I just picked up a used Intermountain F7A (#49002-05) in otherwise excellent shape but for the MARS light function. This unit has a Soundtraxx decoder per its readout ID but I suspect it is not original with the loco (there’s no “S” following the stock number; I haven’t yet pulled the shell). F6 operates the MARS light. Well, it certainly turns it on, but there’s no “oscillating” appearance, just a steady beam. What should I be looking for as the problem?
John
I have to admit that using DecoderPro has spoiled me to the point that I rarely manually input CV variables. For selecting a Gyralight or Mars Light it is only a matter of clicking on the option wanted then “Write Changes On Sheet” >save>exit.
Have you looked at George’s video?
Of course, on a Santa Fe F unit the top lamp housing would be the Mars Light. This might be wired to F0 for the headlight and F5 the lamp in the door which would be steady on for the headlight.
Tsunami provides six CVs for customizing the lighting effects:
CV 49, Headlight Configuration
CV 50, Backup Light Configuration
CV 51, FX5 Light Configuration
CV 52, FX6 Light Configuration
CV 59, Lighting Effect Flash Rate
CV60, Grade-Crossing Effect Hold Time
I believe CV 51 should be set to “2” to make it a Mars Light without the grade crossing logic.
If you want to set the headlight F0 to act as a Mars Light set CV49 to 2.
If the engine uses LEDs you can add 128 to the above values.
Hope that helps, Ed
That’s because F6 toggles the MARS light ON and OFF, but F6 alone does not control the oscillating feature. Welcome to the world of Hyperlighting!
Ed has set you in the right direction, but the exact function mapping depends upon the specific decoder. So, you are going to need to consult the Soundtraxx User Manual.
In my case, I do not have one specific decoder in all of my diesel locomotives, so I go nuts trying to remember the lighting sequence for MARS lights. I keep a spreadsheet by the layout with the correct function keys for the MARS lights on all my different diesels. 15 of my diesels have MARS lights and these various diesels are controlled by five different function keys. In one instance, I still cannot figure out how to oscillate the MARS light.
Good luck!
Rich
Thanks, Ed and Rich. This points me (or better, my buddy at the club) in the right direction.
Have you tried turning it on then blowing the horn? Like the ditch lights on my modern locomotives. F5 turns them on and flash for about twenty seconds after a horn blast. Then goes solid on.
Pete.
Pete - this is a non-sound unit. That’s in the B unit that was purchased separately by the previous owner (and has a QSI in it). Of course I could find a speaker under the shell once its removed . . . If I do find one, I’ve got other issues. But perhaps not serious ones as I generally run my stuff silently. Not much a fan of sound.
John
John.
I assumed it was a sound decoder. You said it was Soundtraxx. Sorry for the inconvenience. Although it could still have the Hyperlight firmware with grade crossing logic. Worth a shot.
Pete.
Thanks, Pete. I hope it does, too. I suppose that I could swap out the Soundtraxx with something a bit simpler to fiddle with, but why go to the expense if I (or rather, my club buddies) can get it right? After that it would be a case of “if it ain’t broke . . .” That’s presuming that I can also get the B unit speed-matched properly. As for the B’s sound, I can just turn it off. Someone may actually want it some day. [;)]
Attu John
I’m not familiar with any non-sound Soundtraxx decoders? I would suggest opening up the engine to see exactly which decoder is installed, then looking up the manual for it on the manufacturer’s website. Wonder if the sound is muted or something? Maybe the original owner never got around to installing a speaker, or a wire has come loose and the speaker is no longer connected.
The Hyperlighting stuff isn’t really that complicated, it’s just each light output has it’s own CV where you have to stick in a number to tell it what you want the light to do. The default is always just on-off.
It might be possible Intermountain used one of these:
https://soundtraxx.com/products/dcc-mobile-decoders/mc2h104at/
Or as the OP states, someone installed or changed the original decoder if there was one.
HO-scale, 4-function decoder that measures 74 x 17 x 3mm designed to replace the existing manufacturer light board in Atlas HO diesel models, some InterMountain Railway models, and those using a similar physical design. This decoder will operate in both DC and DCC.
Lighting functions begin on page 23 here:
https://soundtraxx.com/content/Reference/Manuals/Mobile/mc2usersguide.pdf
I’ve used several non-sound mobile decoders from Soundtraxx. Lighting programming is much the same as a Tsunami but the braking functions are not there.
Good Luck, Ed
Folks,
Removed the shell to find:
Arrgghh! I don’t do this often enough - didn’t download the pic properly.
Anyway, the A unit has an IM-installed sound decoder. There is no speaker under the black, round hub/backplate above the rear truck. That may explain the three loose leads (2 one red, 2 black) that show in the photo. I note the white sticker has “001NS” on it. Perhaps that represents a non-sound installation. Anyway, the decoder is not an MC2 but an MC-IM84. I wonder if SoundTraxx manufactured these specifically for Intermountain. I initially cannot find a link to this particular decoder on the web. I just fired off an email to them for thier assistance.
If it were a Soundtraxx sound decoder there would be a two-pin plug for the speaker right about where the white paper sticker is and a volume pot toward the lighting connector.
The black and red wires are coming out of the lighting connector. The MC series mobile decoder takes on many form factors and, yes, this one is made for Intermountain before they decided to switch to ESU decoders around 2015 or so.
The lighting functions should still program the same as noted above. Intermountain has been helpful with tech inquiries in the past.
Regards, Ed
Without seeing the other side of the board, it doesn’t look like there are enough electronics to support an amplifier and sound memory chips. Where are the loose wires coming from? I believe it is just a motor/lighting decoder and nothing more. Specially made for Intermountain by Soundtraxx.
Pete.
Ed,
I wonder if the extra leads are standardized and available for back-up lights. But that is irrelevant for an A unit. Unless this decoder and its on-board wiring were also used in some Intermountain switchers. Well, I gues in any case they’re of no account if I can get everything else up to snuff.
John
I imagine they could just use one harness/connector then simply clip off the unused wires as you suspect. Some engines had LED side lights for the large Santa Fe numberboards.
This site has a blurry photo showing one each of the Soundtraxx/Intermountain boards. Your non-sound board is the one in the pink plastic:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ho-intermountain-f3-f7-soundtraxx-26736357
What DCC system do you use for your programming? As I mentioned, I’m spoiled by Decoder Pro. Setting up lighting and other options are a breeze and they’re saved so that if you need to enter them again it is a very simple process.
PWRS has a better archive photo of the stock I-M/Soundtraxx sound decoder from 2013:
https://www.pwrs.ca/announcements/view.php?ID=8169
Here is some more background information on Intermountain decoder factory OEM dates:
Good Luck, Ed
Ed,
The one in the pink bag is indeed the decoder I have. The one pictured by PWRS is a later follow-on installed by Intermountain beginning in 2013 (as you noted). I suspect that the little white labe on mine is a manufacturing date for my F unit, December of 2011
Pete,
Indeed it is a sound decoder. But those functions go begging without IM or someone else also installing the speaker. Makes me wonder what IM charged extra for their sound version. I’m just betting that even with the same decoder, it was a fer piece more than just the cost of the additional hardware!
John
The folks at SoundTraxx replied and said that the IM84 decoder is a part of their MC2 family. The information in their MC2 user manual applies. Thanks for your help, guys! And Merry Christmas!
John
