Consisting Tsunami Decoders on the Lenz Digital Plus System

The Soundtraxx Tsunami sound decoder is one of the few multifunction decoders available which provides a simulated braking feature, activated by a DCC function. If using the Tsunami brake feature to actually slow the train down, as well as activating the brake squeal sound, it is obviously important for all locomotives in a consist to receive and respond to the brake command simultaneously.The same braking feature is also available in the Soundtraxx MC1 and MC2 non-sound mobile decoders. 
 This article is based on a Lenz system with Version 3.5 firmware. </p>
Although this article deals primarily with Lenz DCC, many aspects will be applicable to other DCC systems.
== Lenz Consisting ==
=== How Lenz Handles Smart Consisting ===
There are five ways of creating an MU Consist: 
Following the procedure "Assembling a multi-unit consist (MU)" from the Lenz LH100 manual
Manually editing CV19 and other CVs using Programming on the Main (PoM)
Using computer software such as JMRI or WiThrottle
Manually editing CV19 and related CVs on the programming track
Creating a portable consist on another layout or DCC system
For methods 1, 2 or 3 above, the Lenz system is aware of the consist and operates as follows: 
* The speed and direction of the consist can be controlled from either a 2-digit consist address, or from the individual address of any locomotive in the consist.
* If using an LH100 throttle, the throttle displays a capital M when the consist address is selected and a lower case m when the address of any locomotive in the consist is selected.
* When using the consist address ("M"), the function keys on the throttle do not operate and it is not possible to control any of the functions for any of the locomotives.
* When using the address of a locomotive in the consist ("m"), the function keys on the throttle control the functions for the selected locomotive only. To control functions for other locomotives in the consist, it is necessary to first select the individual locomotive address on the throttle.The "–" button can scroll through the addresses for the locomotives in a consist as well as the overall consist address – see the LH100 manual for details.
* Because a locomotive in a consist no longer responds to speed and direction commands sent to its individual address, the Lenz system redirects speed and direction commands to the consist address when an individual locomotive address is selected on the throttle. However, the Lenz system still sends function commands to the individual locomotive address.
* The speed and direction of the consist can only be controlled from the 2–digit consist address. Note that the locomotive no longer responds to speed and direction commands sent to their individual address when in a consist.
* The LH100 throttle does not display any special characters to indicate that a consist is being controlled. The LH100 displays shows "E" (for Engine - assuming English language selected) in front of the locomotive number. As far as the Lenz system is concerned, it is simply controlling a normal locomotive with a 2-digit address.
* Locomotive functions can be controlled by entering the individual locomotive address on the throttle but speed and direction cannot be controlled.
* For decoders which support CV21 and CV22, locomotive functions can be controlled via the consist address and both locomotives will respond simultaneously to the same function button if configured via CV21 and CV22.
The first scenario described above, in which the Lenz system is "aware" of the consist is actually Lenz Smart Consisting and it should work fairly well for most people. To just control locomotive functions such as lights and horn, most people would be happy to have these functions apply to the lead locomotive only, in which case it makes sense to "drive" the consist by selecting the address of the lead locomotive on the throttle.
=== Limitations of Lenz Smart Consisting ===
There are a number of scenarios under which the Lenz Smart Consisting will not be satisfactory:
* If the consist was created on another layout or by modifying CV19 on the programming track, the Lenz system only allows the consist to be "driven" using the consist address, and locomotive functions cannot be controlled. This may be satisfactory for a non-sound locomotive, as the lights could potentially be turned on prior to moving the consist using the address of the lead locomotive, then the throttle changed to select the consist address for actually driving the train.
* If it is desired to send function commands simultaneously to all locomotives in the consist, such as the brake function available in the Tsunami decoder. Another example would be the sound "mute" function.
== DCC Advanced Consisting without Lenz Smart Consisting ==
Provided the multifunction decoders support Advanced Consisting in accordance with DCC standards, consisting will work without using the Lenz Smart Consisting feature and, in fact, this offers some advantages:
* Consists can be used which have been created on another layout or by modifying CV19 on the programming track.
* Function commands can be sent to multiple locomotives simultaneously, by setting the throttle to the consist address.
* The behaviour of individual locomotives in response to function commands can be configured using CV21 and CV22,Provided the decoder supports these CVs. This can be used, for instance, to ensure that the headlight function only operates the headlight on the lead locomotive, not the headlights on the other locomotives in the consist.
=== There is a Gotcha! ===
If you set up an advanced consist by altering CV19 on the programming track, you will probably find that the locomotive's horn sounds repeatedly, and/or the headlight flashes slowly under some circumstances. 
In fact, this strange behaviour is due to the "refresh" feature for function commands. The Lenz system (and most other DCC systems) repeatedly sends out function commands to all locomotives in the current "stack", even when there has been no specific user command to change the state of a function. The intent of this is to make sure that lights and other locomotive functions are restored to their intended state when the layout is first switched on or after an interruption to track power.With Lenz 3.5 systems, the refresh feature only applies to F0-F4. With Lenz 3.6 systems, the refresh feature is extended to higher number functions or optionally restricted to F0-F4 if desired.
The consequence of the refresh feature is that the Lenz system may be sending the same function command twice to the same locomotive, once via the consist address and once again via the individual locomotive address. For instance, if the headlight was off the last time the locomotive was driven via its individual address and switched on when it is being driven via the consist address, the decoder will receive conflicting OFF-ON-OFF-ON commands as the Lenz system continually refreshes the functions for all locomotives in the stack. The same applies to the horn function.
If the consist was created on another layout and the locomotives in the consist have never been operated on the current layout, then the individual locomotive address will not be in the stack, and the "gotcha" doesn't apply.
==== There is a Workaround ====
The workaround: Delete the individual locomotive address from the stack, once the consist has been setup. This is a simple procedure and is detailed in the LH100 manual under "SET 5: Erasing locomotive addresses from the command station stack".
Once the corresponding locomotive addresses are removed from the stack, the Lenz system will no longer send conflicting function commands to the locomotives in the consist and the functions can be controlled from the consist address.
Note that any attempt to drive a locomotive or activate any functions via its individual address will result in the locomotive address being added to the stack again. Somewhat surprisingly, selecting the individual address of a locomotive while in a consist to make a CV change via Operations Mode Programming does NOT cause the address to be added to the stack. This can be useful for fine tuning the CV21 and CV22 values once the consist has been set up.
== CV21 and CV22 Configuration ==
As mentioned above, the various bits in CV21 and CV22 determine which functions are active for that particular locomotive when in a consist. The bit allocations are defined by the NMRA DCC standards and also detailed in manuals for decoders which support CV21 and CV22, including Tsunami. 
If the end locomotives in the consist are facing in opposite directions, and the front and rear lights are configured for independent control, the lights will not work correctly, irrespective of the CV22 setting, without further adjustments to the locomotive function mapping. This is because the rear light function for the consist needs to operate the front light on the rear-facing locomotive. This combination is not achievable by adjusting CV22 alone.
=== Function Swapping ===
There is a trick: The Tsunami Function Swapping feature (CV30 = 4), swaps function groups F5-F8 and F9-F12 to provide more flexibility in function mapping.If using function swapping, the bits in CV21 and CV22 must refer to the original unswapped functions.
For example, if using F5 to control the brake, the bit corresponding to F9 must be set in CV22, because the brake feature is internally mapped to F9 and "swapped" to allow activation by F5.
Similarly, if using F8 for mute, the bit corresponding to F12 must be set in CV22.
== Recommendations ==
# Have fun operating the consist.
# Avoid Lenz Smart Consisting if there is a need to simultaneously control functions in multiple locomotives in the consist.
## To avoid Lenz Smart Consisting, configure the required locomotive CV's (e.g. CV19, CV21, CV22, etc.) on the programming track or on another layout.
# After confirming that the consist can be operated on the layout using the consist address, delete the individual locomotive addresses from the Lenz stack (if present).
# Avoid driving or operating functions using individual locomotive address while they are part of a consist, or the address will be added to the stack. 
## Use the consist address for the consist or operating functions.
# If a function must be changed on an individual locomotive, such as turning off an unwanted light, 
## Select its individual address on the throttle and change the desired function 
## Then, after selecting another address on the throttle, remove the individual locomotive address from the stack.
# If necessary, adjust CV21 and CV22 to fine tune the operation of functions on individual locomotives in the consist. This can be done without adding the locomotive addresses back onto the stack.
# To remove one or all locomotives from a consist, select the individual locomotive address on the throttle and use Operations Mode programming to set CV19 to zero. The locomotive will now respond to its Extended or Primary Address rather than the consist address.
== See Also ==
=== DCC Manuals ===
*Sountraxx Tsunami manuals
===General Consisting Information===
*Consisting
*Decoder-Assisted_Consisting
*The Complete Guide to Consisting, Tony's Train Exchange
===Other Tsunami Information===
*Tsunami setup for WiThrottle
Category: Lenz
Category: Tsunami
Category: Consisting