Bachmann Spectrum ACS-64 - HO
Information on this wiki page provides particular details about this model not found in the basic guide.
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Contents
Overview
Bachmann’s DCC sound-equipped ACS-64 uses Siemens Mobility’s original design documentation and authentic sound files recorded from the prototype. This model includes a TCS WOWSound® decoder with Audio Assist® for easy configuration without programming CVs, and on-board Keep-Alive® device for uninterrupted operation, even over dirty track. The WOWSound® electric locomotive sound package includes sounds for horn, bell, prime mover, air compressor, dynamic brakes, cooling fan, coupler close/release, brake release and application, and many more!
Loaded with prototypical features, the ACS-64 in HO-scale from Bachmann Trains brings all the sights and sounds of Siemens' sleek new electric locomotive to your layout.
Features include:
- Siemens-approved design
- DCC sound-equipped for sound, speed, direction, and lighting control
- Dual-mode NMRA-compliant decoder operates sound, motor, and lights on DCC or DC power
- TCS true CD-quality audio with 16-bit depth resolution at 44,100Hz
- Authentic and prototypical sounds
- Voice-guided Audio Assist® programming tool for easy set-up of almost all decoder functionality
- On-board Keep-Alive® device that keeps your engine running during power interruptions due to dirty track or loss of electrical contact
- Directional headlights with "Rule 17" dimming operation enabled by default
- Directional marker lights
- Steady/alternate flashing ditch lights
- TCS' industry-leading "quiet drive" Back EMF motor control for superior slow-speed performance and load compensation
- User-loadable speed table options (3-point, 28-point, and 126-point curves)
- Two configurable Momentum Modes
- TCS' new and exclusive Function Pagination System
- Die-cast frame
- Separately-applied windshield wipers and grab irons
- Realistic top speed (limited in some cases by track voltage)
Specific Features
The ACS-64 has had some customization to make it specific to the ACS-64 locomotive. The information below details where CV’s and operation differ from the standard V4 WOWSound decoder.
DC mode operation
When operating in DC mode, the ACS-64 locomotive will sit still until a sufficient track voltage is present. Once the minimum voltage is met the locomotive will begin to move. A horn blast and bell will activate automatically. Users may trigger a grade crossing horn quill sound by quickly adjusting the track voltage up and back down quickly. The directional horn blasts, quill, and automatic DC mode bell are enabled by default and are controlled by the Automatic Sounds CV.
Additional Sound Features
The ACS-64 locomotive features new sounds such as “Whoosh” and “station announcements” as well as new traction noises like “traction motor” and “traction motor gearbox." Listen for the whine of the traction motors as the prime mover spools up and the ACS-64 takes off. As the locomotive climbs toward 125 MPH, the traction motors are drowned out as the noise from the gearbox hardware hums ever louder.
The ACS-64 supports an "automatic bell" in DCC mode. After the locomotive starts the bell will play until the DCC mode automatic bell cutout speed step is reached. Please refer to the CV Addendum (Indexed CV's) section below for more information.
The ACS-64 includes a brand new Emergency Brake air dump sound. This sound will play if a user presses the Emergency Stop button on their throttle, if the Brake button is pressed 5 times in a row, or if the decoder goes into emergency via the "Crew Alert" feature.
Button Mappings
The values outlined below in the button mapping, sound list, and CV values are the defaults assigned to this particular decoder from the factory.
For information on how to program your locomotive using the values provided in the charts below, please see our Comprehensive Programming Guide, WOWElectric V1 Programming Guide, and/or List of Standard CV's.
TCS Function Pagination System
The Bachmann Spectrum ACS-64 - HO locomotive supports TCS' new "function pagination" system. This makes it easy to access all 28 functions and all lighting effects on throttles with limited function access by adding an offset to the pressed function button (offset of +10 for function page 2; offset of +20 for function page 3). For example, to access function 15:
- Press Button 8 on your throttle twice to rotate through the function pages until the decoder announces "function page [two]"
- Press Button 5 on your throttle/controller
- The decoder will activate function 5 + 10 (page 2 offset) = 15
Note: the decoder supports accessing functions above 9 at any time by pressing the corresponding button(s) on your throttle regardless of the currently selected function page.
If you have a command station which supports all 28 function buttons and would like to disable function pagination, this may be done by re-configuring the User Options indexed CV 4:19. For more information on the User Options indexed CV for Version 4 WOWSound Electric decoders, please see Page 15 of the WOWElectric V1 Programming Guide. This document can be used in conjunction with the Indexed CV Addendum below.
To disable Function Pagination, you must first have a ACS-64 decoder with a manufactured date which falls within or after the Second Run (After January 18th 2021). First Run ACS-64 decoders do not support the option to disable Function Pagination. Set the values of the Indexed CV as follows:
- CV 201 = 4
- CV 202 = 19
- CV 203 = 144
- CV 204 = 248
| Button Mappings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Function Button | Sound Action | Light Action | Dual Enabled | Page and Button |
| 0 | None | Headlights | Yes | Page 1 Button 0 |
| 1 | Bell | Blink Ditch Lights | Yes | Page 1 Button 1 |
| 2 | Horn - Long Blast | Blink Ditch Lights | Yes | Page 1 Button 2 |
| 3 | Horn - Short Blast | Ditch Lights (on/off) | No | Page 1 Button 3 |
| 4 | Whoosh | Number Board Lights | No | Page 1 Button 4 |
| 5 | Train Brake | Strobe Light (on/off) | No | Page 1 Button 5 |
| 6 | Startup/Shutdown | Marker Lights (on/off) | No | Page 1 Button 6 |
| 7 | None | Dim Headlights | Yes | Page 1 Button 7 |
| 8 | 1x Press Mute/Unmute 2x Press rotate light/sound mode or page 4x Press Audio Assist™ |
None | Yes | Page 1 Button 8 |
| 9 | Dynamic Brake | Corridor Lights | No | Page 1 Button 9 |
| 10 | Manual Notch Up | Ditch Lights Blink | No | Page 2 Button 0 |
| 11 | Manual Notch Down | Emergency Strobe (on/off) (or with 5x brake press or with E-STOP function) | No | Page 2 Button 1 |
| 12 | Coupler Close | None | No | Page 2 Button 2 |
| 13 | Coupler Release | None | No | Page 2 Button 3 |
| 14 | Brake Release | None | No | Page 2 Button 4 |
| 15 | Traction Motor Blower | None | No | Page 2 Button 5 |
| 16 | Momentum | None | No | Page 2 Button 6 |
| 17 | Crew Alert | None | No | Page 2 Button 7 |
| 18 | 1x Press Mute/Unmute 2x Press rotate light/sound mode or page 4x Press Audio Assist™ |
None | No | Page 2 Button 8 |
| 19 | Random Whoosh (on/off) | None | No | Page 2 Button 9 |
| 20 | Grade Crossing Quill | None | No | Page 3 Button 0 |
| 21 | Forward Quill | None | No | Page 3 Button 1 |
| 22 | Reverse Quill | None | No | Page 3 Button 2 |
| 23 | Stop Horn | None | No | Page 3 Button 3 |
| 24 | Rotate Bell/Horn | None | No | Page 3 Button 4 |
| 25 | Windshield Wipers | None | No | Page 3 Button 5 |
| 26 | Station Announcements Departing | None | No | Page 3 Button 6 |
| 27 | Station Announcements Arriving | None | No | Page 3 Button 7 |
| 28 | 1x Press Mute/Unmute 2x Press rotate light/sound mode or page 4x Press Audio Assist™ |
None | No | Page 3 Button 8 |
| Random Sound Mapping | |
|---|---|
| Random Sound Generator |
Sound Played |
| 1 | Air Compressor |
| 2 | None |
| 3 | Dust Blower |
| 4 | Whoosh (When enabled with F19) |
CV Addendum (Standard CV's)
The ACS-64 follows the motor and lighting CV's as described in TCS's Comprehensive Programming Guide. Listed below are the CV's that have been modified for the ACS-64 decoder.
| CV Number | CV Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CV3 | 6 | Acceleration |
| CV4 | 6 | Deceleration |
| CV13 | 255 | DC Mode lights |
| CV29 | 6 | Configuration Options 1 |
| CV35 | 16 | Light output 1 mapped to F3 |
| CV36 | 16 | Light output 2 mapped to F3 |
| CV39 | 16 | Light output 3 (brown wire) mapped off of F3 |
| CV49 | 40 | Front headlight uses Rule 17 |
| CV50 | 40 | Rear headlight uses Rule 17 |
| CV51 | 10 | Light output 1 is a Ditch light |
| CV52 | 11 | Light output 2 is a Ditch light |
| CV53 | 36 | Light output 3 (brown wire) is a single pulse strobe 1 (red emergency beacon) |
| CV61 | 41 | Configuration Options 2 |
| CV63 | 10 | Ditch light blink holdover time |
| CV117 | 221 | Ditch light blink rate |
| CV123 | 0 | So Rule 17 does not dim on F4 |
| CV124 | 76 | Ditch lights blink (F0-F6) on buttons 1, and 2 |
| CV158 | 4 | Enables Rule17 dimming on F7 |
| CV248 | 1 / 2 | Sound Set Revision Identifier. First to Third Run = 1, Fourth Run = 2 |
CV Addendum (Indexed CV's)
The ACS-64 follows the motor and lighting CV's as described in TCS's WOWDiesel Programming Guide. Listed below are the TCS Indexed CV's that have been modified for the ACS-64 decoder.
[The Sound type "Air Spitter" was re-named to "Dust Blower" in Audio Assist]
[The Sound type "Sanding Valve" was re-named to "Emergency Brake" in Audio Assist]
| Indexed CV Number | Indexed CV Value (CV203,CV204) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0,200 | Random Sound 1 Frequency (Air Compressor) |
| 3 | 0,200 | Random Sound 2 Frequency (Traction Motor Blower 1) |
| 4 | 0,80 | Random Sound 2 Frequency (Traction Motor Blower 2) |
| 5 | 0,16 | Random Sound 4 Frequency (Default - not used) |
| 7 | 0,126 | Random Sound Cutout Speed Step (Default - No cutout) |
| 8 | 0,3 | Horn Selection |
| 9 | 0,1 | Throttle Mode - Not Used |
| 10 | 0,100 | Master Volume |
| 11 | 0,0 | Traction Motor Selection - Only one Traction Motor sound is available in the ACS-64 decoder |
| 12 | 255,2 | DC Mode Sounds - Enable all DC mode automatic sounds |
| 14 | 3,79 | Dual Enabled Functions - ACS-64 default is F0F, F0R, F1, F2, F5, F7, and F8 |
| 19 | FR: 18,251
SR: 210,248 |
"USER OPTIONS" Indexed CV - bitwise (inclusive selection):
(0) Not Used (1) Not Used (2) Mute on startup/engine auto start mute if set (3) Enable switching/mainline mode audio feedback (4) Enable Rotate horn/bell audio feedback (5)* Enable light mode/sound mode audio feedback (6) Enable Audio auto shutoff timer (7)* Digitrax bit-set simulates button 2 as toggle while in A.A. mode (8) Not Used (9) Not Used (10) Reverse directional horns (11) Not Used (12) Not Used (13) Not Used (14) Enable Bachmann Function Pagination (Not available in First Run models) (15) Grade Crossing Quill sound blinks ditch lights (Not available in First Run models) ACS-64 First Run default 4859 [00010010 11111011], (Enables all audio feedback options, Momentary F2 in AA, Mainline mode) ACS-64 Second Run default 49400 [11000000 11111000], (Same as above except: ADD Function Pagination and Ditch Light Quill Blink) |
| 23 | 0 | Bell Selection - Only 1 bell available (E-bell) |
| 43 | 5,0 | DC Mode start voltage – Voltage at which the engine will start making noise in DC mode, the higher the value the higher the voltage |
| 44 | 5,70 | Voltage at which the DC mode bell will stop playing, the higher the value the higher the voltage threshold. |
| 45 | 15 | Speed step in DCC mode that the automatic bell will stop playing at |
| 46 | 1,100 | DC Mode motor hysteresis – When the engine starts moving in DC mode the increased current draw may cause some oscillation.
If so, increase the value in this CV until the oscillation goes away. If the engine is going through a power on reset try increasing Sound CV 43 (Voltage at which the Engine will power up at while in DC mode) |
| 50 | 6 | “Switching" momentum mode acceleration value |
| 51 | 6 | “Switching" momentum mode deceleration value |
| 52 | 20 | “Mainline" momentum mode acceleration value |
| 53 | 60 | “Mainline" momentum mode deceleration value |
Demonstration
Decoder Service and Repair
For service/repair, contact the Bachmann Service Department by visiting www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/service.php, calling 1-800-356-3910 (toll-free within the U.S. and Canada), or emailing service@bachmanntrains.com. Bachmann’s Service Department is available Monday thru Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM ET.
You can also send your locomotive to: Bachmann Trains Service Department 1400 East Erie Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124
Please include a detailed description of your concern and complete contact information. For some service issues regarding DCC sound decoders, the Bachmann Service Department may forward your locomotive to TCS for resolution.
