Randy,
I see your point about the strobes being in unison, but his problem is he also can't get both to come on double strobe at the same time only one or the other. The best option might be to have one a single strobe and the other double (or add a second decoder).
Peter
I think a couple people missed the point. Yes, you can use the same effect for more than one function wire. The problem is, there seems to be only one 'loop' in the decoder code for each effect, which means two double strobes pulse exactly in unison. If you look at a real loco with dual strobes, they go in and out of sync. (and am I glad I model the 50's when they didn;t have any of this) Ditch lights do not 'violate' this 'rule' - you have to set one ditch light as 'phase a' and the other as 'phase b' - there are usualy TWO effects for strobe light. That makes them alternate. Now if there was a double strobe phase a and double strobe phase b...
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Since remapping both to F1 didn't work, try remapping one to a different button. ie. set CV 36 to 16 to remap the purple to F3.
Downloading the PDF for the A4X decoder and the Function remapping PDF from TCS website shows that CV51 and 52 should be set to 37 for double pulse strobe in both directions. Remapping is done by setting CV 35 (green wire) to 4. CV36 (purple wire) to 4. With these settings pressing F1 would give you a double strobe flash if everything is wired correctly.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Two functions should be able to do the same action and at the same time or else ditch lights and constant head lights would not work. Program the first function then remap the function to F1 then program the second function then remap to F1 and see what you get. The strobe may not flash at the exact same time but in real life multiple strobe lights seldom do. The strobes on my service truck flash at different rates even though they are controlled by one controller. It all relies on the capacitive discharge and circuitry switching, resistance of the wiring and the bulbs themselves.
I think your right Mark, 2 functions cant share the same lighting feature at the same time. I guess if I had the room, one could add a second function only decoder to run the second strobe. But in a SW unit, space is very limited! Mike
LHS mechanic and geniune train and antique garden tractor nut case!
I've experienced a similar situation as well. I have a Mars light in my PA - in the housing is a red LED and a white LED. I used the green and purple pads to power the two LEDs and set both outputs for the Mars effect. This way, I can either display a red Mars or a white Mars light.
However, I did note that if I turned both on at the same time (not that I normally would) the Mars effect would no longer function and both LEDs would just blink rapidly in unison.
My guess is that the timing function for the lighting effects is a singular design output and will not support multiple effects together. As for other decoders that WILL do that - I honestly culdn't say.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
That worked to make it easier to turn the strobes on, but if both CV 51 and 52 are set to 37 the strobes wont work. One has to be set to 36, single flash and the other to 37, double flash. I guess this is a limitation for this decoder. If anybody knows of a decoder that can operate to independant double flash strobes at the SAME time in both directions, please let me know and I will purchase the decoder. This is in a Proto 2K SW1200. It doesnt look bad with one set to single flash, but I still want to try to find a decoder that can run the strobes the way I want them to be run. Unless we havent found the reason the AX4 cant run 2 seperate double flash strobes at the same time and independant of each other. Mike
Boy I'm slow at responding tonight
Remap the purple wire to function 1: CV36 = 4
Then pressing 1 should turn on both
Looking at the TCS manuals online, you should have CV51 (Green) to 37 (Bi-directional Double Pulse Strobe) and CV52 (Purple) to 37 (Bi-directional Double Pulse Strobe). I don't see a way to set the flash rates of the strobes, so they might flash at the same rate, depending on how the decoder is designed.
I have them both set to 37, if I push F1 one strobe turns on, if I push F2 to turn on second strobe, the first one goes off. If I push F2 again the same strobe turns back on. Then if I push F1 to turn off that strobe head, and then push F2 the other strobe turns on. I cant get them both to operate at the same time. They shouldnt both light up at the same time, but flash in and out of sync like the real engine does. Not sure what I am doing wrong. I have 1 power lead to each of the function pads and the commons to one of the common terminals on the board. Im lost on this one!
Try setting CVs 51 and 52 to 37.
I am installing a A4x decoder in my locomotive. Main headlights functions are as normal. I am using the extra 2 function for roof top double flash strobes using 1.5vt bulbs. I can get one or the other to flash as it should, but I need them both to double flash at the same time, but independant of each other. Is this something the decoder cant do since they would both be double flash strobes? The prototype used self contained strobes so there was no pattern between the pair. I am using the purple and green function pads on the decoder. Thanks Mike T