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Help with programming light options - Tsnuami

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Help with programming light options - Tsnuami
Posted by Hergy on Thursday, February 3, 2011 3:58 PM

OK I've been in this hobby for 55 years, but I v'e been in DCC and sound  for only 7 months. When it comes to understanding some of the CV programming, I'm dumber than a door knob. What I would like to accomplish is :

When the loco is in Fwd I would like the headlight on (of course) and the rear light dim. And the opposite when the loco is in Rev. If I recall correctly, the forward headlight is CV 49 and the rear is CV 50. I know, I know, this is not prototypical.

If this is not possible, I think what I want is Rule 17? Can't figure this out either. I've tried various combos from the Soudtraxx documentation but all I seem to end up with is Headllight on in Fwd and off in Rev and vice versa. If rule 17 is close to what I want, what are the values for CV 49 & 50? (Gad, this is worse than trig.)

Keep it simple. I'm one of those that goes downstairs for something very important and by the time I get there, I forgot why I went!!!!!   And oh yeah, most all of my DCC/sound locos are Tsunami equipped.

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Posted by cacole on Thursday, February 3, 2011 4:31 PM

You need to go to the SoundTraxx web site and download the Tsunami Technical Reference Manual for your decoder type, steam or diesel.  There are more CVs involved than just 49 and 50 with a Tsunami decoder; primarily 49 through 52.

http://www.soundtraxx.com

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Posted by Hergy on Thursday, February 3, 2011 4:57 PM

Been there done that, that's why I'm asking for interpretation. I'vebeen successful programming F5 and F6 functions , but I can't decipher the headlight CV's.

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Posted by cacole on Thursday, February 3, 2011 5:00 PM

Look also at the data about CVs 51 and 52.

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Posted by Train Modeler on Thursday, February 3, 2011 5:05 PM

I'm going to suggest something based on you saying you have several Tsunami decoders.     The simplest way to program decoders today is to use your computer.   JMRI Decoder Pro make programming a snap and that's how I've done it the last 3 years.     I know what you want, but since I've been using DP I've forgotton the CVs since DP is so easy to use.

An USB/loconet interface is required like the one from rrcircuits or a PR3 if you prefer.   I use the rrcircuits and a PTB-100 program booster.

Richard

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Posted by woodone on Thursday, February 3, 2011 5:19 PM

You might want to get set up with JMRI 's Decoder-Pro. It is a free download for you computer and interfaces with your DCC system. Will make programming a lot simpler.

Who's system are you using,  BTW

I will look to see what I can find about your question - just will take me a while.

What do you have CV49 and 50 set to?

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Posted by Hergy on Thursday, February 3, 2011 5:34 PM

I'm using NCE and both 49 and 50 are set to 15, which according to the manual is Dyno-light. 15 is what they were set at from the factory.

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Posted by gandydancer19 on Thursday, February 3, 2011 5:50 PM

Which NCE system?  The Power Cab starter set or the Power Pro 5 Amp 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 Thursday, February 3, 2011 6:01 PM

Try the following settings:

CV 49 = 2
CV 50 = 2

Those should set both the headlight and backup light to Rule 17 lighting.  Unfortunately, I see nothing in the Tsunami Technical Reference Manual about keeping the headlight on all the time like you want to do.  The above CV values should set both the headlight and backup light so the headlight dims when you back up, and the backup light dims (or maybe goes off) when you are going forward.

 

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Posted by Hergy on Thursday, February 3, 2011 6:38 PM

Power Cab. Wanted to make sure there was water in the pool before I went off the high board.Geeked

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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, February 3, 2011 7:11 PM

Ya I like setting the lights like you do - on full in direction of travel, dimmed at the other end. So far I haven't found a way to do that with the Tsunami. I think you can do it with the Digitrax sound decoder, as I recall I did get my Kato SD-38 with the drop-in Digitrax board-replacement decoder to do that...but I think it's the only one that can do that.

Tongue Tied

Stix
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Posted by Hergy on Thursday, February 3, 2011 7:14 PM

Setting 49 and 50 to 2 gives me a simulated Mars light.

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Posted by woodone on Thursday, February 3, 2011 7:31 PM

Set CV49 and 50 to 1-- now when you drive forward with H/L on hit ?F7 that should dim the lights.

Right now I do not see a way to keep both one and dim one and not the other.

You might try CV33- CV34 try CV33 set to 3 and CV34 to 3 also not sure what it will look like?

After some more research I might have a answer.

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Posted by Hergy on Thursday, February 3, 2011 8:57 PM

Both 49 and 50 are now set to 1. No appreciable difference in operation. I'm beginnig to think that what I'm trying to accomplish is not in the Tsunami bag of tricks. Thanks to all who offered sugestions.

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Posted by woodone on Friday, February 4, 2011 10:12 AM

OK, let us start from scratch.  Set CV 33 to 1-  CV 34 to 2. Now set CV49 ad 50 to 15.

Now try the lights driving forward and reverse. While moving hit F7 to see if they will dim on the lights on the direction of travel. F& is the dimming control.

I will see if I can come up with a way to do what you want,- might not be in the Tsumin's bag of tricks.   

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Posted by Train Modeler on Friday, February 4, 2011 12:29 PM

You're probably tired of trying things right now, that's why I got Decoder Pro.  Tsunami will do Rule 17, but maybe not exactly as you describe.   Rule 17 is independent control of lights in prototypes and Tsunami.     So there are two aspects to what you are trying to do 1. Control and 2 Effects.   The following may not work, I just looked it over during lunch, but basically the idea should work.  That is divide up and understand the difference between control and effect(dimming),

1. Control    You really need to turn fof/for over to f5 and f6.  But since you want independently dimmable lights I am going to suggest F3 and F4 too.  So, here goes.

CV33 to 0

CV34 to 0

CV37 to 129 for F3 dimmable head light

CV38 to 130 for F4 dimmable rear light
CV39 to 2 for F5 headlight on

CV40 to 4 for F6  rear light on

 

For Effects

CV49 Fof to 64

CV50 For to 64

CV51 F5 to 1

CV52 F6 to 1

There may or may not still be F7 needed and some conflicts.    

Richard

 

 

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Posted by cacole on Friday, February 4, 2011 6:20 PM

Instead of all this hit and miss, try this and that, nothing works, may I suggest sending an e-mail to SoundTraxx and asking them?  They may not answer right away, but will be able to tell you for sure whether or not it can be done.

 

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Posted by Hamltnblue on Friday, February 4, 2011 6:45 PM

Soundtraxx has 2 manuals for the Tsunami.  The technical reference and the users guide.

The users guide is much easier to read and understand.

What you want is on about page 30.  here's the link.

http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/Users%20Guide%20Diesel.pdf

Springfield PA

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Posted by Hergy on Saturday, February 5, 2011 1:46 PM

Been there done that also. Downloaded both manuals 7 months ago. Did not see anything that addressed my problem, thus my post for help. I've tried about every combination I could think of plus those suggested here. I will contact Soundtraxx and see if what I want is possible with Tsunami.

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Posted by woodone on Saturday, February 5, 2011 5:43 PM

I was on the phone the other day with SoundTraxx. Problems of a different nature.

I asked about  this lighting  question-  Tsunami's do not support the effect that you want , is what I was told.

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