Address And Cv Programming - ZIMO MX638 Series Instruction Manual

Non-Sound Decoder MX600 - MX638 and Sound Decoder MX640 - MX659
3

Address and CV Programming

ZIMO decoders can be programmed in
"Service Mode" (on the programming track) for assigning a new address or reading and
-
writing CV content, or in
"Operations Mode" (a.k.a. "Programming on the main" or "PoM"), which is done on the
-
main track; programming CV's "on the main" is always possible in operations mode. How-
ever, an acknowledgement of successful programming steps or reading out CV's is only
possible with a RailCom capable DCC system.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR CV PROGRAMMING:
If you are familiar with CV programming please skip this section and go directly to section 3.1!
CV programming is not the same for all CV's. While the programming procedure is the same for all
CV's, the calculation of the individual CV values varies.
For some CV's it is obvious what the value is supposed to be and can easily be derived from the
"Range" and/or "Description" column in the CV table. This kind of CV can be compared to volume
control.
For instance, CV#2 determines the minimum speed applied at speed step 1:
CV Denomination Range Default
1 – 252
#2 Vstart 2
(See add.
notes)
The "range" column states that any value from 1 to 252 may be used. The higher the value the faster
the engine runs at speed step 1 and vice versa.
Another similar CV is the "dimming" factor in CV #60:
CV Denomination Range Default
Reduced function
#60 output voltage 0 - 255 0
(Dimming)
Again, the range column states that any value from 1 to 252 may be used and in the "description" col-
umn it is explained that the brightness of the light increases with the value.
Other CV's are easier to understand if you think of them as small switch boards, where you can turn
individual switches ON or OFF. Such a CV is made up of 8 "individual switches" called Bits and the
group of Bits is known as a Byte (which is the CV itself or the switch board, if you will). On some CV's
Description
Entered value = internal speed step assigned to
lowest cab speed step.
Bit 4 in CV # 29 has to be 0; otherwise individual
speed table is active.
Description
The actual function output voltage can be re-
duced by PWM. Useful to dim headlights, for ex-
ample.
Example values:
# 60 = 0 or 255: full voltage
# 60 = 170: 2/3 of full voltage.
# 60 = 204: 80% of full voltage.
you can change the setting of all 8 Bits (switches) and on others only a select few. The Bits (switches)
are numbered from 0 to 7 and each has a specific value (see the chapter "Converting binary to
decimal" for more on binary calculations). Each Bit is turned ON by adding its value to the CV and
turned OFF by subtracting its value. Add up the values of each Bit you want to turn ON and enter the
total to the CV.
One such CV is CV #29:
CV Denomination Range Default
Basic
configuration
CV #29 is calculated by
adding the value of the
individual bits that are
to be "on":
Values to turn "on":
Bit 0: 1
0 - 63 14
Bit 1: 2
Bit 2: 4
Bit 3: 8
Bit 4: 16
Bit 5: 32
#29
Bit 6: 64
Bit 7: 128
ZIMO MX21, MX31...
cabs also display the
individual bits;
calculating bit values is
no longer necessary!
As explained in the description column of that CV, you can only change Bit 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Bits 6
and 7 have to remain OFF (0) because they are not yet used for anything. To calculate the total CV
value you have to first look at the description field of that CV and determine which Bit (switch) you
want to have ON. Let's say we want speed steps 28 active, reverse the loco's direction because it
doesn't agree with the cab's direction indication and we want to use the individual speed table. This
means we have to have the Bits 1, 0 and 4 turned ON (= 1). All other Bits can be OFF (= 0). In the
"Denomination" field it shows the value for each Bit: Bit 0 = 1, Bit 1 = 2, Bit 2 = 4, Bit 3 = 8, Bit 4 = 16,
Bit 5 = 32, Bit 6 = 64, and Bit 7 = 128. If we want to have Bits 1, 0 and 4 turned ON we add up the
values for these Bits (2 + 1 + 16) and enter the total of 19 to CV #29.
Page 13
Description
Bit 0 - Train direction:
0 = normal, 1 = reversed
Bit 1 - Number of speed steps:
0 = 14, 1 = 28
Note: 128 speed steps are always active if corresponding in-
formation is received!
Bit 2 - DC operation (analog): *)
0 = off 1 = on
Bit 3 - RailCom („bidirectional communication")
0 = deactivated
1 = activated see CV #28!
Bit 4 - Individual speed table:
0 = off, CV # 2, 5, 6, are active.
1 = on, according to CV 's # 67 – 94
Bit 5 - Decoder address:
0 = primary address as per CV #1
1 = ext. address as per CV #17+18
Bits 6 and 7 are to remain 0!