

When configuring a matched pair of “Big Blow” locomotives, we recommend installing one
decoder in each of the A and B units. You can program the decoder addresses (either primary
or extended) to the same number for each unit to make consisting and operation extremely
easy. When selecting the prime mover choice, remember to only configure one unit at a time to
ensure that each unit is programmed correctly.

Operating with the Gas Turbine Electric Features

Control of both the diesel engine and the turbine can be accomplished in a multitude of ways.
We’ve divided these into three modes of operation: fully automatic, semi-automatic and manual
mode.

Gas Turbine Electric (GTEL) specific features are not supported in software versions 1.1 and older.

CV 123: Prime Mover Select

7 =

“Slab Side” GTEL

8 =

“Veranda” GTEL

= “Big Blow” A unit GTEL

10 =

“Big Blow” B unit GTEL

Miscellaneous Features

Tsunami2 Diesel User’s Guide

Fully Automatic Mode

This mode is designed to allow for realistic operation of the Gas Turbine Electric locomotives
with minimal input from the user. By default, this option gives you full control of both prime
movers (diesel and turbine) as well as realistic speed limiting of the locomotives when operating
with the turbine shut down.

Upon power up, the decoder will begin to start the diesel hostler engine. Once the engine has
been started, increasing the throttle will advance the diesel engine to notch 2. Increasing the
throttle to speed step 8 (when operating in 128 speed step mode) will begin the start sequence
of the massive gas turbine. Like the prototype, while the gas turbine is starting, the speed of the
model will be limited to speed step 8.

Once the turbine is operating, the speed of the locomotive will no longer be limited. Increases
and decreases in throttle will change the turbine RPM level in the same fashion as a
conventional diesel locomotive.

Upon stopping the locomotive, the turbine RPM level will reduce to idle and the Turbine Timeout
(CV 3.273) counter will begin. After 128 (default) seconds, the turbine will begin to shut down in
order to

“conserve fuel” and “limit noise pollution.”

Pressing the emergency stop key will also shut down the turbine and reduce the diesel engine
to idle.

Semi-Automatic Mode

While fully automatic mode allows for realistic operation of the GTEL features, we’ve built in a
few more options to create more fun for the engineer in charge of these mighty locomotives.

Typically, when these locomotive were moved throughout the rail yard the turbine would remain
shut down until attached to a train and departure was eminent. To allow for movement at
speeds greater than speed step 8 (of 128) program CV 3.272 (Turbine Speed Step Limit) to a
value of 25 or so.

You’ll also want to turn off the automatic turbine start speed step feature by

programming CV 3.271 (Turbine Start Speed Step) to a value of 0. This allows the hostler to
move the GTEL from the roundhouse to the train at a reasonable speed without having to start
the turbine.

When you’re ready to leave the yard, manually start the turbine using the turbine start/stop
feature (F16 by default). When the throttle is advanced beyond speed step 0, RPM level of the
turbine will be regulated based upon the auto-notching rate set in the first 4 bits of CV 114
(Engine Exhaust Control) like any other diesel locomotive.

Upon completing the journey and arriving at your destination, turn off F16 (default) to shut down
the turbine. The diesel engine can then be used to move the locomotive to the servicing area.

Manual Mode

This mode is designed to replicate every aspect the prototypical operation of these unique
locomotives by disabling all automatic controls of the diesel engine and the turbine. All CV
changes to enable semi-automatic mode will also apply when configuring manual mode.

To prevent the turbine from shutting down while waiting at a station or in a passing siding,
disable the turbine timeout feature by programming CV 3.273 (Turbine Timeout) to a value of 0.
The turbine can now only be manually shut down using the RPM- function (F6 by default) or by
turning off the turbine start/stop feature (F16 by default).

Miscellaneous Features

Tsunami2 Diesel User’s Guide

In addition, for full control of the prime mover RPM level, disable the auto-notching feature
controlled by CV 114 (Engine Exhaust control). To accomplish this, set the first 4 bits (bits 0-3)
to 0. You will now be able to manually increase or decrease the RPM level of the diesel engine
and turbine by turning on the RPM+ and RPM- functions.

Lastly, to prevent the turbine or the diesel engine from shutting down while the model is moving,
enable the interlock feature. Turn on the LOCK bit by adding 16 to the current value of CV 114
(Engine Exhaust Control).

CVs unique to the Gas Turbine Electric Sound Sets

The following CVs are unique to the Gas Turbine Electric prime mover choices.

Primary Mixer Volume Levels

Both the prime mover (diesel engine) and the turbine have their own independent volume level
that can be set to a value between 0 and 255. They are currently defaulted to the following
levels:

CV 131 Prime Mover = 150
CV 146 Gas Turbine = 200

Reverb Mixers

CVs have been provided to control the reverb effect for both the prime mover (diesel engine)
and the turbine. The default values are set to 0. These CVs are:

CV 163 Prime Mover Reverb Mixer
CV 168 Gas Turbine Reverb Mixer

Alternate Mixer Volume Levels

Like the primary mixer volume levels, both the diesel engine and turbine have their own
independent alternate mixer volume levels that can be set to a value between 0 and 255. They
are currently defaulted to the following levels:

CV 2.291 Prime Mover = 75
CV 2.296 Gas Turbine = 100

Prime Mover Pitch Shift

CV 223 will adjust the pitch and tone of the gas turbine only. It will have no effect on the diesel
engine.

Turbine Start/Stop Effect

This effect takes the place of the HEP mode effect (F16 by default) when any of the 4 GTEL
prime mover choices are selected using CV 123 (Prime Mover Select). When configuring
function mapping using Flex-Map Function Mapping Technology, refer to the CVs listed below
to relocate the turbine start/stop effect to any function key on your throttle.

CV 1.303 HEP mode or Turbine Start/Stop Effect Map Register = 16
CV 1.431 HEP mode or Turbine Start/Stop Auxiliary Effect Map Register = 0

If

you’re using Legacy Function Mapping (CVs 33-46), the turbine start/stop effect replaces the

HEP Mode column in the table. Refer to page 60 of this document for a copy of this table.

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