Help! I am in the process of installing a Miniatronics adjustable Mars light to an Athearn engine with an NCE Powerhouse D13SR decoder. This is my first time doing this and I am not sure if I will be connecting this correctly using the new decoder. I don’t want to fry the decoder nor ruin the Mars light. The instructions for the Mars light say to set power to “4 volts” to see the osilating affect of the light using the “black and red wires”. I assume this is not using DCC, but standard DC. Without a decoder, you are supposed to just solder the Mars black and red wires to the motor. The decoder instructions, meanwhile, say to hook up the “white and blue” wires to your headlight. Is the Mars light the same as a simple headlight? Do I solder the white and blue wires from the decoder to the black and red wires from the Mars light pc board that they are attached to? Will I need a resister of some kind? Thanks for any advice. JRP “Great Southwest & Pacific Railroad”
It just so happens I’ve used this circuit in my Westside GS-4; it has a great effect. To connect it to the decoder, connect the red wire from the MARS circuit to the BLUE wire on your decoder; this is the positive (+) light / function common. Next, connect the black wire from the MARS circuit to the FUNCTION pad you want to control the effect. For example, connect it to the pad marked FUNCTION 4 and the MARS light will work when the F4 button on the throttle is pressed. I recommend not connecting it to the yellow or white wires if you are also using forward and rear headlights. The MARS circuit draws low current so operation with the function is ok as long as it is the only device connected to that particular function output.
Question: why are you using the Miniatronics circuit when the decoder already has a Mars light effect? --Randy
I thought I would have to have the mars light pc board and replace the standard headlight that came with the loco. Do you mean that I could get the same “osilating” effect using the decoder on the existing headlight without purchasing the mars light?
Actually, Randy asked the question I thought to ask but did not. Yes, most after market decoders are capable of creating a MARS effect; refer to the decoder’s manual for proper CV settings and function outputs. I believe for a NCE decoder; CV122 changes FUNCTION 3 AND CV123 will change FUNCTION 4.
Also NCE decoders have a great MARS or GYRALITE effect when using an LED. Miniatronics yellow-white LED’s do not have the bluish glow are very bright and do not get hot for such intense light. I recommend not using the resistors that come with them however; for the best MARS effect use a 1K-2K ohm resistor in series with the LED. For standard lights use a 1K ohm resistor.
Carl has the details. The Mars light effect in the decoder will easily be as good as the add-on circuit, and far better than the Mars light circuit on the Proto2000 E units. Most work better with bulbs, but the NCE decoder does have settings to make the Mars effect work well with LEDs. I prefer to use LEDs whenever possible because properly installed they will NEVER burn out in our lifetime - and I like to install things ONCE. I happen to use the Miniatronics Yelo-Glo LEDs myself. These are great for steam loco and first generation diesel headlights. Modern diesels would probbaly look better with the “sunny white” type of LED, they are more like modern high-intensity lights. Plain white LEDs - forget about those, they are too bluish. NCE also sells the yellow-white LEDs. I’ve purchased them from Empire Northern as well - Tim includes 1K resistors. Carl is correct, the resistors supplied with the Miniatronics LEDs are too small a value. 1K is what I use for steady lights like headlights. Somewhat larger will help generate a better effect for the Mars light. --Randy