TCS Decoder CV Settings

For suggested general CV settings for decoders from a variety of manufacturers for ready-to-run 4mm/HO/OO locos click here. To purchase TCS decoders, click here.

To view the TCS notes on using BEMF, click here.

CVs that are common to decoders from all manufacturers complying with the NMRA standards are shown in italics, others are specific to TCS decoders.


CV No.	Default Value	Description
CV1	3	Primary loco address. 1-127 valid addresses.
CV2	0	Start Volts. Voltage level added to all speed steps. 1-255 valid values. 1 count = 39% of full voltage. For most conditions with TCS decoders leave this as 0 and use Dither.
CV3	0	Acceleration Rate. Adds time to each speed step. 1-255 valid values. Practical range is 0-25.
CV4	0	Deceleration Rate. Adds time to each speed step. 1-255 valid values. Practical range is 0-25.
CV5	0	Vhigh. 1 volt = approx.18. Use this to set maximum speed. Max value is 255.
CV6	0	Mid Volts. Assigns voltage level to speed step 7 when using 14 speed step or to speed step 14 when using 28 speed steps. This generates a performance curve. If CV6 = 0 then Mid volts is not used to generate speed curve.
CV7		Decoder Version Identification.
CV8	153	Manufacturer ID Number. TCS ID Number is 99 hex, 153 decimal. To reset the decoder enter a value of 2 into this CV, then power off and then on. For more details on how to reset a decoder see the additional notes below on Resetting to Factory Default.
CV10		BEMF cutout - (1) BEMF is enabled (0) BEMF is disabled. BEMF cut out will automatically turn off BEMF when it reaches the speed step you predetermine by putting a value between 1 and 128 into this CV. For the TCS manual on BEMF usage click here. A value of 10 will set up the lighting for standard ditch lights, 11 will set up standard Trolley features and a value of 12 will set up modified Trolley features
CV15	0	Decoder lock control number. To lock all same address decoders put a value of 7 into CV15 To unlock all same address decoders put a value of 0 into CV15
CV16	1	Decoder lock ID number. To unlock a decoder make CV15 = CV16 or put a value of 0 into CV15. To lock a decoder do not put the same value into both CVs15 and 16.
CV17	0	Extended Address. Used for 4-digit addressing. Contains upper byte value of address. Bits 0-5 are used for upper 6 bits of 14 bit address.
CV18	0	Extended Address. Used for 4-digit addressing. Contains lower byte value of 14 bit address. Note* CV17 and CV18 are programmed separately but the decoder uses them to form one address. Bit 5 of CV29 needs to be programmed in order to use the extended programming values in CVs 17 and 18. Most DCC systems do the CV17/18 calculations for you when you are programming the loco address provided that you have selected extended (or long) address.
CV19	0	Consist Address. Decoder will respond to this address when this CV is not = 0. Valid values are 1-127.
CV22	0	Consist function Control: Bit 0 is used for FL(f) which is forward head light. Bit 1 is used for FL(r) which is reverse headlight. When these bits = 1, headlight control is under consist control when consisting.
CV28	0	RailCom configuration (enables broadcast)
CV29	6	Loco Configuration (decimal values in red): Bit 0 controls loco direction:0 (0)= normal, 1(1) = reversed. Bit 1 sets headlight control and number of speed steps to advanced or standard mode. 1 (2) = advanced (28/128), 0 (0) = standard (14). Bit 2 is to enable or disable analog conversion mode. 0 (0)= disabled, 1 (4)= DC enabled Bit 3 reserved for Railcom enabled decoders. 0 (0)= disabled, 1 (8)= RailCom enabled Bit 4 activates or de-activates user loadable speed table, (CV66-CV95). 1 (16) = table active, 0 (0) = table de-active Bit 5 activates or de-activates extended addressing. If this bit = 1 (32) and CV19 = 0 then loco will respond to address in CV17 & CV18. If this bit = 0 (0) and CV19 = 0 then loco responds to its primary address. Bit 6 and 7 not used. Note*: To calculate the decimal value for CV29 for programming purposes, choose one red value for each active bit and sum the values. The default value of CV29 is 6 to enable 128 speed step and DC/DCC operation.
CV30	0	To reset factory default settings enter a value of 2 into CV30. For more details on how to reset a decoder see the additional notes below on Resetting to Factory Default.
CV49-52 49 50 51 52	0 16 32 32	Special lighting effects control. The value in these CVs determines what lighting effects are selected for a particular function output. It also qualifies it for what direction or condition to turn it on. Factory default is CV49 (White wire)=00, CV50 (Yellow wire)=10hex. This sets up auto reversing headlight operation. See More Information about CV 49 and CV 50.
CV56-57 56 57	0 0	CV56, CV57 Set Dither parameters. See Dither. The default setting for CV 57 on decoders with BEMF is 0, which means dither is off.
CV58	50	This CV is used to enable Kick Start, in conjunction with CV65. It controls the Burst Duration, with higher values increasing the duration. 60 = 1 sec. This function is superseded by the Dither facility of TCS decoders .
CV59- 60	0	Used to customize Mars and Gyra light modulation and latency. For more information on this go to More information about CV59 - CV61. CV56, CV57 Set Dither parameters. See Dither.
CV61	54	Configures additional loco parameters: Bit 0 = enables light functions in analog mode with analog mode disabled. This enables head light to remain on when loco enters a control block with strait dc voltage with the loco stopped when analog mode is disabled. on the new decoders with BEMF, BEMF is enabled if CV61 = 1 Bit 4 = 1 (16) dims the light when stopped Bit 5 = 1 (32) enables opposite dim. When going forward, reverse light is on dim. Vice versa for going reverse. Default = 0 Example: On decoders with BEMF, to set BEMF on and light dims when stopped and opposite light is dimmed set CV61 to 49. To turn on BEMF and function button control of it, put a value of 3 into CV61.
CV64	64	This provides a brightness adjustment or "adjustable dim" feature when using Opposite Dim or Rule 17 and is a feature available in X series decoders. Useable values are 2-30. A value of 16 = 50% for incandescent bulbs, whilst values of 2-6 work well with LEDs.
CV65	0	This is used in conjunction with CV58 to control Kick Start. Higher values increase voltage, a value of 18 = approx. 1 volt. A value of 0 in CV65 is the default, as Kick Start is superseded in TCS decoders by Dither.
CV66	0	Forward Motor Trim - use in conjunction with CV95
CV67-94		User Loadable Speed Table. This is activated by setting CV29 bit 4 to on. Values 1-255 valid.
CV95	0	Reverse Motor Trim - use in conjunction with CV65
CV105, CV106	0	User ID. Can be used to designate your own equipment. 1-255 valid.
CV117		Adjustable ditch lights blink rate. 1-12 valid (12 is the fastest rate).
CV133		Button control of motor. 0-255 valid. Sets the power applied to the motor when the motor circuit is used in button control mode.
CV135	16	Random Flicker Generator 1 Adjustment
CV136		Button control of BEMF. Bits 0-7 are used to designate function buttons 5-12.
CV142	124	Single Pulse Strobe 2 - Length of ON pulse
CV143	4	Single Pulse Strobe 2 - Length of OFF pulse
CV144	144	Flash OFF time
CV145	48	Flash ON time
CV149	117	Double Pulse Strobe 2 - OFF time
CV150	5	Double Pulse Strobe 2 - ON time
CV151	16	Double Pulse Strobe 2 - short OFF time
CV152	16	Random Flicker Generator 2 Adjustment
CV153	5	Constant Dim 2 Adjustment (1-32)
CV154	5	Constant Dim 3 Adjustment (1-32)
CV155	5	Constant Dim 4 Adjustment (1-32)
CV156		Headlight Power Setting (0=full power) To dim use values between 1 and 32 (1 is dimmest, 32 is brightest). Note: Power setting adjustments only apply to white and yellow wires when operating with Constant Bright lighting activated
CV157		Reverse Light Power Setting (0=full power) To dim use values between 1 and 32 (1 is dimmest, 32 is brightest). Note: Power setting adjustments only apply to white and yellow wires when operating with Constant Bright lighting activated
CV178	0	RailCom CV to transmit
CV180	0	Select RailCom transmission data
CV181	0	Options for RailCom transmission data
CV182	0	To enable Keep-AliveTM program a value of 2
CV250		Month of Decoder Manufacture
CV251		Day of Decoder Manufacture
CV252		Year of Decoder Manufacture

Last updated 3 February, 2012

More information about CV59 - CV61

More about CV59

Effects modulation frequency of Mars and Gyra light. The lower the value the faster the frequency becomes. Factory set to 2Ehex, 46dec.

More about CV60

Effects time between light modulations for Mars and Gyra light. The lower the value the less time between modulations. Try setting this to a value of 0Chex, 12dec for Mars light. It is factory set to 36hex, 54dec for Gyra light. Try experimenting with CV59 and CV60 to customize the look of the Mars or Gyra light. Mars and Gyra lighting cannot be operated simultaneously.

More about CV61 options
Setting bit 0 = 1 will re map function 0 rear headlight control to function 4 control. Not applicable with version 16 and up decoders which use function re map.
Setting bit 3 will enable headlight functions to remain on in analog mode even with analog mode not enabled (via bit 3 of CV29.) The advantage is when using straight DC voltage to make a stop block for control purpose, the lights will remain on when the loco is in the stop block.
Setting bit 5 enables opposite dim. The headlight opposite the direction of travel comes on dim (50% power).

Other notes

When the decoder receives a broadcast stop signal the headlights will remain on in the direction they had before receiving the broadcast stop signal.

Resetting CV'S to their factory default

On the programming track ONLY, write a value of two into CV8 or CV30. The decoder must go through a power off then power up, except the A1X, which will reset itself automatically. CV'S will then reset to the factory default values on power up.
Note: writing to CV8 does not actually change the value in CV8 because it is a read only register. When writing a two into CV8 it actually will write to CV30. This enables a factory reset with command stations that use physical register programming like the MRC 2000 and Atlas Commander. CVs that will be reset to the factory default are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 18, 19, 29, 30, 49,50, 61. The user loadable speed table is not effected by the reset to default values.

Optional lighting effects for the head light and reverse light:

CV49 controls lighting effect and directional qualifier for forward headlight (White wire).
CV50 controls lighting effect and directional qualifier for reverse light (Yellow wire).

Use the following two tables to assign a lighting effect:

Each CV uses two digits. The upper digit (MSB) is used as a directional qualifier. The lower digit (LSB) determines the lighting effect. The numbers are Hexadecimal. Example for forward headlight: CV49=08hex, rule 17 applied. CV49=06 hex, rotary beacon on when loco going forward. CV49=14hex, single pulse strobe when loco reversed.

Examples for reverse light: CV50=25hex, double pulse strobe on all the time. CV50=13hex, flashing light when loco reversed. Note: If your command station uses decimal numbers you will have to convert from hexadecimal to decimal.

Motor Trim

Motor trim allows the entire speed range of a decoder to be shifted up (faster) or down (slower) using CV 66 and CV 95. This makes speed matching locomotives for consisting extremely easy. Also adjusting for notoriously fast or slow locomotives is simple. Motor trim can be used with 28/128 speed steps, User Loadable Speed Tables, and 3 point speed curves to adjust the entire range up or down.

A value above 128 will increase the overall speed (the higher the number the faster the locomotive will go) and values below 128 will slow the locomotive (the lower the value the slower the locomotive will travel. The resolution (precision of the adjustment) of the values for motor trim is 4. This means that for every 4 you add or subtract from the base trim value of 128 the speed will be adjusted by a percentage.

Railcom

RailCom is a standardized protocol for bi-directional communication between decoders and command stations on the OPERATIONS track. RailCom will allow you to read CV’s as well as request specific information from your operating locomotives like fuel and water levels. Railcom allows for signal systems, block detection, and computer automation. For more information check out the RailCom manual in the literature section of www.tcsdcc.com.

For a hexadecimal to decimal conversion table click here

Upper Digit Value	Qualifier for direction or condition
0xh	Function is on when locomotive is going forward
1xh	Function is on when locomotive is in reverse
2xh	No qualifier, normal on / off control
3xh	No qualifier, normal on / off control
4xh	Function is on when locomotive is going forward and Fleet Lighter is on
5xh	Function is on when locomotive is in reverse and Fleet Lighter is on

Lower Digit Value	Lighting Effect
x0h	No effect. Normal on / off control
x1h	Random Flicker (fire box)
x2h	Mars
x3h	Flashing Light
x4h	Single Pulse Strobe
x5h	Double Pulse Strobe
x6h	Rotary Beacon
x7h	Gyra Light
x8h	Rule 17
x9h	No effect. Normal on / off control
xAh	Blinking Ditch Light A
xBh	Blinking Ditch Light B
xCh	Dim (applies 50% power to function)

Factory settings: CV49= 00hex, CV50= 10hex. Decimal equivalent: CV49=0, CV50=16. This default sets up auto reversing headlights.

To remap yellow wire (FO) to button 1. Set CV34=4.

To set up Blinking Ditch Lights

Green wire (F1) used for one ditch light. Violet wire (F2) used for other ditch light.
Set: CV51=42 ditch light phase A CV52=43 ditch light phase B
CV36= 4 remap violet wire to button 1
Button 1 now turns off/on both lights. Then use button 2 or 5 to control blinking.

To set up rotary beacon

If using a T4/T6 decoder, use brown wire (F3) to beacon. Set CV53=38.

To set up manual control of headlights

White wire (F0) used for front head light. Set CV49=32.
Yellow (F0) wire used for rear light. Set CV50=32.

To set up auto reversing headlights

Set CV49=0. Set CV50=16.

To set up Gyra light for white wire headlight control

Set CV49=39, or for forward directional qualifier set CV49=7.

To set a light to manual non directionally qualified control

Set the required CV to 32.

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