I have a Digitrax Empire Builder II set and have installed the provided DH142 decoder in an Athearn C44-9W locomotive.I want to be able to dim the forward headlight.I have it set up for non directional lighting and have tried programming the decoder to dim the headlight using CV49 in both x28 and x38 and CV62 at x00 and x04 with no results.Any suggestions?
Have a good one.
Bill
Iowa
The DH142 is an older decoder and does not have FX3 lighting effects. I think you want x68, Rule 17 dimming is by nature directional so you can;t set the function up non-directional AND have dimming. Assuming NDOT is not reversed (CV29 bit 0 is 0, ie CV29 is a decimal even number) then you want CV49 programmed to 0x68, or 104 decimal. Depends on what throttle you are using to program with. You don;t have to use hex any more with the newer throttles, although when it comes to bitmapped CV’s like 29 and the function controls I still say it’s far EASIER to work with hex. With a value of 0x68 in CV49, your headlight should be bright in forward. Dim in forward if you hit F4, and dim in reverse.
–Randy
Thanks,Randy.I set up the CV’s per your instructions and also played around with the programming a bit and everything worked as you said.Now I just set F4 on before making reverse moves and shut it off after.
Have a good one.
Bill
Iowa
Hmm, you shouldn’t have to hit F4 fto dim the headlight for reverse, just to dim the headlight while moving forward with those settings. I’ll have to check mine, but they are newer decoders, DH163L0’s. If I am moving forward and turn on F0, the headlight comes on full brightness. If I reverse, the rear light comes on and the front light dims. If I am moving forward with the headlight on and hit F4, it dims until I turn off F4. I think that’s what you are after as well. Headlight dim in reverse, and dim on command (for meets in sidings per rule).
–Randy