Adding Ditch Lights to HO Proto GP60 w/ Factory Sound

[wholeman]

Hello everyone,

I haven't posted anything in a while, been busy with work and trains which is good.

Anyway, I have an HO Walthers Proto GP60 with factory Tsunami sound.  I would like to add operating ditch lights to it.  I noticed on wiring harness for the headlight and numberboards there are six wires but three of them are used.  I know one of the wires are already used a common positive to the LEDs.

Does anyone know which of the other three wires not used can be used for function 6 for ditch lights.  I tried contacting Soundtraxx and Walthers, but they weren't sure.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Jacktal]

First,be aware that some manufacturer installed Tsunamis are supplied to the specific manufacturer's specs and thus don't have all the programming possibilities aftermarket Tsunamis have.Wether yours can do what you want...I can't tell.

Before getting involved with your mods,I suggest you give CV40 a value of 4 then connect a 12V bulb across the blue and green wires to see if F6 output is functional.If it is,then you can have steady ditch lights this way (2 bulbs on same wires).If you want alternately blinking,then you'll need to use F5 (Brown) also and special programming,if your decoder allows it though.

Caution...decoder output (blue +) is twelve volts,if you want to use 1.5V bulbs or LEDs,a proper resistor is required.

[cacole]

The SoundTraxx web site should have a separate document and CV listing for the decoder installed in P2K products.  That will indicate whether the decoder supports ditch lights, and to which color wires.

[Train Modeler]

I'm surprised there's two wires unconnected on the harness.  But with those this could be easy and checked as per above.   I would download all the documents from Soundtraxx website which include installation and more advanced information/how to.

Richard

[cacole]

Train Modeler

I'm surprised there's two wires unconnected on the harness.

Richard

 

No surprise there; most decoder harnesses have at least 8 wires if they have an NMRA medium plug on one end, or 9 if the decoder has the JST header, but not all of them are connected to anything in some cases.

 

[hobo9941]

Why not hook a voltmeter to the common blue, and test each of the two unused wires, while pressing Function 5 and 6, unless Function 5 and 6 are already used for some function. If your current decoder is not using function 5 and 6, those may be available for accessories.  I have a Tsunami booklet that shows function 5 and 6 as "Effect Light [if applicable]. So those two wires might be usable.