-Morgan
I don't mean to sound indifferent here, but you are asking a very broad question that requires several very specific answers. To get started:
First; read the instructions that came with the decoder.
Second; go to the decoder manufacturers web site and down load the rest of the instructions for the decoder that you have.
Third; do a search for decoder installations on this site, and on the Internet.
Once you have done all of that, come back and ask specific questions that you need specific answers to.
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.
gandydancer19 wrote: I don't mean to sound indifferent here, but you are asking a very broad question that requires several very specific answers. To get started:First; read the instructions that came with the decoder.Second; go to the decoder manufacturers web site and down load the rest of the instructions for the decoder that you have.Third; do a search for decoder installations on this site, and on the Internet.Once you have done all of that, come back and ask specific questions that you need specific answers to.
1: Decoder info is rather broad. And missing.
2:It would be nice if NCE said which decoder it was. I looked. Couldn't find it. Tried that. ALl I can find is that it's a "custom decoder"
3: So far, all I can get for Trackmobile is that people have done it. Not a really helpful hint. I want to make sure that I don;t assume something is a plug to attach too when it;s something far different.
I was successful in adding lights to my trackmobile: CRAPPY VIDEO ALERT!!! Now before you go and ask about the decoder, I'll tell you now that I didn't use the FDT NCE decoder since I had purchased a DC version of the trackmobile. I had to install a Digitrax DZ125 decoder to convert my trackmobile to DCC.
Doing some snooping around, the FDT installed NCE decoder looks a lot like this other NCE decoder. I don't know if you've asked FDT to give you the decoder specs, but if you haven't, you should try and asking them for a specific model number and maybe more detailed information other than what comes in the manual.
As far as the process of how to put the lights in, well it's an involved job and I'm not ready to divulge my process yet. I've been working on a "tutorial", but just like the weathering experts on this and other forums don't readily give you all their "secrets", I'm going to follow suit. I know, sounds crappy, but in time I'll show how I did it, besides, I'm kind of busy now with summer courses.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
If it's a "custom" decoder it probably doesn't have the necessary Function outputs that you would need, so you'll have to replace the decoder with a more capable one.
If you don't have any expertise with decoders, my advice would be to forget about trying to do it yourself.
jasperofzeal wrote: I was successful in adding lights to my trackmobile: CRAPPY VIDEO ALERT!!! Now before you go and ask about the decoder, I'll tell you now that I didn't use the FDT NCE decoder since I had purchased a DC version of the trackmobile. I had to install a Digitrax DZ125 decoder to convert my trackmobile to DCC.Doing some snooping around, the FDT installed NCE decoder looks a lot like this other NCE decoder. I don't know if you've asked FDT to give you the decoder specs, but if you haven't, you should try and asking them for a specific model number and maybe more detailed information other than what comes in the manual.As far as the process of how to put the lights in, well it's an involved job and I'm not ready to divulge my process yet. I've been working on a "tutorial", but just like the weathering experts on this and other forums don't readily give you all their "secrets", I'm going to follow suit. I know, sounds crappy, but in time I'll show how I did it, besides, I'm kind of busy now with summer courses.
We've worked with the 125, so We'll try that. I understand busy, I should be If I were doing this whole Summer Break thing right. I'll poke FDT for some more info. Thanks!
OK, so I now understand that you have a Trackmobile that HAS a decoder already installed. And apparently it does not have any lights connected. (The more information you provide in the original post will get you better replies of information.)
The blue wire is light common, and the white wire is for the front light, and the yellow wire is for the rear light. Is there another wire? If so, it may be for the beacon. If no extra wires are present, you may have to buy a 6 function decoder and replace the one already installed. Your new decoder should have the instructions, and of course you will have a part number. Install it and connect the wires per the drawing, and program the lights.
Black = one rail pickup (left?)
Red = other rail pickup (right?)
Orange = motor positive
Gray = motor negative
Bule = light common (positive)
White = headlight
Yellow = rear light
The above is standard wiring for a four function decoder. (Forward, reverse, headlight, rear light) Sounds like the manufacturer of the Trackmobile was doing it on the cheap.
Gandydancer19,
Although your the information of the decoder color standard is correct, what you don't know is that the trackmobile decoder doesn't have the wires needed for the lights. According to the instruction manual and information on the Factory Direct Trains website, the decoder that comes installed in the trackmobile is a "custom" decoder. If you were to open up the trackmobile and look at the wires, the decoder only has the red, black, orange, and grey wires. Look at this picture. The trackmobile has no headlights on it since the entire vehicle itself is very, very small.
So this is one of the problems that the OP is facing: where on the decoder would he solder white, blue and yellow wires in order to get the light fucntions that the "custom" decoder has. The instruction manual only tells you the specifics of the decoder as far as CV's and what light effects it has. What it doesn't say in the manual is that there are no wires connected to the decoder in order to gain access to such functions.
The other problem the OP has is figuring a way to wire the directional lights and wiring a beacon. This task is not an issue in regular sized HO locomotives, but the trackmobile is a lot smaller than your typical loco. I would say that it's smaller than a 44 tonner, I don't know if you're familiar with a 44 tonner or not though. Here is a picture of a trackmobile with some gondolas, you can probably gauge the size from this pic.
BTW, the pictures aren't mine, they come from here. They were originally found by Railphotog and were very helpful in my trackmobile lighting project.
jasperofzeal wrote: Gandydancer19,Although your the information of the decoder color standard is correct, what you don't know is that the trackmobile decoder doesn't have the wires needed for the lights. According to the instruction manual and information on the Factory Direct Trains website, the decoder that comes installed in the trackmobile is a "custom" decoder. If you were to open up the trackmobile and look at the wires, the decoder only has the red, black, orange, and grey wires. Look at this picture. The trackmobile has no headlights on it since the entire vehicle itself is very, very small.So this is one of the problems that the OP is facing: where on the decoder would he solder white, blue and yellow wires in order to get the light fucntions that the "custom" decoder has. The instruction manual only tells you the specifics of the decoder as far as CV's and what light effects it has. What it doesn't say in the manual is that there are no wires connected to the decoder in order to gain access to such functions.The other problem the OP has is figuring a way to wire the directional lights and wiring a beacon. This task is not an issue in regular sized HO locomotives, but the trackmobile is a lot smaller than your typical loco. I would say that it's smaller than a 44 tonner, I don't know if you're familiar with a 44 tonner or not though. Here is a picture of a trackmobile with some gondolas, you can probably gauge the size from this pic.BTW, the pictures aren't mine, they come from here. They were originally found by Railphotog and were very helpful in my trackmobile lighting project.
So I;m not losing it, the instructions do make it sound like it has the ability to support lights.
I have done DCC installs on N scale, and a GE 44 toner. I know how small the Trackmobile is, and it's going to be tight. However, I don't have a Trackmobile.
The OP was a little ambiguous with his question, IMHO. We shouldn't have to be pulling teeth to learn everything about what he has, and what he wants to do with it. SO:
1- Does the machine have lights or LED's installed?
2- Can you get to the wires for the Lights / LED's?
3- How many Lights / LED's does it have?
4- what do you want to do with the Lights / LED's?
5- How many wires does the decoder have, what colors are they, and where are they connected?
6- Who is the decoder manufacturer?
7- What do the instructions say?
Questions 5-7 have already been answered. (It only took two or three days to get this information!!!)
gandydancer19 wrote: I have done DCC installs on N scale, and a GE 44 toner. I know how small the Trackmobile is, and it's going to be tight. However, I don't have a Trackmobile.The OP was a little ambiguous with his question, IMHO. We shouldn't have to be pulling teeth to learn everything about what he has, and what he wants to do with it. SO:1- Does the machine have lights or LED's installed?2- Can you get to the wires for the Lights / LED's?3- How many Lights / LED's does it have?4- what do you want to do with the Lights / LED's?5- How many wires does the decoder have, what colors are they, and where are they connected?6- Who is the decoder manufacturer?7- What do the instructions say? Questions 5-7 have already been answered. (It only took two or three days to get this information!!!)
The original question was a bit vague, so I'll supply the required answers:
1- The machine has no lights or LED's factory installed
2- No wires since there are no lights/LED's installed
3- none
4- He wants to add directional lights/LED's and a beacon
5-7 we agree on the anwswers thus far.
I know what he wants, since I already did it, but he wants to do it with the supplied decoder. The problem using the factory installed decoder is that it doesn't have the necessary wires physically connected in order to get to use the light functions. That's why I suggested he contact FDT to get more information on this decoder and maybe a diagram explaining to him where he should solder the white, blue, and yellow wires. Once he gets the decoder ready, then he'll have some fun getting some lights installed.
Flashwave wrote: So I;m not losing it, the instructions do make it sound like it has the ability to support lights.
You're not losing it, the instructions do say the decoder has lights functionality and light effects.
Alright, now I see what is going on.
To add the wires to the existing decoder will require some really good soldering skills. It only takes a second or two to botch up the job and ruin the decoder. Depending on where they have to go, you may have to cut away the shrink wrap on the existing decoder.
To my way of thinking, a new cheap 6 function decoder would be best. The hard part is already done, and that is isolating the motor and finding the track contacts / wires. Those wires already exist. I would cut the existing decoder wires right at the existing decoder and trash it.
The next part is installing the lights. I would use LED's with 1k ohm resistors. (5k ohm if you are using yellow-glow LED's) If the Trackmobile has ditch lights, I would use fiber optics to light those. So in order to install the LED's / lights, you will need good modeling skills and good tools. You may have to disassemble the unit to get the LED's in place.
Once the Lights / LED's are installed with their resistors, put the new decoder in and connect all the wires to the proper points.
This is really going to be a tight job. If you haven't done anything like this before, you may want to consider getting someone to do it for you. Preferably someone who has already done a Trackmobile, which leaves me out.
The supplied NCE "custom" decoder in the TM does not have sufficient instructions and details to determine, with certainty, were to solder said wires to what pad. So he would be shooting in the dark on his limited experience.
What I am curious about is how jasperofzeal used a DZ125 2 function decoder to get directional AND 2 beacons. Hat's off to him. Surface mount LED, ouch !...
Actually, I went to NCE, but I can/will send the same question to FDT if I don't hear from them tomorrow.
Stupid question: do all the extra lights have any effect on the Trackmobile's switch dieing problem? I already adjusted the CVs per the MRR article, but since they're incandesants, makin sure. I must say too, I was surprised at the amount of channels perfect for running the extra wire under the main deck.
Gandy: Actually, I;m using 1.5 volt Incandesants produced by Miniatronics, because they already have the 5 miles of wire to work with and I couldn't find LEDs in the colros I wanted/needed. When they dies, I'll proably pull the lights out and re-attahc to LEDs. The Trackmobiles don;t have Dit6ch lights, just the car headlights. I want to wire them up to the tailignhst on the other end, so that they're corresponding. When I hit the direction, the other end headlights and front taillights come on instead. The beacon can stay on consistantly, based on the switchers I see around my home.
I've got it! I'm not seeing the other 4 solder points because they're covered up.
look at this pic If you squint, you may see 4 square black things, in the same style as the Prot 2000 E unit chip that pressed down on solder points. So, how do I get past the plastic sleeve, and which of the other four points do I need if we try to treat it like a standerd decoder?
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Unless FDT or NCE give you an answer you will be on your own with your OHM meter to figure this one out. That decoder does not have any resemblance to any decoder listed (manuals included) on the NCE web site. So shooting blind could blow the decoder.
You would need to put some power, read the decoder to see if you can change figure the CV's and see what gives. Then try and turn on functions and probe till you find a hit.
Good luck.
Simpler would be to start with another, documented, decoder.
Flashwave wrote: I've got it! I'm not seeing the other 4 solder points because they're covered up. look at this pic If you squint, you may see 4 square black things, in the same style as the Prot 2000 E unit chip that pressed down on solder points. So, how do I get past the plastic sleeve, and which of the other four points do I need if we try to treat it like a standerd decoder?
Just to correct you a bit, you're looking for 3 solder points, not 4. You're looking to solder a white, blue, and yellow wire to the decoder in order to get the light functions. To bypass the plastic sleeve, just cut it off and after you've soldered your wires, use heat shrink tubing to cover the decoder once again.
THE FOLLOWING IS JUST A THEORY AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. IF THIS THEORY IS USED FOR MORE THAN WHAT IT IS, THEN IT'S AT YOUR OWN RISK AND I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR UNDESIRED RESULTS TO/FROM YOUR DECODER.
Now with that said, I always found the "custom" decoder in the Trackmobile very similar to NCE's N scale N12SRP 2-Fucntion decoder. The main difference though is that the NCE N12SRP decoder has thick wires and a NMRA plug. The decoder installed in the Trackmobile has thinner wires but the electronics components seem to be layed out in the same manner. I provide this THEORY for discussion:
The yellow and white wires are obvious as to where they are soldered, they go at the corners. The blue wire is not too clear as to what component it's wired to. I'm not sure if it's to the IC that's under the wire or the yellow resistor (capacitor?) near the black IC I'm reffering to.
What do you all think?
UpNorth wrote: Unless FDT or NCE give you an answer you will be on your own with your OHM meter to figure this one out. That decoder does not have any resemblance to any decoder listed (manuals included) on the NCE web site. So shooting blind could blow the decoder.You would need to put some power, read the decoder to see if you can change figure the CV's and see what gives. Then try and turn on functions and probe till you find a hit. Good luck.Simpler would be to start with another, documented, decoder.
ANd as yet, they haven't. Then again, I'm only theorizing what the black nobs are. And how best to break the cover without hitting the electronics
I've seen documentation that says the decoder is similar to the Z14SR. JoZ says N12SR.
Only difference between the N12SR and N12SRP is the NMRA connector.
http://www.ncedcc.com/z14v35.pdf
http://www.ncedcc.com/n12sr.pdf
But what JoZ shows gives you a head start. Just confirm it with OHM meter probing.
JoZ...I like it...I can hear the Jaws theme playing in the background.
So as I'm looking at the PDF UpNorth put up of the Z14SR and the picture I put up, I noticed that the Trackmobile decoder doesn't have the 6-pin IC at the bottom left corner. If the TM decoder doesn't have that IC, would it be possible for Flashwave to even have light functions even if he does solder to that particular point?
Looking back at my lighting project, I'm sort of glad that I ended up purchasing a DC version of the TM, because I think I would have eventually trashed the factory installed decoder and ended up using a decoder wired for lights like the DZ125 I ended up installing.
Great Western Rwy fan wrote:Tony, I am patiently waiting to find out how You wired the beacon lights!!!
I've purchased another Trackmobile that I plan on wiring with lights again. This time I'll take more pictures of what I do so that I can write up a "how to" at a later time. The way I did the beacon was by having each light output power two LED's (headlights) and a flasher circuit, this one. The nitty-gritty as far as wiring will be with more detail later.
jasperofzeal wrote: If the TM decoder doesn't have that IC, would it be possible for Flashwave to even have light functions even if he does solder to that particular point?
If the TM decoder doesn't have that IC, would it be possible for Flashwave to even have light functions even if he does solder to that particular point?
Time to break out the OHM meter if he wants to find out and also has to find the CV to turn them on.
Must have been great fun getting the circuit, wires and leds in this itsy-bitsy TM...
UpNorth wrote:...Must have been great fun getting the circuit, wires and leds in this itsy-bitsy TM...
...Must have been great fun getting the circuit, wires and leds in this itsy-bitsy TM...
Let's just say that I now have an unemployed TM driver, an extra steering wheel, and an extra seat.
Hi guys.
Anyone got answers from FDT or NCE on whitch solder pads to use on wiring beacons or headlights? or have anyone found out by them selves?
Best Peter
www.goldenspike.dk
I know this is quite an old thread, but does anyone have any more updates as to if anything can be done with the factory fitted 'NCE Custom' decoder in order to gain functional lighting effects from it??
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