Hello all…
I just finished up installing a Digitrax DH-123 in a Life-Like PA-1. I wired the headlight to the white wire and I used a second bulb fixed onto the lucite “light pipe” that I wanted to illuminate the number boards to the yellow wire…
I am not a fan of “directional” lighting so I figured I could program, using Decoder Pro, both outputs for Non directional- F-0 for the headlight and F-4 for the number board lamp. When the engine is idling, I like to keep the number boards lit and the headlight off.
There is an option to use F-4 for the reverse light, non directional. Anyway, when I try to program this function output, I can’t get anything but directional headlight operation, i.e. the headlight is on in forward, then the number board lamp lights in reverse! I have tried all of the options in decoder pro for the lighting functions but the lights will only work in the “directional” mode… what am I doing wrong?
Would it be OK to wire the number board lamp to the track pick-ups to keep them lit all the time? Why can’t I get true NON directional headlight control? Any help here would be appreciated…
Thanks, ED
Ed,
The Digitrax 123 series decoder is a 2-function only decoder. I’m no expert but you will need a 6-function (163 series) decoder in order to access F4.
With 2-function, you only have front and rear headlights or F0 directional lighting. Function F1 and F2 outputs are available on a 4-function decoder; function F1-F4 outputs on a 6-function decoder. Ed, if you are wanting a nice 6-function decoder, the DH163L0 comes with back EMF for terrific low end response. I have one in one of my Proto 2000 0-8-0 switchers.
I guess you could wire your number board lights directly to your track wiring (red/black). You would need to either match the bulb voltage to your DCC system track output, or solder in resistors to keep the number board bulbs from blowing.
Hope that helps…
Tom
You can program the CV’s a bit differently to get the effect you want. I’m not home right now, but I think if you put a 3 into CV 34 you’ll get what you want for the yellow wire output. It will still be controlled by F0, but it will be on regardless of the locomotive’s direction.
I’m not as sure on this one, but I think you can assign F4 to control the yellow function output by setting a value of 32 (HEX 20) into CV 34 instead. If it works the way I think it does, then the yellow wire will no longer be affected by F0, but only by F4. That way, you can still use F0 for the headlight and the number boards will stay on.
I do this all the time ( a professional programmer for a LHS) and the simplest solution is just to REMAP the function of the wires. Remap the leads going to the number boards to be included with the front and rear lights.
David
Yes, you need to remap the functions. If you don’t have it, get the Digitrax decoder manual from their web site. It lists all the function CVs and what they do. FOr the headlight to be always on no matter which direction, dim when F4 is pressed, you want to set CV49 to 40, and to make F1 control the yellow wire, always on no matter which direction, you want to set CV50 to 32 and CV35 to 2. If that doesn’t quite work for the headlight, you might have to set CV49 to 104 but that will make the headlight dim when you move in reverse OR press F4.
–Randy