Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

How to assign ditch light function to F5 and how to make them flash nonstop

1753 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: City of Québec,Canada
  • 1,258 posts
Posted by Jacktal on Thursday, April 17, 2014 2:27 PM

Open Soundtraxx's homepage and scroll all the way down to right corner...click on "manuals",everything you need is there.But there's an easier way...

Set your PR3 to your computer and download "Decoder Pro" (free)...makes reading and programming decoders much easier and faster.

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • 12 posts
Posted by Kameelperdza on Thursday, April 17, 2014 8:53 AM

I want to be able to do enable it whenever i please. Maybe at a junktion or crossing.

 

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Thursday, April 17, 2014 8:33 AM

Through a station, yes; because the engineer can turn them on or they were set to turn on with the bell, which must be sounded when passing through a station.  That does't mean they always flash, though.

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • 12 posts
Posted by Kameelperdza on Thursday, April 17, 2014 1:42 AM
I’m not going prototype with my railroad. I think I saw on n movie once that the trains ditch lights flash while it was moving through the station. 
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 4:59 PM

I know of no railroad that has their ditch lights flash continuously, so why do you want to do that?

 

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 9:15 AM

I would download the free JMRI (DecoderPro) and using the PR3 you can make all the changes you want and it is a lot easier than having to set CV's. I plan to do the same with my Kato SD90 after I install separate LED's for the ditch lights (it now uses one LED and a light pipe to the 2 ditch lights). If you search JMRI there is a lot of instructional videos out there and you will be surprised at what you can do with Decoder Pro.

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • 12 posts
Posted by Kameelperdza on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 8:40 AM

Im using digitrax zypner extra. I bought a pr3 but only figured out yesterday how to use it. 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 8:16 AM

You need to do 2 things.  First, you have to re-map the function for the ditch lights to F5.  Second, you need to make F5 stay on until you push the button a second time.

The first involves setting a CV.  Without the manual, I don't know what it is.

The second is something which is specific to your DCC system, so you'll have to tell us what you have.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • 12 posts
Posted by Kameelperdza on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 5:19 AM

It came with factory installed tsunami decoder.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Posted by gatrhumpy on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 5:10 AM

The decoder has to have that ability. If it doesn't, you're out fo luck.

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • 12 posts
How to assign ditch light function to F5 and how to make them flash nonstop
Posted by Kameelperdza on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 2:46 AM
Good day people.
 
I have an Athearn GP40-2w. I have check the manual and can set the ditch lights to flash when the horn blow.
 
What I would like to do is to make the ditch lights flash constantly when I press F5 once and stop flashing when I press F5 again. I tried to search google for answers on what CV’s to change but have no luck yet.
Has anybody here done something like this before? Thank you

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!