I recently installed a Tsunami GN-1000 sound decoder using LED's for the ditch lights tapping the 14V pad on board with 680 Ohm resistors on the FX (-) outputs for each light.
The lights were on when applying power to the board and will not turn off using F5 or F6. I have programmed the board for flashing ditch lights as I did with an AT-1000 board (work perfectly) but still stay on.
I contacted Soundtrax and returned the board for repair as they thought the transistors may have failed. But after reinstalling the board - same problem still exists.
I've tried factory resets to no avail...Any help would be appreciated.
I am using 2mm white LEDs with fiberoptic dilled into the eisting dummy ditch lights on the Athearn AC4400.
I'd like to help if I can.Your install seems right so it may be a prgramming glitch.Do every other functions work right,like other lighting,sounds and motor in both directions?Looks like conflicting CV datas....
Any chance you have the LED's wired backwards?
Opps missed the part where you said they were on at one time.
I have heard of the 14 volt pad being dead on a board or two. maybe the 14 volt pad is dead. Try using one of the track power leads to power the plus side of the LED's
It's not you or your work, that's how the GN-1000 is designed. Remember, the GN-1000 is for 1.5 volt incandescent lights. You get 1 (one, uno, singular, sole) 14+ lead for LED.
The F5 and F6 outputs on the board are for 1.5 volts. When you take the + (positive) lead and put it on the 14+ eye, it no longer knows what it's powering.
I'll bet if you program your headlight to flash, the ditchlights will too......
You'll need an AT-1000 for that feature (which you already know how to do). The AT-1000 front lights, rear lights, F5 and F6 are separately designed to to handle LED.
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The 14 volt pad can power several LED's off just that one pad.
I have used several GN decoders and used LED's for the lights and have used the 14 volt pad for up to 6 LED's. Never had any problem.
The F5- F6 pads are the grounding pads ( square in shape) the oval pads next to the F5-F6 pads are the 1.5 power pads.
I guess I should clarify that, once you tap into the 14+ lead, you no longer have the ability to program "flashing ditch lights". Pressing F5 should turn on one of the ditch lights and pressing F6 should turn on the other.
I have installed KT1000 and AT1000 decoders so far and both models supported ditch lights.Looking at the GN1000,it is similar in looks (carry FX5 & FX6 tabs) so should also handle ditch lights,that is unless although being physically identical,it doesn't have the basic programming to do so...that's odd at best.After all,they aren't Sound Value decoders........
Lee
Not sure what CV53 is for. For lighting configuring of F5 you need to use CV51, and for F6 you need to use CV52. Now for values, what do you want F5 and F6 to do? be on-off, flashing ? Seeing that you are using LED's you need to add 128 for LED compensation.
has for using the 14 volt pad for powering the LEDs the functions really don't care where you are powering them from. Just make sure you use resistors when you use the 14 volt pad or you will be needing a new LED(s) and maybe a new decoder too.
Should make no difference where the power source (+ side) is coming from. The function wires on a decoder are switches to common, so there's no reason the same effect wouldn't be available regardless of the positive side source. The blue common wire, or a 1.5V common pad, or a full voltage pad - the effect doesn;t pulse the power on these connections, it pulses the other side, the connection to common.
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[quote user="PennCentral99"]
I have used both GN and AT 1000's in the past with no problems. I have in one case pulled the +volt from one of the track pickups with no problem.
With my other GN1000 installs -- Once ditch lights are programmed for flash rate, on time, etc they will some on with F5 and flash with F2 (Horn).
Thanks to all for the valuable replies which I really appreciate.
Again- The LED does not care where it gets power. The function pad is the control.
Read my earlier post and Randy's.
Yes, You are correct.
Have you looked at this? Joe
http://www.ulrichmodels.com/prostores/Soundtraxx/Soundtraxx_GN_Board.pdf
Yes, I may have to resort to the track pickup which I have done in the past. Thanks for reminding me and you r input is much appreciated.
Hi Joe...Thanks for the link to Ulrich Models with the lighting diagram. I re-checked all connections the other day but as noted the lights stay on constantly with no control from F5 or F6.
Not too many options left...since it's been returned to Soundtraxx,the decoder should be OK.Unless it is a specific GN1000 feature like mentioned earlier,all is left is a messed up CV.
Mapping should be:
F5-CV39=2
F6-CV40=4
Then the effects:
F5-CV51=41 (+128)
F6-CV52=57 (+128)
With these datas,ditch lights should turn on/off with F5 then blink alternatively with the horn (F2).If using LEDs,add 128 to both datas.
Hi Joe,
Thanks again for the board output diagram...I had the F5-F6 outputs wired to the wrong tabs. As sonn as I switched the leads the ditch lights worked as they should.
I thought I had a diagram from the last GN1000 install but only the AT1000. Thanks again.
Thank you agian for your response to my question. Joe sent me a link with the wiring diagram for the GN1000 and I found the F5-F6 leads were on wrong tabs.
All work great now.
To all who were quick with a response and possible fix -Thank You.
It came down to the leads being on the wrong tabs of the board. Once switched they work as they should.