Tsunami 2 into a Non sound Genesis 2.0

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hello,

Has anyone here put an aftermarket Tsunami 2 decoder into a non sound Genesis 2.0 yet? I am putting one into a new 9-44CW. after programming all the sound CV.s it dawned on me the lighting CV’s and functions are different. Also the wiring with the way Athearn uses pads to separate the body’s is also confusing. It’s hard to tell where the ditch lights, walkway lights and number Board lights are attached.
Mine is a UP unit so I would normally just hook up the ditch lights to the rear and front headlights. But there has to be a more efficient way. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
i have emailed Athearn about the problem but I would like to get it off my bench working. I am using a NCE power cab at my bench.

As it is programmed

F5 controls the ditchlights

F6 controls the number boards

it seems the walkway lights and the Ground lights are on all time.
thanks,

SB

2

Athearn has a Quick Start Guide that you can download that has the functions that the sound versions are set to. You can start there along with the Soundtraxx Tsunami 2 documentation. Tsunami 2 has indexed CVs so if you are not familiar with programming indexed CVs read up first.

3

Yes, the lighting circuits need programming. I have not sucessfully done it by reading the manual, but, I have little patience for reading DCC manuals, so you might have better luck.

Some things that I have learned or suspected that may be helpful:

Are you using the 21 pin plug T2 into a Genesis DCC Ready mother board (remove the DC plug and replace with a T2)?

Or did you hard wire a PC motherboard version of the T2 by replacing the entire DCC ready motherboard, DC plug and all?

If its the former, I think the Genesis motherboard handles the lighting circuits when you plug in the aftermarket 21 pin T2. Simple, but maybe not so much if there are now more circuits for ground lights, etc, with the newer Genesis locos.

The hardwired version requires more programming, as you may have found out, because Soundtraxx does not set up the aftermarket T2 specifically for Athearn locos.

Also, beware, I don’t think the after market T2 hard wired version is set up for LEDs, it will blow them out if you do not program it for LED lighting first. I would think in 2022 Soundtraxx would have the default programming as LEDs, and incandescent user would have to program for their use. Not the case, last time I tried. [:(]

Don’t want to replace a little ground light…better make sure your T2 is programmed for LEDs before you test it on the loco.

I have put Genesis T2 decoders into Genesis DCC ready locos, a swap out, so the programming is already done. For ditchlights, one wire from each ditchlight to the headlight pad, and one wire to the function tab, usually the front pair being programmed for F5.

Again, walkway lights and numberboard lights are new things for new Genesis locos. Not sure if any of this answers your specific questions.

4

Thanks for the advice Douglas. Yes I am plugging the 21 pin GE Tsunami 2 into the Genesis 2 motherboard. I have done many of the older Genesis locos this way with the Economi decoders. I think the major issue might be with the Function controls. My other UP Dash Nine came with factory sound. My dealer was out of the other road number so I bought non sound for it. The onboard sound CV’s are as follows-

CV51 FX3 is set to 147, 128 LED Compensation+19 on off brightness 1??

CV52 FX4 is set to 148, 128 LED Comp+ 20 on off brightness 2??

CV55 FX7 is set to 128 LED Compensation?

CV56 FX8 is set to 128 LED Compensation?

Those seem like high numbers for lighting functions but for all you add 128 for LED compensation mode.

The aftermarket Tsunami 2 uses

F24-FX3, F25-FX4, F26-FX5 and F27-FX6

May be the sound version uses FX3 and 4 for the ditchlights and FX7 for the number boards and FX8 for the walkway and ground lights?

SB

5

Yeah, I can’t help you map the lighting functions, especially with the added lights for numberboards and ground lights.

You would think that websites such as Athearn would collaberate with their sound decoder supplier to offer quick bullett point instructions for getting the aftermarket T2 sound decoder to work like one of their onboard sound T2s when plugged into their DCC Ready motherboards.

I know things change from time to time, but put a date stamp on the instructions.

If you have to read the Soundtraxx manual like you’re going to install it into an anybrand 1980’s converted loco, or any other loco not named Athearn, its disappointingly overly complicated.

6

I did hear back from Athearn and no luck. Not sure they understood what I was asking. Yes a basic wiring diagram for how the extra lighting functions are wired to which tabs on the motherboard is all I need, and anyone else putting a decoder into a non sound Genesis 2.0 with the separate wiring the body and chassis these 2.0’s have. Or at least simple instructions like FX3 Right Ditch Light, FX4 Left Ditch light etc.

I did not even mention how messed up my sound version came back from them just to get one of the number board LED’s replaced. It had a missing fuel tank brace, broken fuel tank vent that was reglued, the front uncoupler bracket broken, missing a mirror-wind brace and the plow was glued on. Never again. Also not messing with Genesis 2.0 again.

Guess Ill start taking it apart.

SB

7

Sorry to hear. Your problem sounds like a normal task for anybody who wants to install a T2 into a DCC Ready ATHG 2.0. Why there are no simple step by step instructions already written is past my common sense understanding.

You would think that ATH could write simple instructions for installing the three common sound decoders into their DCC Ready locos and program/map for lighting. T2, Lok, and TCS.

I don’t have any Genesis 2.0s…yet.

Rant:

As for onboard sound purchases.

I like ditchlights and beacons on the Genesis line. My approach is to buy new from the retailer. If there is anything…anything… wrong with the lighting…one ditch light bulb not installed straight…back to the retailer it goes for a full refund. Its not defective, that goes to back to ATH. But not a perfect install, or a motor/gear growl, I’m “just not happy” with it.

I’ve gotten to the point where I can reinstall some ditchlights…the deck mounted type but not the pilot mounted bulbs…rework some badl

8

Dougleas,

I heard back from Soundtraxx with the answers at least for the 2.0 9-40cw. FX3 is configured to be on all the time thusly for the Walkway/Ground Lights, FX4 is for the Number Boards and FX7 and 8 are the Ditch Lights. Another reason I like Soundtraxx for everything. Not only are they close in one of my favorite places to Mountain Bike, Durango CO, they are also very responsive and friendly folks.

My other hobby is scale modeling and I had a hard time deciding to send it back to Horizon as I knew it would not come back as pristine as I had it. I also would have sent it back but the dealer did not have anymore UP. In fact I will most likely scratch build a new tank bracket instead of dealing with Athearn parts. But the new wiring pads kind of had me stumped. I now know I will sit and take it apart and rewire if needed to figure future 2.0’s out.

SB

9

If you don’t have it, I would suggest setting up Decoder Pro on your computer. Function mapping using Decoder Pro is much easier than doing it one CV at a time. Since you’re installing a 21-pin decoder into a 21-pin receptacle (if I understand the situation correctly) it’s quite likely that you do not need to re-wire anything, just adjust the decoder re which function button controls which light.

10

Well, you can educate me then. Is the ATH DCC board expecting the lights to be coming from the same FXs you program in the decoder.

Once you execute the, say, F7 command, the decoder will send the signal to the correct F7 pad…no worries…or is the light board directing the signal to a different pad?

I only say this because I have placed the same decoders into different DCC boards and the lights do not function the same way. The decoder is programmed one way, obviously its the same decoder, but the lights do not work the same way in two different DCC boards.

But maybe I missed something along the way.

11

Dougles,

I went up last night and took a closer look at the chassis pad and board. Since the decoder is where the programming of the lighting functions takes place, one only needs to make sure you are programming the right LEDS or bulbs attached to the right pad.

For instance if you have the wires from the Number Board LED or bulbs running to the F3 pad on the Athearn board, then you would program CV51 in your decoder to operate it. As, at least with Athearn boards, F3 represents FX3. Depending on the make of the decoder and its limitations as to what numbers you put in will decide wha the light does.

However I have found with other Loco makers sometimes their boards don’t add up. I put a non sound decoder into a Fox Valley Santa Fe GP60, when I test ran it on DC, which one should always do before adding a decoder, the beacon came on fine. Well I could never program the pad that the beacon wire ran to on DCC to work. It turns out no one else could either. Interestingly Fox Valley used Bowser specced light boards in those. So it probably had something to do with mislabelled pads or wired boards. On that one I probably will eventually replace the whole board with a Soundtraxx ECO-PNP and go sound.

I did in taking the bolt out of the chassis pad and looking at it last night found I probably will in the AM still have to do some guessing on where some of those wires go. As there is no clear cut way to follow the LEDS. I most likely will use deduction and program them all to be on, then using my controller turn them off one at a time. On the Tsunami 2 decoder F24-28 controls those pads.

SB

12

Well, I discovered why my light functions would not work. My programming of the light functions were right the whole time.

Lesson 1 on the new 2.0 Genesis. When installing a decoder into a non sound one, put the screws back in the chassis to the body.

Just setting the body back on the chassis to test it will not allow the contact pads in the body to make a connection with the pad on the motherboard. Lights do not work without electricity.

Sometimes we miss the obvious.

SB

13

Wow, who woulda thought?

Rich

14

Hello,

This is my first post here. I sympathize with the OP. I am glad he was able to find help and encouragement here and eventually solve his problem.

DIY DCC is kind of a week spot in my experience, so I defer to having a pro shop do my installs (that’s just me, not a recommendation to the OP). Regardless, I try and be of some help (without getting in the way). I have an older Genesis F7A/B that was introduced in 2002 (according to the Athearn website). It’s due to be worked on in a few weeks. As I noticed that the Athearn docs (parts diagram & instructions) were not dated nor did they change over the years (through the MRC period) I thought if I sent a screen shot and model number to Athearn, they would provide some useful information on the frame for a certain speaker install. This is what I got back:

“We have no record of ATHG2609 in our database.

Our team is versed in what has been released since 2016.”

Regards,

Athearn/Horizon Hobby
Customer Support

I forwarded this to one of the vendors I work with. His reponse below:

“…I’ve learned that Athearn roughly knows what they’re doing now and that’s about the extent of it. They’ve changed ownership and staff so many times the past two decades it’s never the same company any given year…”