I got the decoder in and working (sound) but the old light on the P2K PA mars light has 3 wires to it. ACC1 COM and ACC2. But here is no led that has three leads to work like this. I have the regular light working and responding well. But the mars light is another issue.Does anyone have any experience with this situation?Any suggestions would a ppreciated.PS. I went to f28, but that did not start up the mars light.Jim Lowery
The best thing to do is ditch that hokey dual filament light bulb and use an ordinary LED. The Mars light function in the decoder does a better job of simulating a Mars light than the original circuit on the loco's board that alternates between the two filaments.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
My appologize. I did get rid of the both of the original lights. I installed 2 LED's The headlight wrks just fine. It is the Mars light that I cannot get going.
It is an MRC drop in decoder. It has, again 2 outputs ACC1 COMM ACC2., so I hooked up the neg lead to the COMM and the positive to ACC1 (and flipped it to ACC2 at one point). I am sure there is something I need to do to activate it.
I went into the decoder functions with JMRI and turned it to Mars light to no avail.
And help would be greatly appreciated.
Jim Lowery
You have tthe LED backwards. And do you have a resistor on it? The Common connection on a decoder, if there are wires, it's the BLUE wire, is positive. The individual function connections are the negative.
Ha HA HA! Ok, I will go turn it around. So the comm is the postive and the ACC1 ACC2 are the negatives? That is funny. I will see if that works, and yes I have resistors in line.
Funny! Well lets see if it works, and I will get back to you.
Thanks
Jim
I don't know who you are are but major thanks and big karma to you. That did it. I went out there turned it around, turned on F28 went to f3 and "mars light came to life." I am a very happy person right now.
Do you know how manyplaces I posted, shops I went to etc... again thank you so much.
Neat neat neat !