I have one of these SD40-2 Mid. and for a regular non-sound decoder,you have nothing special to do.Just plug the eight pin connector,program the new adress and both decoders will respond to it.Ditck lights come on with the headlights and F1 has them blinking.I've used mine with a TCS DP2X decoder for a while and it's that simple.
However,if you want to use a multiple function decoder,you may have a conflict as F1 is already used by the Kato board.
The 'built-in' decoder only controls things like the lights lights. Your NCE decoder should work just fine. I have Digitrax SDH164D decoders in my Kato mid-production SD40-2 engines and they work just fine. The function outputs on your decoder goes 'nowhere' - the Kato light board decoder that your NCE decoder plugs into controls the lights. When you program the DCC address, both decoders get the address.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
having reread the manual, I noticed that the ditch lights go on and off with the headlights (F0). Is there a way to change one of them to another function (F2 for instance)? I am using an nce power cab.
I have tried this too.Theoretically,the ditch lights can be re-mapped as far as F3 but is in no way practical as both F2 & F3 are "hold in" functions...function is off when you release the knob.But this is with my DT400,may be it's different with NCE.
I have double checked the keys for function 2 and 3 and they are both "sticky" keys or push-on push-off keys. The only problem is I don't know how to re-map keys on my power cab. Does any one know how to do this? I am reading over the manual know trying to find.
Ok I found the page about re mapping but It's really confusing seeing as I'm new to dcc.
If I get you right,you'd like to have the ditch lights functioning independently of the headlights...right?
If so,I think it can be done...well...may be.The Kato board is a hybrid decoder designed to work in both DC and DCC and the engineers didn't have this option in mind.It was designed with some automatic features since DC operators don't have any functions available.
So...my theory...being experimental...you'll need to program the Kato board alone first by re-plugging the DC jumper back in so that your NCE decoder isn't changed.The decoder still can be reset if it doesn't work.
Program CV33=0...the ditch lights shouldn't turn on with the headlight any more.If we'd left the NCE decoder plugged,it would turn the headlights off altogether.
Then program CV35=1...this should control your ditch lights on/off with F1
Then CV36=4...should have your ditch lights blink with F2
Then try if it works this way...if it does,re-install your decoder and try again then let me know.Don't worry,it can only not work so a reset would fix them back.You can't damage the decoder..
Sounds simple enough and if I need to recover the decoder to it's original settings, will it respond to the nce power cab recovery programming or will I have to program a certain value in cv8? If cv8, what is it's value?
I can't say for the NCE system's features but the Kato board should reset with CV8=8.
I thought I might take the nce decoder out today to program the kato decoder. I was rereading the posts and was wondering, the dc plug allows the locomotive to move on dc because it reroutes the power from the track to the various functions, right? But wouldn't that ruin the motor because if I recall correctly from another post, you can't run a dc locomotive on dcc unless it's got that function on the command station. Besides, the kato board/decoder should be taking power before the plug because there are no pins for it. 2 pins for headlights, 1 pin light common, 2 pins motor and 2 pins track power. That leaves 1 pin blank, like the standard. So couldn't the decoder be programmed without the plug, hence leaving the motor isolated from power?
Do not consist the decoders! That's probably why it's not working, you have to enable functions on in consist with CV21 and CV22 for that stuff to work.
Does it at least move on the desired address with the motor decoder installed? If so, take it out, and set CV8=8 to reset the Kato light decoder. Then set the address of it to match the address of the motor decoder. That's all you should need to do.
You do not need to remap functions, F1 will flash the ditch lights (and turn on F1 on the NCE motor decoder - but since it's not connected to anything, nothing will happen).
Do not use the PowerCab Decoder reset menu item on anything but an NCE decoder.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I haven't consisted the decoders. I was merely trying to remap the functions of the ditch lights. They work as is but seeing as there are no other functions, I thought it would give me variety.
As well, I tried to change the address on the decoders, but it would only change the nce decoder.