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Remapping a headlight: Is it this simple?

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Remapping a headlight: Is it this simple?
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 8:18 AM

What I want to do is to remap my front LED headlight so that it operates off of AUX1 of my decoder.  I have it wired to the green and blue wires.

Am I correct that all I need to do is to change CV35 from "4" [default] to "1", which is the default of CV33 for the white wire?  Will it then work when I press F0 or the light button on my throttle?  Or, do I have to use a different function button for that?

I'm using the DCC Concepts remapping diagram near the bottom of this page.  I'll also need to add a 1K resistor to the LED because there isn't one on the decoder.

Thanks for the help...

Tom

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Posted by gandydancer19 on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 8:46 AM

If your decoder is not a DCC Concepts decoder, then maybe not.  Each decoder can be different in small ways.  I know that the NMRA has set standards for some CV's, like the main ones, but not for others, and that may be the case with the Aux functions.  Sometimes there may be other factors involved as well.  The best way that I have found to do re-mapping etc is by using JMRI Decoder Pro. and a computer connected to your DCC system.

Elmer.

The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.

(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.

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Posted by cacole on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 9:37 AM

Some brands of decoders don't support function remapping, so you need to consult your particular manufacturer's documentation for the specific decoder you are using.

You could also "try it and see" if it works.  No harm will be done to the decoder if it doesn't support function remapping.

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:06 AM

What brand and model decoder is it?

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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:08 AM

A Loksound Select.

Tom

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 11:24 AM

tstage

A Loksound Select.

Tom

 
I saw your post on the Loksound forum.  You need to use the mapping function charts on the Loksound on-line instructions for the Select decoder found here: http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/instruction-manuals/digital-decoders/
 
Just been all through this remapping stuff with a friend's decoder.  There is another CV that you have to set to a value, CV 32 to value of 2.  Print out the chart pages full size.  There are charts for diesel and charts for steam.  Note that the two diesel charts butt up against each other, and the steam charts do likewise.
 
If I recall, a couple of the function buttons are already pre-programmed for the function aux outputs.  It talks about that somewhere early in the instructions.  If you don't find that, let me know.
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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 11:53 AM

I know exactly what you're talking about, maxman.  I glanced over that very section of the Select manual last night before heading off to bed.

It just seemed overly complicated and not as clear-cut.  I was tired when I looked at it and knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to start anything without some needed sleep first.  I'll look at it again tonight when I get home.  Thanks.

Tom

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Posted by Mark R. on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 12:50 PM

AUX 1 is by default on F6. If you want F0 to control AUX1, first program CV32 to 2, then change CV266 to 4.

 

Mark.

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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 1:04 PM

Mark,

So it appears you got that from the first line of Fig. 13 on pg. 24 of the Select manual.  That looks straightforward enough.  I'll try that tonight when I get home.

Thanks, Mark. Big Smile

Tom

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Posted by Mark R. on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 1:32 PM

That's right where it's from Tom. Just use the vertical column to select the function you want to remap, then use the horizontal line across the top to select what you want that function to do and enter that value where the columns intersect.

Remember to set CV32 to 2 before you make any of the function remapping changes.

Mark.

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 3:02 PM

Tom:  There's one other thing that you might want to remember if you're going to get into this re-mapping stuff.  In your case CV 266 can have values of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32.  But suppose for some reason you wanted to put the dynamic brake function on F0 forward.  Looking at the chart you'd see that you would have to assign a value of 4 to CV 268.  You would have to go back to CV 266 and give it a value of zero.  If you don't do this, I think you'd get the headlight and the dynamic brake sound coming on at the same time.

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