I recently installed this sound decoder in a Kato F-40PH which I added two white roof top strobes, 1.5v grain of rice bulbs. They looked great when I had them programmed to double pulse strobe with the former TCS A6X that I had in this engine.
So I decided to go for some cheap sound and picked up a Digitrax SDH164K1C which installs pretty straightforward. Now I want to wire up those two strobes and I'm a bit confounded by the JST harness wire outputs. I don't see a blue + common for lights.
Looking at the connector I have (LtoR) ten wires.
BLK; WHT; GRY; BLK; BLU; GRN; YEL; ORN; RED; TAN The 1 black and 5 blue go to the cap. the 3 gray and 8 orange to the speaker. Which pair would I use to feed lighting effects? Or is there a solder pad on the board for lighting functions?
I have had no luck at the Digitrax site and the decoder manual does not show the output assignments for the JST harness. I hope I explained things in a clear manner...
Would any of you fine folks have any suggestions for me?
Thanks
The other coloured wires don't do anything. They simply happen to be on the harness. The point of the harness is to provide flexibility with positioning the speaker and the capacitor.
Well, 2 more on the harness are for a chuff cam for steam.
It's nice they got rid of the silly FNK01 function add-on, which was neede even for just the headlights to work anyway, but it's not just integrated in the previous plug-in position, so the extra functions are not documented. On the old board, once you added the FNK01 function part, the extras were solder tabs on the end of the FNK01 board. However this new decoder does not have that, it has the remains of what was the plug for the FNK01 on the end and that's it.
I'm wondering if, despite the name, it really DOES have the extra functions betond the front and rear lights. A call to tech support is needed here.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks for trying to help, guys.
I'll certainly have to get a hold of Digitrax. Somebody there should be able to help me out! I think the chuff sensor would be the black & white wires which, of course, I don't need but there should be a way to identify those solder pads on the board. Digitrax has very little documentation for this decoder. IIRC there was a METRA version of this engine with lighting effects (Gyra or rotating beacon?) installed.
I'll let you know if I learn anything... Thanks again!
I'm not in any way expert on those decoders. However, the instructions for the Digitrax SDH164K1C decoder ( http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/sound-decoders/sdh164k1c/documents/SDH164K1C.pdf page 10 ) indicate that information on setting up FX and FX3 effects on function outputs can be found in the Digitrax decoder manual. That manual is found here: http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/cms/media/documents/documentation/decodermanual.pdf. Table 4 on page 40 has information as to CVs, function numbers, and the associated decoder wire colors.
Might this information be helpful to you?
Hi, Maxman
I have been through the instruction sheet which was packaged with the decoder. It explains installation and programming but other than mounting the speaker and capacitor it makes no mention of the other wires on that harness. The decoder manual was updated in 2010 but is pretty much a generic mobile decoder manual with no real specifics about individual decoders. I'm not even sure it mentions sound at all.
The decoder wire colors mentioned there are the standard NMRA wire colors we're all familiar with. These on the JST harness are unique.
I do appreciate your input and I'll go back through the manual you sent the link for... maybe I missed something?
When I looked at the table on page 40 it appeared to me that they address all the unused wires that come out of that JST connector. If the wire colors don't match those on page 40, then that is another issue, but the instructions that seem to apply to the decoder seem to reference the manual as to how to get the functions to work.
And the instructions that I found on line seem to show an installation similar to yours, and they do talk about sound.
Anyway, I just thought I'd pass along the info.
Good luck.
Many of the JST-equipped Digitrax sound decoders have TWO JST connectors - one standard one with ordinary NMRA color codes where you'll find track connections, motor connections, function common, and 4 of the function outputs. The OTHER JST connector is the attachment point for the speaker, capacitor, and chuff cam. The decoder in question is a board replacement style for Kato and as such does not have the first JST connector, ir has tabs in the approriate places to connect to the factory wiring. That takes care of the front and rear lights, but none of the instructions list where the attachment points are for the other 4 functions it's supposed ot have. For whatever reason, the older version of this decoder had the function control an a seperate daughterboard which attached to the main decoder. For that one, they clearly indicated the solder tabs for the additional functions. Either they've left out that information by mistake, or this new version breaks with what has always been Digitrax's naming convention and only has 2 functions.
Hmmm ... seems I need to change my source of tech support at Digitrax. I emailed them (dave@digitrax.com) specifically on Monday night since no one had replied to your email. The response I got was that none of those wires are actually used. It seemed odd to me, but as I don't use that decoder I simply posted the response to help you out.
If the information is wrong then I'm really sorry. I'll email them again to confirm.
The_Ghan Hmmm ... seems I need to change my source of tech support at Digitrax. I emailed them (dave@digitrax.com) specifically on Monday night since no one had replied to your email. The response I got was that none of those wires are actually used. It seemed odd to me, but as I don't use that decoder I simply posted the response to help you out. If the information is wrong then I'm really sorry. I'll email them again to confirm.
I used the email function on the Digitrax web site over a week ago and never received a response on a different issue than the OP's question.
At Randy's urging, I called this week and got a call back from Nate in Tech Support after I left a message on their voice mail. Nate was extremely helpful in talking through my issue.
So, definitely call Tech Support at Digitrax.
Their general phone number is 850-872-9890 and ask for Tech Support. Leave a message if you wind up in their voice mail. Someone will return your call,
Rich
Alton Junction
rrinker Many of the JST-equipped Digitrax sound decoders have TWO JST connectors - one standard one with ordinary NMRA color codes where you'll find track connections, motor connections, function common, and 4 of the function outputs. The OTHER JST connector is the attachment point for the speaker, capacitor, and chuff cam. The decoder in question is a board replacement style for Kato and as such does not have the first JST connector, ir has tabs in the approriate places to connect to the factory wiring. That takes care of the front and rear lights, but none of the instructions list where the attachment points are for the other 4 functions it's supposed ot have. For whatever reason, the older version of this decoder had the function control an a seperate daughterboard which attached to the main decoder. For that one, they clearly indicated the solder tabs for the additional functions. Either they've left out that information by mistake, or this new version breaks with what has always been Digitrax's naming convention and only has 2 functions.
Okay, I guess I'm confused with all this. As I understand it the decoder in question is a SDH164K1C. When I looked up the instructions for this, I got http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/sound-decoders/sdh164k1c/documents/SDH164K1C.pdf, which says that it is a plug and play for a Kato F40PH, light board replacement decoder for motor lights and sound.
It also says:
Digitrax FX 3 Functions-
Control lights and functions for prototypical lighting
effects and on/off control.
Then it refers to the Digitrax decoder manual for information as to how to set up the lighting effects, where on page 40 there is a table showing the functions, CVs, and the wire colors out of that JST thing.
Are we now saying that the instructions that come with the decoder are incorrect, and don't represent the product inside?
I looked again at the instruction sheet and it just doesn't have any information for lighting effects. I know I would have to do some function remapping OR perhaps I could have the strobe lights ON when the F1 bell is on. The decoder manual pg. 40 lists a wh/yel; wh/grn; wh/blu wire which isn't on the 164K1.
From the mobile decoder manual:
To set up two alternating double pulse strobes on the green and violet function
outputs controlled by turning on both F1and F2, program CV51 to a CV value
of 037/x25 and program CV52 to a CV value of 053/x35. This is an example of
using the alternate effects phases A & B.
OK, I just need to find out where the green and violet "pads" or wires (if they are indeed on that JST harness) and I'll need to find the blue lighting+ pad.
Digitrax just doesn't seem to have the pads on this board documented anywhere. On some decoders the access points are printed right on the pc board.
Rich, I will call Digitrax on Monday. Thanks for the number.
Thanks again everyone!
This is pretty much how Digitrax has always done it. Since all their decoders use the same firmware, all the CV settings are the same. The onl;y real difference between decoders is their size and how to physically install them in a loco, so the instructions shipped with the decoder generally only cover that. The seperate decoder manual (which is free to download, and also somes with all their systems) has all the details on CV programming
Thee is clearly a mistake of some sort in this decoder's manual. Either they left out a critical part which shows where to attach wires for the 4 additional functions, or they made a more serious error in retaining the name which indicates 6 total functions (and leaving that paragrphi in the description on the instruction sheet). If you compare the instruction sheet to that of the previous version of this decoder, you'll note that it is pretty much identical other than a different photo, a section showing where the extra functions attach to the (optional) FNK04 board, and that is sats 6 FX3 functions (with FNK04).
The thing is, the pads on the board appear to be there on the old version as well, and they are NOT the function attachments, more likely test points. So the mystery is simply, where are the other 4 function connections.
Here's our answer!
I emailed Digitrax at 2PM today and got a reply within two hours! Way to go Digitrax!
> I have a SDH164K1C and I want to wire lighting effects, a pair of roof top strobe lights.> Where on this board do I access the light function outputs and the blue+ lighting common?> This board has a JST connector with 10 wires on it. 2 for speaker, 2 for capacitor, I assume 2 for chuff sensor if used. What are the other wires for?> Thanks
Their reply:
There are four small solder pads on the front corners of the decoder. They are the F1 and F1+ on the left side of the LED and F2 and F2+ on the right side of the LED. F1 and F2 are the two corner pads (one at each corner). There are no other function outputs on that decoder. You can map F1 and F2 to F3 and F4 since F1 is the bell and F2 is the horn. To map F1 to F3 you would give CV37 a value of 004 and To map F2 to F4 you give CV38 a value of 001. That should work. See mapping/function remapping in the Digitrax Mobile Decoder Manual.
Time to get busy with the soldering Iron...
Thanks again to everyone who replied!
gmpullman: to be fair to Digitrax, I only asked them what the spare wires were assigned to. The answer I received was "nothing", which correlates with with "There are no other function outputs on that decoder" advice that you received.
rich: I can't just pick up the phone to Digitrax because I'm located in Sydney, Australia. Time zones just don't make it practical. Good advice for those of you located in the US though ...
Hello,
I've got the same situation going on with this digitrax board and can really use some clarification before I begin.
I have all the LEDs mounted in each position in the Kato F40ph and know they all work.
I want to accomplish with the functions:
Alternating Ditch lights: ( solder to F1 and F2 tabs)
Beacon light: (Do i solder to F1+ tab?)
Gyralight: (Do I solder to F2+ tab?)
The other lighting functions ( Headlight LED, Reverse Red and White LED's) should still function in the original programing manor correct?
Last question, I am using micro chip LED's and will I need to install resistors, if so which would be recommended?
Thank for for the help!
Aaron
Chicago