Odyssey Electronics Building Set - Manual (Page 5)

5
Transformer operations
Your locomotive’s Odyssey ™ System speed control
Y ou can lock your locomotive into speed
control mode (ideal for low speed opera-
tion) so it will automatically compensate for
grades, or to simply maintain a specific
speed setting. To turn on the speed control,
get your locomotive moving at the desired
speed, in forward or reverse. Let it run at
the desired speed for at least 5 seconds. Press
and hold the horn/whistle button for 2-3 sec-
onds as you increase the throttle by at least
3 volts. Your locomotive will accelerate
briefly, then will return to your set speed once
you release the horn/whistle button. As long
as the throttle position is maintained at a
higher setting than the initial level, your
locomotive will maintain a constant speed. If
the throttle is turned below the original level,
your locomotive will slow down due to the
available voltage decrease below the “set”
level. To check if the speed control setting
has been “accepted,” turn up the throttle.
You will see the lights brighten, but the speed
will remain constant. For best results, adjust
the track voltage about 3-4 volts above the
“set” point. This will provide enough spare
voltage to compensate for uphill grades, etc.,
but will prevent excessive voltage to the
lamps and smoke unit. (In conventional
mode, these operate at track voltage, and
excessive voltage may lead to premature bulb
burn-out.)
• If you wish to change the speed control
setting, you must deactivate the speed
control, then reactivate at the new
setting.
To turn speed control off, get your loco-
motive into neutral for at least 5 seconds.
Press the horn/whistle button for 2-3 seconds
while lowering the throttle voltage to 1/4 of
full power or at least three volts. Do not turn
the throttle off or speed control may not
deactivate. This can be difficult if you have
established a low speed control setting. Once
you are in neutral, you can increase the
track voltage before pressing the horn/whis-
tle button and lowering the voltage. This will
give you more “room” to lower the voltage.
(The speed control deactivates when it sees a
3 volt change with horn/whistle pressed,
regardless of initial voltage level.)
Note!
Speed control settings are retained in memory even if power is turned off.
They will remain present until deactivated.