Lamps not working with any DCC decoders.

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

My question is: None of the headlights in my loco’s that I have installed DCC decoders into. I have wired up the white wire and the blue wire to the globe. I then have tried all sorts of codes in CV50 and CV49 but they have not come on at all or blinked at all. Is there something wrong that i have done? Or do I have to enable any other CV addresses.

I have a 5 loco’s with DCC decoders installed, Digitrax 2 function decoders and TCS decoders.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers Luke Smile

2

I know this may sound simplistic, but you wouldn’t be the first one that’s fallen into this trap:

Did you know that you have to turn the lights on? F0 (zero) toggles headlights on and off. In DC, the lights are always on, but with DCC they default to OFF and you have to manually turn them on.

Next, are you using incandescent lights or LEDs? Both generally need voltage-dropping resistors between the decoder and the bulb. I use a 1K resistor for my LED headlights. (I take out my incandescent headlights and replace them with LEDs.) In addition, a LED needs to be wired the “right” way, since polarity matters to a LED.

3

MisterBeasley,

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah i have tried changing the values of CV49 and CV50 with no luck. Or is there another way to access the headlight function that i am unaware of?

I might give the LED idea a try with a 1K resistor.

Yeah i know how LED’s work with the polarity direction.

Cheers Luke :slight_smile:

4

Do you have a voltmeter where you can check the voltage across the wires with F0 turned on ? That will help you troubleshoot whether it is a decoder/wiring problem or a problem with the bulbs.

5

What brand of locomotive(s) are you having problems with? Some use 1.5 Volt bulbs for the headlights and if you don’t use a resistor with them they have been burned out because a decoder’s output is 12 Volts DC.

6

Yep i have now worked out its because i hadn’t turned on Function 0.

Sorry I guess i am a newbie…

Now i want sound decoders cause i think playing with the functions will be fun :slight_smile:

Thanks for all your help lads.

Cheers Luke :slight_smile:

7

[#ditto] – you have no idea just how much fun!