I have an Athearn Genesis GP9 with a Tsunami decoder. The lighting functions include FX5 and FX6 but the engine has no ditch lights. So am I able to use these functions for the regular head and tail lights, and if so how? You may guess that I am new to this stuff. Right…
What do you want to do with the additional functions? F0 already controls the headlights, in a directional sense. It is the only one that’s wired to the headlights, unless you take the engine apart and modify it.
You can reprogram these things, so that the F5 or F6 buttons will control the headlights, if that’s what you want to do. That involves setting some CVs (Configuration Variables) on the programming track, but no re-wiring inside the shell. However, in this case you would be just changing the way FX0 (to distinguish it from the button F0) is used.
Well what I want to do is somewhat determined by what I CAN do. And that is where I think the information I have that describes lighting functions falls short. Since my engines basically have only the forward and rear headlamps about all I can expect is that I would want to do is change the light display from one type to another on the fly as the engine is pulling the train. As an example I might want the MARS light normally but as I approach a grade xing be able to change it to a strobe function. I did set a cv to establish the Crossing function where the light will flash but only for a distinct amount of preset time. However after the flashing was over and before it was started, using the horn, there was no other light. So I guess I was expecting that F0 turns on and off the basic light you set up in CV 50 and then was hoping FX5 or FX6 would allow you to change to another display whenever you wanted. Have not figured out how to do this or if it is even possible. Most of the manuals are written as if one understands all the basics. I don’t. That is my plight.
This is a guide to programming the Tsunami decoder.
https://www.walthers.com/page/Tsunami_Users_Guide_Diesel.pdf
If you scroll down to page 29, there’s a section on setting up lighting effects. I’ve never done this myself, but it looks like there is a CV to set what FX5 and FX6 will do (MARS, strobe, etc.), and then other CVs (specifically 33 and 34) to assign those functions to the forward and reverse headlights, respectively.
The other key factor is in the way decoder functions operate. You CAN connect multiple function wires to the same light bulb or LED. No harm will come to the light or the decoder if both are on at the same time. However - if one is a steady light and the other is flashing, having them both on will mean a steady light. But you turn off the steady one, the light will start to flash. Turn off both, the light will be off.
–Randy
So here I am with an engine the Athearn manual says has a decoder function F5 and F6 for Effect Light (If Applicable), but they don’t specify what “Applicable” means. So for the novice not in the know, it has no value. Tsunami page 29 and on discusses FX5 and FX6 which I assume relate to F5 and F6 but doesn’t specify which light(s) these functions control. After experimentation with my GP9 I expect that FX5 and 6 are specific wired outputs from the decoder and not programmable to any other wired functions. I’ll move on from here.
If applicable means IF the engine comes from the factory with the additional lighting option installed for that particular road - like ditch lights or mars lights.
On your engine, with only a front and rear head light, F5 and F6 are not applicable … meaning those two functions are not attached to anything on your engine. F5 and F6 are available on the board as open function outputs if you wanted to attach something to them yourself though.
Mark.
Most of the decoders that come factory installed by the manufacturer in locomotives are not full function decoders. They are special types that are cheaper, but there may be exceptions. If the instructions say that you have F5 and 6 in the decoder, you may indeed have.
To have ditch lights, you will most likely have to install the bulbs or LED’s yourself in the loco, and then wire them up to the decoder on F5 and F6. And FX5 is the same as F5. (F and FX are both short for Function.)
As to programming them, to me, these fall into a complicated category. I have JMRI Decoder Pro on my computer that is connected to my DCC command station. This allows me to program complicated functions, such as ditch lights, using a GUI point and click interface. It is much easier than trying to do it one CV at a time from a hand-held controller.
If you are in a club or there is one near you, chances are good that one of the members will have Decoder Pro connected up and could help you see what is available on your decoder and help set it up.
Elmer has a good point about limited functionality of the Tsunami OEM decoders. But if it says you have F5 and F6 functionality, sounds like the outputs are available to use. They aren’t wired in your particular loco, but you can do whatever you like with them.
Just to be clear, you can juggle the control of the outputs on your DCC system by assigned them to different F keys, which are separate and part from whatever the output is on the decoder. Thus your F1 key can be reassigned to control F6 output on the decoder. But we won’t worry about that, just wanted to distinguish because it’s usually part of the confusion on these matters.
I’m kind of curious if you have F3 and F4 outputs on that decoder, too, as that would give you a total of six, just in case you really want to look “flashy”?
I don’t do ditch lights, too modern for me. But IIRC those that do usually use one output for one side and the other output for the other side. Then both are assigned to a single F key on your controller. Maybe someone who knows more about these things can say if that’s right?