I am still very new to DCC - I am trying to program my locomotives - cab numbers, features, etc. I have an A-B-A set of Walthers UP E8s with QSI sound decoders. WKW has the Mars lights in the nose set to "Automatic", however the UP did not RUN with Mars lights, they had a red or red-white light that was only used when stopped on the mainline. Is there a simple way to turn this light OFF? I am using a Digitraxx Zephyr and have a programming track booster attached to my programming track.
Second question - how do most people handle "B" units? Since this consist will not be changed for the forseeable future, should I program the B-unit as part of an A-unit or just use consisting to allow control of this set?
What DCC system are you using? Creating a consist will turn off the lights in the trailing A unit if you know how to properly program the locomotives into an Advanced Consist. You need to sit down and study your DCC system's operating manual on consist creation.
For the B unit question, an Advanced Consist will take car of it.
What you need is the full QSI manual to get the CVs neede dto change the Mars light settings. This is a million times easier with JMRI, but you will need to buy an interface to connect your computer to the Zephyr. Best thing to do would be to switch the Mars light to a different function, so instead of being automatic it would only come on when you hit a function button. There MIGHT be an automatic option that turns it on when you stop instaead of turning it on when you move.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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