I finished installing six disk magnets on the driver #3 of my BLI UP 4-12-2 to get around BLI’s inability to generate a synchronized six-chuff with their flywheel pickup. I planned to use a Hall Effect sensor, but a reed switch worked much better.
Of course, because the Paragon 2 in this engine was set up to divide the input count by three, I get two chuffs per driver revolution, so I must either change decoders, or find out if the Paragon can be changed to eliminate the divide function and correspond with a chuff per each input. Does anyone know if an undocumented CV change, of if a point on the board to connect to after the divider could solve this problem?
Hal
There would be no external xguff cam with that decoder. You will have to consider another one…how about WOW?
I called BLI to ask if the divide-by-three circuit could be bypassed, but it had to be referred to another tech, so am waiting. The only thing I know yet is that the divide circuit is set as part of the firmware. In two cylinder engines with the usual gear ratio of 24:1, it is divide-by-six.
WOW would also be my choice, and I have some on hand, so am prepared for a negative answer.
Hal
Disreguard this, I was thinking of Baldwin #60000 with the 90-135-135
The answer from BLI was negative, no way to get 1:1 pulse/chuff. But I also got out my scope and went all over the decoder board with no success.
The Wow transplant into the 4-12-2 went well. I was able to set up the lighting with the same Rule 17 dimming, but I put the cab light and red light on separate throttle functions.
Regarding sound, I found a recording on Amazon to use as a model for the 3-3 chuff. The Wow whistle called “reconstructed ATSF 6 chime” sounds very much like the recording, so am using it.
The chuff is reliable with a red washer added to the axle to limit sideplay. It wasn’t necessary, but I decided to take the smoke generator out since I never use one.
Hal