Decoder for Athearn Genesis GP38-2 with ditch lights

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hi y’all,

I have an Athearn Genesis GP38-2 DCC ready verison w/ both a 8 pin and 9 pin socket. This is the NS High Hood and has front and rear ditch lights. I am interested in not only making the ditch light turn on when their repsective headlight is on but to also have them flash when a particular button his pressed (generally the horn button.

From the factory, lights are tied into the headlights. The front side (because it is a highhood, some see it as the rear) is wired in a way that if you install a decoder it will flash when you press a particular button. THe other side ditchlights are tied into the headlight and are on when the headlight is on and does not flash.

In summary, I would like all my ditch lights to be on when their approprite side headlight is on and I want them to flash when told to do so.

I do not know how many functions I would need in the decoder. I was think 6- 1 function for each ditch light and 1 for front headlight and 1 for rear headlight.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks

2

First off, [#welcome]

Seeing as no one has responded yet, I can say you will need a 6 function decoder, as you guessed, but will need to hardwire the rear ditchlights seperately, the 8-9 pin plug will not have those controlled separately from the rear headlight. If it is wired together already with the headlight, so will the decoder 8-9 pin plug. That should get you started… Depending on how the wiring is done, the front ditch lights maybe non-flashing, or flashing, with the 9 pin plug, that one I would need to look at the wiring diagram to answer. If no one else knows, I will try to look at some diagrams to answer that part of the question.

To simply go with as wired, and non-flashing rear ditch lights any of your preferred brands 9 pin plug will work.

(Edit: Digitrax, TCS, NCE all have good, non-sound, 9 pin decoders available, others might as well. Sound, ESU Loksound and Soundtraxx have 9 pin available. Added as reference.)