SAPPHIRE R8245 Fuel and Water Simulation.. Description

Introduction..

The Sapphire decoder has a unique function which allows the user to
simulate the use of fuel/coal and water in a loco. i.e.
the user can “fill up” on fuel/coal and water, and run the loco. As
the loco runs these consumables will be “used up” until eventually
the loco stops having “run out” of fuel/coal or water.

When the loco stops, if it has lights they can be made to flash with a
unique pattern to indicate that the loco has “run out of all or one of
the consumables.

The simulation is achieved by specifying initial values for each
consumable in specific CVs. The initial fuel/coal and water values are
“run down” as the loco is used. The rate of usage is dependent on
the loco running time and speed. The calculations of the “used”
fuel/coal and water values takes place in another pair of CVs. These CVs  can be
readback at anytime thus allowing the monitoring of the fuel/cal and water
values. The “calculation CVs are mirrored in another pair of CVs with a
lower number thus grouping the initial value CVs and the usage CVs together.

Setting up
Fuel/Coal and Water…

Initial

FUEL/COAL

CV144

Quantity
can be between 0 and 255

Initial

WATER

CV145

Quantity
can be between 0 and 255

FUEL/COAL
USAGE Calculation area

CV894

WATER USAGE
calculation area

CV895

FUEL/COAL
amount left

CV142

WATER
amount left

CV143

CV146..  Turning ON/OFF Fuel/Coal and Water
simulation… etc..

Decimal Value

Simulation OFF

0

Simulation ON with NO light indication of when consumable has been
depleted… loco will be at stationary

1

Simulation ON with light indication when consumable has been
depleted… loco will be stationary

3

It is best to set up Fuel/Coal and water quantities while the loco is on
the main track.. i.e. using “Operational
mode” in the ELITE’s programming menu. In order to readback the quantities
of coal/fuel/water you need to turn on “RailCom” within the
Sapphire decoder.

RailCom is enabled by turning on CV29 bit3.
Please programme the value “14” in to CV 29…. This will
enable RailCom and leave the rest of CV29’s bits at default setting.

If RailCom is not enabled
any attempts to readback the SAPPHIRE on the main will result in XXX being
displayed on the controller.

We advise the following procedure for setting
programming CV29.. (ELITE V1.3*** and earlier)

1,

Press the Menu Button.

2,

Display shows..

Loco

… Click a knob… either will
do.

3,

Display shows..

Direct

… Click a knob… either will
do.

4,

Display shows..

Address

… rotate a knob
until CV is shown … Click a knob

5,

Display shows

CV

Write

.. Click a knob.

6,

Display Shows..

CV  001

W

.. enter
the CV number i.e. 29 and click a knob.

7,

Display shows..

CV  0029

W     000

.. enter
the CV value  e.g.  14 and click a knob.

Programming will now commence.

The Red Light will flash.

………….

Verifying CV29..

1,

When the red programming
light has finished flashing..

2,

Display shows

CV

Write

.. Click a knob.

3,

Display shows

CV

Write

.. Rotate a knob until the display
shows “Read”  Click a knob.

4,

Display Shows..

CV  001

R

.. enter
the CV number i.e. 29 and click a knob.

Readback will now
commence. The Red Light will flash.

Later versions of the ELITE..
.. this section will be expanded when ELITE version
1.4 is available.

You can always use the above procedure.. or programme CV29 via the Menu/Loco/Direct/Config/Dir/Power/RailCom
(rotate knob until “Enable” is displayed)/Sp.Table/Address
(select short or long)/Decoder Multi… click knob decoder will now be
programmed. Press Menu to return to normal mode.

Fuel/Coal Simulation.. Operational Notes..

The Purpose of initial values of Fuel/Coal and Water.

If a loco is placed on the track and the
simulation enabled the decoder will take the fuel/coal and water value from
whatever is specified in CVs144/145. If no values have been specified the
defaults of 254 will apply. The initial values held here are permanent until
CVs144/145 are reprogrammed with new values, or the
decoder is reset to default status.

What the NMRA require..

CVs 894 and CV895 are designated by the NMRA
as the location of the “result” of the simulation calculations.. these two CVs are repeated in
CVs 142 and CV143 for convenience. We will only refer to CV142 and 143 in this
document.

The amount of Fuel/Coal and water left..

CV142/143 contain
the result of the calculated sums of fuel/coal and water. It is possible to
“top up” these values at any time during the simulation by
accessing these two CVs via “operational mode.” You may top up
these values to larger fuel/coal and water quantities originally set in the
“initial values” .. i.e.
CVs144/145. However, if the loco is powered down/removed from track simulation
will start using the “initial values” .. i.e. CVs144/145.

When simulation is running both fuel and
water are simulated. Whatever quantity runs out first will cause the loco to
stop.