You can remap the yellow wire to a different function, with most Digitrax decoders. However if you power both ditch lights with one wire then you can't have flashing ditch lights. Well, not alternating ones anyway - they will both blink on and off at the same time if you use one of the flashing effects. Your best bet is to use a minimum 4 function decoder (the DH163 series are 6 function - in case you want to have strobe lights on the roof or something as well..), the sample programmign in the Digitrax decoder manual is exactly what you need for alternating ditch lights assuming you wire them to the green and purple wires. Or whatever brand decoder you use - they all have instructions for setting lighting functions. If you are using LEDs for the ditch lights I highly recommend you do NOT use a Digitrax decoder, the effects are only so-so with LEDs. TCS decoders have an adjustable setting to 'tune' them to work equally well with bulbs as well as LEDs. NCE decoders also do a better job with LEDs than Digitrax. If it's all incandescent bulbs, it doesn;t really matter.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks for the response; haven't installed a Decoder for a year or so; I forgot the Yellow was the Reverse and found the Manual late last night as we recently moved and have things misplaced of course.
What I want to do is to use the (Yellow) as my Front Ditch Lights instead of any reverse light.
The way I understand this would be to program the (F0R)CV34 is to 001 (remapping)? so Light comes on when Front Light on (tell me if I'm Offbase here)
And then I would have to program the CV50 for example (03) forward direction/flashing head light?????
Or should I just make this easier on myself and get a 4 or 6 function decoder..........!
Cary
Can't do it with that decoder, there aren't enough function outputs. To have flashign ditch lights plus a headlight you need what most manufactures call a 4 function decoder - F0F for the headlight, F0R for the backup light (which may or may not be applicable depending on the loco type) and an F1 and F2 to use for the ditch lights. You'll have to upgrade to a DH163
Also, the blue wire is common to ALL lights. Function wires are white for F0F, yellow for F0R, green for F1, and violet for F2
All required CV settings are in the DIgitrax decoder manual and also as its own little article on their web site. The configuration example is for directional headlight plus ditch lights that are on with the headlight and then alternately flash when F2 is pressed.
I have an F59 HO scale with a Digitrax DH123 and wondering if I can and how to hook the Blue up as Forward Flashing Ditch Lights?
I am going to use LED's with Resistors.
I'm not very good with any of the programming yet but I am assuming I would have to change CV56 or change the numbers for this to a ( 6 for Forward Ditch and 3 for Flashing Headlight = 63) ?
The way I understand this is go to CV56 and change what's in it to 63?
thanks for the Help.........Cary