1. 

Test track isolated from main layout

2. 

JMRI

3. 

DCC++ Command Station[1]

4. 

Android Mobile Phone/Tablet[2]

5. 

DCC++ Command Station

POWERED

6. 

Laptop

BOOTED

7. 

Decoder Pro App

STARTED

a. DCC++ Configuration Profile

SELECTED

b. Actions/Start WiThrottle Server

(note Server Settings e.g. 10.0.0.5:12090)

SELECTED

c. Actions/Start Web Server

SELECTED

8. 

Phone/Tablet

BOOTED

a. Engine Driver App

STARTED

b. Either

i. Connect to Discovered Servers; or

ii. Select from Recent Connections; or

iii. Enter settings from 7.b. above

CONNECT

1. 

Locomotives are identical[3]:

·       Manufacturer

·       Model

·       Decoder

2. 

Track is clean

3. 

For each Locomotive:

3.1 Locomotive wheels are clean

3.2 Clear Momentum:

See step 6.1

3.3. Clear Kick/Kick Start:

See step 6.2

3.4 Clear Dither:

See step 6.3

3.5 Clear BEMF:

See step 6.4

3.6 Clear Consist Addresses:

See step 7

3.7 Run each locomotive in forward and reverse for at least 5 minutes

4. 

In JMRI:

4.1.  Create a Roster Entry in JMRI

Save

5. 

Read the following full sheets for the locomotive

·       Basic

·       Motor

·       Basic Speed Control

·       Consist

5.1.  Record all the current settings

6. 

On the Motor sheet, reset the following as available

6.1. 

Momentum

6.1.1 Set the Acceleration Rate to: 0

6.1.2 Set the Deceleration Rate to: 0

Note: Momentum will not be applied in speed matching

6.2.  Kick/Kick Start

6.2.1 Set the Torque Compensating Kick Rate to: 0

6.2.2 Set the Torque Compensating Kick Strength to: 0

6.2.3 Set Kick Rate to: 0

6.2.4 Kick Strength to: 0

6.2.5 Kick Start to: 0

6.2.6 Motor Drive Frequency to: 0

6.3. 

Dither

6.3.1 Set the Dither Frequency to: 0

6.3.2 Set Dither Amplitude to: 0

6.4. 

Back EMF

6.4.1 Set the Back EMF to: 0

This can be called a number of different names e.g.
- BEMF
- ‘… compensation for speed stabilization’

Note: Back EMF will not be applied in speed matching

6.5. 

Write changes on sheet

7. 

On the Consist page

7.1. 

Consist

7.1.1 Set the Advanced Consist Address to: 0

7.1.2 Write changes on sheet

8. 

On the Basic Speed Control & Motor sheets

The settings required on each sheet are trial and error

As you move between the Basic Speed Control and Motor sheets to change settings Write changes on sheet

Basic Speed Control sheet

Start Voltage (VStart)

8.1.  Adjust the VStart so that the locomotive starts moving at about 4%

or at least make all the locomotives start at about the same percentage)

Used to ensure smooth starting in conjunction with Kick/Kick Start and Dither

8.2.  Write changes on sheet

EITHER (if available)

Motor sheet

Kick/Kick Start/Torque Kick Rate (Kick Start)

8.3. 

Adjust the settings to make the locomotive start consistently

Kick Start helps to overcome motor and drivetrain friction (stiction) and can provide a little extra burst of power to get the locomotive started when speed step 1 is selected

Either

8.3.1 Kick Start from 1 to 8 (typically 2 to 4)

and

8.3.2 Total PWM Period/Motor Drive Frequency from 0 to 50 (typically 4 to 25)

or

8.3.3 Kick Strength/Torque Kick Strength from 0 to 50 (typically 4 to 25)

8.3.4 Write changes on sheet

OR (if available)

Dither

8.4. 

Adjust the Dither settings to make the locomotive start consistently

Dither applies extra voltage spikes at early speed steps to assist getting the locomotive moving smoothly

8.4.1 Dither Frequency from 1 to 10 (start with 5)

8.4.2 Dither Amplitude from 5 to 50 (start with 25)

8.4.3 Write changes on sheet

AND

Basic Speed Control sheet

Maximum Voltage (VHigh) & Midpoint Voltage (VMid)

8.5. 

Adjust the VHigh to 255

Note: Some suggest that 255 is too high a value, as it produces an unrealistic top speed and suggest 180 is a good value to use

8.6. 

Adjust the VMid half way between VStart and VHigh

8.7. 

Write changes on sheet

9. 

Release the locomotive from Engine Driver on the phone/tablet

10. 

Repeat steps 5 to 9 for each locomotive to be speed matched

11. 

In Engine Driver on the phone/tablet

11.1. 

Select each locomotive in turn to create an on the fly consist

11.2. 

Run the consist at maximum speed with the locomotives separated and see which locomotive is the slowest

11.3. 

Record which locomotive is the slower and this will be the Master.

·       All other locomotives to be in the consist will have their settings adjusted to match the Master

·       You should avoid adjusting the Master from this point, or you may have to redo the other locos to match the change/s you make

11.4. 

If consisting more than 2 locomotives, release the second fastest locomotive from the consist and remove it from the track.  This locomotive will be speed matched with the Master later after completing steps 12 to 15 for the fastest locomotive.  If you are confident enough, this step can be bypassed and move to step 12 for all the locomotives to be in the consist

12. 

In the JMRI roster, select a locomotive other than the Master

12.1. 

Select Programming on Main

12.2. 

Select Program

13

Select the Basic Speed Control sheet

13.1.1 Read the sheet

13.1.2 In Engine Driver, run the consist separated to confirm they start approximately together

13.1.3 If they don’t go back and restart at step 8

Minimum Speed

13.2. 

In Engine Driver, Run the locomotives at minimum speed (~8%) to see if they maintain the same separation

13.3. 

If they don’t

13.3.1 In JMRI (the window for the locomotive you are adjusting (Not the Master))

13.3.2 Adjust the VMin slightly until they maintain the same separation

(This is a balancing act, as this may alter the start setting.  You may have to compromise, not have the same start speed to maintain a similar running speed.)

13.3.3 Write changes on sheet

13.3.4 Repeat step 13.3 until they maintain the same separation

Mid Speed

13.4. 

In Engine Driver, run the locomotives separated at mid speed (~50%) to see if they maintain the same separation

13.5. 

If they don’t

13.5.1 In JMRI (the window for the locomotive you are adjusting (Not the Master))

13.5.2 Adjust the VMid until they maintain the same separation

13.5.3 Write changes on sheet

13.5.4 Repeat step 13.5 until they maintain the same separation

Max Speed

13.6. 

In Engine Driver, run the locomotives separated at max speed (100%) to see if they maintain the same separation

13.7. 

If they don’t

13.7.1 In JMRI (the window for the locomotive you are adjusting (Not the Master))

13.7.2 Adjust the VHigh until they maintain the same separation

13.7.3 Write changes on sheet

13.7.4 Repeat step 13.7 until they maintain the same separation

14. 

In Engine Driver, run the locomotives at different speeds, separated by a few centimetres to confirm separation is maintained

14.1. 

If they don’t

14.1.1 Repeat from the appropriate step as needed (steps 13.2 to 13.7)

15. 

Run the locomotive and the Master coupled and listen for any pushing, shoving, grinding, etc.

·       If satisfied with the results for that locomotive, move to step 12 for the next locomotive to be speed matched with the Master

16. 

When satisfied with all results for all locomotives to be speed matched, consist all the locomotives and run coupled and listen for any pushing, shoving, grinding, etc.