NS GP38-2 Ditch Light Issue (Athearn Genesis)

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hello All,

I have an Athearn Genesis Norfolk Southern GP38-2; Road #5057; Model #G40627 w/ Tsunami Digital Sound Decoder. Everything is working find except on little detail:

DITCH LIGHTS

  1. When starting the locomotive and turning on the headlights, the ditch lights come on simultaneously with the headlights. NOTE: This is in the FORWARD direction. When sounding the horn, nothing happens, nor with the bell activated. Also, I notice the F5 function key has to be on for it to work, but it doesn’t do anything since the ditch lights are remaining steady burning.

  2. When placing the locomotive into REVERSE direction, the ditch lights do not come on until you select F5. After selecting F5, the ditch lights come on and when you sound the horn, they begin to alternate. In other words, it acts appropriately.

So basically it seems that the locomotive ditch lights work correctly in the REVERSE direction but not in the FORWARD direction. Could this be a wiring issue or could this be a simple CV fix? I am leaning towards the first question in that it is just wired wrong in the front. If it is wired wrong in the front, could this be something I could do, I am comfortable with wiring and soldering. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
&n

2

NS locos are set up long hood forward. Before we continue trying to help you, what are you referring to forward, the long or short hood?

3

Ricky,

[#welcome] To The Forums.

DAVID, is correct, NS run long hood forward, there should be horns at both ends and a bell at the end of the long hood which is the front. Is that a high nose version?

Frank

4

Hey David,

Thank you for your response. Here in NC, they run eiher end forward. That is not my problem. My issue is the “long hood” end work wonderful. The headlights come on (in my case in the reverse direction) when I turn on the lights. The ditchlights will only come on when I press my F5 key for the Light FX. They shine steady until I sound the horn to which they start to alternate. Perfect! However, the other end (in my case the short hood end; this is a high hood model) when i place it into forward (once again, in my case) the headlights and ditch lights come on together even with the Light FX NOT ACTIVATED. Pressing the F5 key doesn’t do anything for this direction. That is why I think there is some sort of wiring issue or CV issue. I will include a link to a very well done video on You Tube to show those puppies alternate regardless of what end is first [:D]!!

http://youtu.be/3p5E2FwnTmc

Thanks Again,

Ricky

5

Go to the SoundTraxx web site and download their Diesel Technical Reference which lists all the CVs supported by their decoders. In it you can find all the possible CV settings for the lighting effects.

6

The tsunami only has 4 light outputs. Because your NS unit runs long hood forward, Athearn opted to use 3 of the outputs on the long hood, leaving only 1 for the short. If you want the other ditchlights to flash, you will need to piggyback with a function decoder…if there is room.

7

My NS SD80 has ditch lights at the short hood end only.They turn “on” with F5 and blink with horn.Decoder is Tsunami TSU KT1000 (Kato).

Tsunami settings for ditch lights:with incandescet bulbs…CV51=41 and CV52=57.Add 128 to both values for LED’s.

However,though not likely,it is possible that it doesn’t work on Athearn’s original Tsunamis…they are short legged Tsunamis

8

The 4 functions limit what you can do. On the long hood, each ditchlight is a separate function. The headlight makes 3 and the headlight on the short hood makes 4. On the short hood, the ditchlights are wired onto the headlight function, and both ditchlights and the headlight come on as one.