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Soundtraxx TSU-750 Steam Firebox Flicker Problem

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  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Soundtraxx TSU-750 Steam Firebox Flicker Problem
Posted by gatrhumpy on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 7:53 PM

I installed a Soundtraxx TSU-750 DCC decoder in my N scale 4-6-2 Pacific. I wanted to hook up the firebox flicker LED light. The problem is, according to their website and the following manual on page 22, Figure 16, that I should connect the negative LED lead to the brown wire and the positive LED lead to the blue wire. I get that the blue wire is the common light wire. The problem is that the capacitor that came with the decoder is hooked up to the blue wire and what looks like a green wire with a yellow strip.

 

http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/tsuinstallation.pdf

 

The LED works, but it's always on, and I can't get it to shut off, flicker, nothing. Even when I press the F5 function key for the firebox flicker and turn on the headlight, whistle, whatever, nothing works and the LED stays on. How can I get this to flicker?

I set CV 51 to 13 (for firebox flicker for crossing logic off) + 128 (for LED compensation) = 141. That does not change anything.

How the heck can I get this thing to flicker?

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 10:54 PM

The TSU-750 only has two lighting functions. One for the white wire and one for the yellow wire.

The brown wire is for the chuff cam. 

If you are not using the yellow for a back up light you could use the yellow for your flicker.

When you use the blue wire you must make two connections, one to the capacitor and a second to the lights or LED's. 

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Posted by gatrhumpy on Thursday, March 29, 2012 4:50 AM

I wish they would make that distinction on Figure 16! The installation manual is a very poorly-written manual.

Thanks for your help Woodone. I will disconnect the brown wire when I get home and hook it up to the yellow wire. Would CV 51 still apply even though the yellow wire is for the backup light? In other words, would it still flicker?

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Posted by gatrhumpy on Thursday, March 29, 2012 5:20 AM

OK, I got the thing to flicker, but it only works in reverse. I have to try to figure out how to set the CV 50 for it to be on all the time.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Posted by gatrhumpy on Thursday, March 29, 2012 5:24 AM

How do I get CV 50 backup light to be on all the time, even in forward? I cannot find how to easily do that in the manual.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 29, 2012 6:52 AM

Looks like you need CV34 set to 16 to make it operate on F5 instead of F0R.

          --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Posted by gatrhumpy on Thursday, March 29, 2012 7:11 AM

Sweet! So does that still mean that I can turn on this feature even when the Pacific is moving forward?

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 29, 2012 7:43 AM

 Yes, that remaps the function output to be controlled by F5 instead of F0R.

                 --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Posted by gatrhumpy on Thursday, March 29, 2012 7:48 AM

Sweet. I can't wait to try this when I get home. If this works, I'll post a video and let everyone know YOU helped me do this!  Thanks!

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Posted by gatrhumpy on Thursday, March 29, 2012 6:50 PM

I used an oversize LED, and it works, but before I post a video I want to get a smaller LED.

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