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Adding operating rotary beacon to athearn genesis MP15AC

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  • Member since
    August 2010
  • 115 posts
Adding operating rotary beacon to athearn genesis MP15AC
Posted by UPTeen23 on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 10:01 PM

Hey, everyone I have a dc genesis mp15ac that i put a digitrax decoder in it. I was wondering if to make the rotary beacon work, i needed a resistor. My plan is to take the wires from the rear light pad to the two F1 pads. I am i doing it  right or am i going to blow the light up. Thanks!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: WSOR Northern Div.
  • 1,559 posts
Posted by WSOR 3801 on Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:23 AM

Here is what it looks like inside.

Add the 1.5 volt light to the F1 terminals.  There are LM317 voltage regulators on the back of the board, no resistors needed.  I don't remember if it is the green or purple wire that runs F1 on the Genesis board.  You might have to experiment.

Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • 115 posts
Posted by UPTeen23 on Thursday, September 2, 2010 7:54 AM

Thanks a ton! I have been putting this off for a long time and now that I know what Im doing I wont blow anything up. Also does the lightboard have any more teminals for ditchlights or something like that? Thank You! :)

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: WSOR Northern Div.
  • 1,559 posts
Posted by WSOR 3801 on Thursday, September 2, 2010 1:22 PM

No more terminals on the Genesis board .  If you need more functions, take out the stock board and get one of these: http://www.tcsdcc.com/Zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=44 

TCS A6X.  6 functions, and supports 1.5 volt bulbs, by soldering to pads on the board.  No need to fool around with resistors, or trying to cram them in inside the MP15AC.  Room is tight inside there.

Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • 115 posts
Posted by UPTeen23 on Thursday, September 2, 2010 3:43 PM

Thank you very much Mike! I dont know if I will get the A6X because being a teen soldering is not my strong suit but my grandfather maybe could. Thanks for the help! Also do you think it would be practical to add sound to it or is there just not enough space? THANK YOU!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • 71 posts
Posted by MOAVBILLY on Saturday, September 4, 2010 7:30 AM

UPTeen23.....Adding sound will require removal of the front weight. The speaker to use is a micro oval with enclosure. It fits perfectly into the shell above the grills, doesn't even block the grill area. I just recently added this along with a Soundtraxx Tsunami #828048 decoder. This "new" switcher sounds better than the factory equipped unit. This unit also has plenty of outputs to run your lighting requirements.

Consider buying your self an inexpensive solder iron and start getting familiar with how to solder. It will make your modeling experience so much more reliable. It is not difficult to learn. Micro Mark is always having sales on solder stations and are very reasonable in price. Maybe put on your gift list for BD or Xmas.

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • 115 posts
Posted by UPTeen23 on Saturday, September 4, 2010 10:30 AM

Thank you very much. I do in fact have a soldering iron and station but I am not allowed  to use it but when I am I will know what I am doing! By the way do you have pictures of your engine that you could post. I would love to see how you did it. Thanks!

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