Hi, I've installed a TCS FL2 (2 function lights decoder) piggybacked on a regular decoder (a sound decoder with limited lighting options). What I want to do is set it up so the headlights are both on, but the one in direction of travel is bright and the opposite is dimmed.
Normally with a regular TCS decoder, it's easy - change CV49 and 50 to 40, and CV61 to 32. Since the FL2 is usually used for auxillary lights (ditch lights, strobes, etc.) it's lights use CV51 and 52. So I set them to 40, and CV61 to 32, (and remapped F0 to control both lights, instead of F1 and F2 factory setting) but it's not working right - both lights are on bright.
I know the dimming settings are OK, I can manually dim the lights with F4, and if I set CV61 to 16, the lights dim when the engine stops and get bright when it starts moving. I can of course get the lights to reverse - the one in direction of travel on, reverse off, too. I've tried a variety of settings in all three CVs, but to no avail.
I've sent an e-mail to TCS but haven't heard back yet. Just wondering if anyone is familiar with this - maybe the FL2 isn't set up for what I want to do?
Nobody's used an FL-2?
No, and per the manual those are the correct CV settings for what you want to do.
I have a caboose I want to put one in for marker lights but those will be just on and off. I didn't pick up the decoder yet.
It's possible that since there's no motor there's no real "direction of travel" in the FL2. Opposite dim is a fairly standard light effect, what sound decoder doesn't have that?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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Actually, a lot of early sound decoders (like Digitrax "LC" line) won't do dimmed headlights. It's either full bright for both, or one on and other off.
In this case, it's a Soundtraxx Tsunami that's already been sent back to the company for repair once. It works fine now except for the lights not working, and I didn't feel like sending it back again for more work.
BTW I can do reversing headlights - front headlight on, rear off - with the FL2. Or I can set it up so one headlight (or both) is bright when moving, dimmed when stopped. I just can't get it to be bright in direction of travel with the opposite light dimmed.
Are you sure you tried all the combinations? Try resetting it and set CV51 to 8 and CV 52 to 24. Try CV61 at 48, for both opposite dim and button dimming. See what happens without remapping control to F0. I don't think you want the function value to 40 for Rule 17 both directions, as that takes any directional control out of it. For your remapping, what are you setting CV35 and 36 to? If you make them both 3 to cover F0F and F0R again you may be taking the directional nature out of it, you probably should remap one as F0F and the other as F0R.