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Headlight replacement on Spectrum 4-6-0

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  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Sunday, August 17, 2014 6:40 PM

Just to update this issue; I rewired the yellow and white wires to the green and violet ones on the decoder and remapped the functions in Decoder Pro. Everything works great now. Thanks to all who gave support and info.

   -Bob

PS: I did cut the green wire to about 1/8" from the 9-pin plug, but it was enought to solder it.

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Friday, August 15, 2014 7:03 PM

trainnut1250

You are aware that polarity matters when it comes to LEDS??  If you haven't already, flip the the polarity of the leads and see if it works.  Next would be to put a meter on the leads and see if they are still good.

 

Guy

 

I did reverse the leads on the LED and still no light. I am pretty sure the function for the headlight is fried and will have to rewire it to the green or violet wire and then remap it to work with those functions. The rear light works but all the time, both directions, F0 on or off? Hope I can get all this to come together. I don't have time right now to attack this (company coming and ?? ) and IIRC I cut those wires short when installing the decoder so I don't have a lot of wire to solder to? I could use another 9 pin connector with full lenght wires if I have to.  Thanks for the comments. Every little bit helps, sometimes just to jog my memory.

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    August 2006
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Posted by trainnut1250 on Friday, August 15, 2014 1:53 PM

You are aware that polarity matters when it comes to LEDS??  If you haven't already, flip the the polarity of the leads and see if it works.  Next would be to put a meter on the leads and see if they are still good.

 

Guy

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 4:32 PM

I replaced the LED with a 12v 3mm warm white (the original was also 3mm) but it still doesn't work. It wasn't too difficult to get to it since Rich showed me how.  I am going to remap the lights using the green and violet wires since I believe the white and yellow ones are fried. I have been researching this on the Digitrax website and apparently this is very doable since I have 6 functions on the DH163. Hopefully these other functions are still operable. Will keep you all posted on my progress.

BTW: I am sending my first DH163 back under warranty. It is totally fried.

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 12:49 PM

richg1998

 

Ripped out the PC board. I hardwired a Tsunami Micro a few years ago. Included a 750 ohm resistor for the light. Mine is the low driver version which has a small tender like the Spectrum 4-4-0.

The high driver one has a larger tender that a decoder can be plugged into.

Rich

 

Rich,

Thanks for the info and photos. I didn't think removing the boiler would be so easy, but it looks like it is. I also took the PC light board out but forgot to put in resistors; hence a blown LED headlight. I replaced the tender light with a 12 volt warm white 3mm LED and it works great (I use the 12v ones where ever I can. You are correct about the tender on the high driver one (mine is NYC) and there is plenty of room for a sound decoder and speaker which I had originally planned to do. I also have a low driver Southern 4-6-0 which has the low tender but mine came with DCC in it. Great locos though!

    -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, August 11, 2014 8:37 PM

Ripped out the PC board. I hardwired a Tsunami Micro a few years ago. Included a 750 ohm resistor for the light. Mine is the low driver version which has a small tender like the Spectrum 4-4-0.

The high driver one has a larger tender that a decoder can be plugged into.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, August 11, 2014 7:54 PM

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Headlight replacement on Spectrum 4-6-0
Posted by farrellaa on Monday, August 11, 2014 7:31 PM

I am in need of replacing the headlight (LED) in my Spectrum 4-6-0 loco. I removed the front smokebox and can see the end of the LED but don't know the best way to get it out. I have the exploded view of all the parts but they aren't the easiest to read. Has anyone done this and can explain how to get the LED out? I am afraid it may involve removing the motor and drive belt which I really don't want to get into now!

   -Bob

PS: This is the same loco that I just smoked a decoder during installation and then the LED's? What a week!

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

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