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Soundtrax light dimming

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  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Stockton, CA.
  • 333 posts
Soundtrax light dimming
Posted by Truck on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 12:51 AM

Hi guys, I am having trouble trying to figure out the Rule 17 feature on my Tsunami's. I down loaded the technical manual, it shows CV 49 value of 1 for Rule 17 lighting. I get no response. It also shows a value of 0 for on/off output, but the defalt is a value of 15. I'm not getting it. The decoder is in a Bachmann 2-10-2 factory installed job. What I want is dimmed when stopped and opposite dim. The head light and tender light do work normal on/off with F0 and switch from forward or reverse. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Truck. 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Morris, Illinois USA
  • 283 posts
Posted by rockislandnut on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 7:31 AM

@ Truck,

In both my Bachmann/Tsunami engines (  4-6-0 & 2-6-6-2 ) I was confused like you. Found out that the Bachmann/Tsunami sound decoder sometimes doesn't follow the manual. Default bright/dim is function key  #11 which is toggled and function key #12 is a very fast slow down ( if you have CV 3 and 4 set ). If you use function #12 to a fast slow down make sure you press #12 again when slow down is enough or when engine completely stops or your engine will not move.

Also I believe the download manual is different on some of the CV's than the default Bachmann/Tsunami decoder. Weird eh?

Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 1:20 PM

You need to download the manual for the specific Bachmann locomotive you have from the SoundTraxx web site:

http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM%20pages/Bachmann/Bachmann.php 

  • Member since
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  • 4,612 posts
Posted by Hamltnblue on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 3:30 PM

Go to the soundtrax site and download the users guide.

It's much more intuitive and gives examples

Here's the link:

http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals.php

Springfield PA

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Morris, Illinois USA
  • 283 posts
Posted by rockislandnut on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 8:20 PM

The OP has a factory installed Tsunami in a Bachmann steam 2-10-2 which he is looking for how to bright/dim the lights which is key #11. this is not shown in the download users guide, instead I think it says key #7 is for Bright/Dim but this is for the retail Tsunami. I know it is for steam, diesels I don't know.

The Quick Start guide that comes with the loco doesn't show key #12 either as it only shows from F0 through F8.

For some reason either Tsunami or Bachmann decided on this in their Bachamm/Tsunami factory installed steam decoders. I don't think you will find it in any of the downloads.

Of course if he wants to remap it that may be possible.

Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Stockton, CA.
  • 333 posts
Posted by Truck on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 12:56 AM

Thanks guys,

The locomotive did come with a cd-rom that has the manual in it. I beleive I am having trouble trying to understand Soundtrax,s way of doing things. I did find something on Tony's trains site that makes the Bachmann OEM decoder work like Tsunami you would normaly buy, just by changing some CV's http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/sndtrax_program_oem_locos.htm

Aslo here is the pages for lighting that came with loco in the cd-rom   

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Morris, Illinois USA
  • 283 posts
Posted by rockislandnut on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 6:50 AM

Truck,

Did you try F11? Unless Bachmann/Tsunami has changed their default factory installed decoder F11 is for Bright/Dim Not F7 as in the retail version.

Although you may want to remap?

Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by Hamltnblue on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 7:21 PM

The link I provided earlier does have a users guide for bachmann Tsunami's

Just click on manuals for factory installed decoders and then click on bachmann

 Edit.  Here I clicked for you

http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM%20pages/Bachmann/Bachmann.php

 

Springfield PA

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Stockton, CA.
  • 333 posts
Posted by Truck on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 8:46 PM

rockislandnut

Truck,

Did you try F11? Unless Bachmann/Tsunami has changed their default factory installed decoder F11 is for Bright/Dim Not F7 as in the retail version.

Although you may want to remap?

F11 does dim the light but my goal was to have it dim automaticlly when stopped or in opposite direction like a TCS decoder allows you to program the lights.

My guess is that it's not going to happen with a Tsunami.  I was off of work today so I  was changing the CV's with all sorts of different bits and the results are always the same F11 to dim only. I guess it is what it is. And yes I did check thier manuals on their site.

Thanks for your replies,  Truck.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Morris, Illinois USA
  • 283 posts
Posted by rockislandnut on Thursday, June 2, 2011 7:33 AM

Hamltnblue

The link I provided earlier does have a users guide for bachmann Tsunami's

Just click on manuals for factory installed decoders and then click on bachmann

 Edit.  Here I clicked for you

http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM%20pages/Bachmann/Bachmann.php

 

Yes it does say Factory installed, but for some reason Bachmann/Tsunami doesn't see it that way for the default lighting, or a few other CV''s nor can you change it. Now if you buy a retail Tsunami for these bachman steam engines they will correspond to the link you provided.

Don't blame me, ask Bachmann/Tsunami.

Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Morris, Illinois USA
  • 283 posts
Posted by rockislandnut on Thursday, June 2, 2011 7:40 AM

Truck

 rockislandnut:

Truck,

Did you try F11? Unless Bachmann/Tsunami has changed their default factory installed decoder F11 is for Bright/Dim Not F7 as in the retail version.

Although you may want to remap?

 

F11 does dim the light but my goal was to have it dim automaticlly when stopped or in opposite direction like a TCS decoder allows you to program the lights.

My guess is that it's not going to happen with a Tsunami.  I was off of work today so I  was changing the CV's with all sorts of different bits and the results are always the same F11 to dim only. I guess it is what it is. And yes I did check thier manuals on their site.

Thanks for your replies,  Truck.

Yeah that's a bummer as I have tried to get the headlamp to auto bright/dim and to no avail. I guess I'm used to my QSI engines.

Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 893 posts
Posted by PennCentral99 on Saturday, June 4, 2011 9:00 AM

Are the lights incandescent or LED?  If they are LED, you may need to add 128 to the other values in CV49.  Forget the default setting of 15, just add the numbers together and program them in CV49 for the headlight.  Example: I wanted the Mars Light on my GP38-2, I found that value (2) and since I have LED's, added 128 and programmed CV49=130, and presto - got a the Mars light effect.

The page you posted is from the Technical Reference.  Another helpful document is the Sound User's Guide.

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