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Non Directional Headlights Loksound Direct Select LEDs solved

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  • Member since
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  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, August 6, 2017 3:57 PM

I played around with function mapping,  directional headlights on a Bowser factory installed Loksound Condition: Forward F0  Physical Outputs Front light (1)

Reading the decoder with the Atlas and it said the same thing, however changing the conditions in the drop down menu I got the lights to do a variety of different things.  I worked my way back to Forward F0  Physical Outputs Front light (1) and now I have directional lighting. 

Also in function mapping F8 was listed as not F8 I had to delete that map F8 as Drive F8

 

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by rrinker on Sunday, August 6, 2017 1:07 PM

 Stopping automatic sound start up would be putting the CV mentioned in that section back to default then.

It's certainly possible the defaults in a given sound set have the headlights set one way, but the controlling CVs for the functions hsould still be alterable. They may have remapped F0F and F0R to both outputs, which would make both lights always be on and act together without altering the light effect CVs. - basically the same as physcially connecting both light outputs to both lights (you can do that with function outputs - hook more than one to the same light, with no problems). 

 There are variations, but most rulebooks do have switchers run with both lights on all the time - with the number for forward/backward movements plus sometimes having cars coupled on and other times running light, if the engineer of a switch engine had to constantly fiddle with the headlight and rear light switches in the cab (remember real locos don't have automatic dimming and directional lights) they'd go nuts.

                             --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, August 6, 2017 11:27 AM

Somehow I stumbled on a reset that made the lights directional and erased the sound.  I ran across directions for Atlas factory decoders that some some switchers have both lights on.  hmmm 

Reinstalled the sound and the headlights are not directional.  I'm starting to think it's part of the sound package. 72402

The ESU manual says the default is no sound on power up and gives directions on how to change it, but no directions to do the opposite. 5.2.9 in the manual

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by tstage on Sunday, August 6, 2017 11:20 AM

Henry,

I did note the LED.  My only point was that there are differences in the CV values depending on the light source.

There should be a CV for leaving the sound off until F8 is activated.  I'll see if I can hunt that down when I get back home later today.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, August 6, 2017 9:50 AM

I stated LED in my inital post, but I retitled my post so we don't go down that rabbit hole.  Directionality is my problem I don't need flashing and oscillating.

Did a couple resets and there is no change.  There is one more anomaly.  Unlike my other loksound equiped engine, when I power on the track, this one immediately turns on the sound like a Bachmann Sound Value.  Not thrilled with that either.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, August 5, 2017 8:13 PM

Forgot to mention, Henry.  There's are considerations whether the lighting is incandescent or LED.  (See "LED Mode", pg. 31)  For headlights there probably isn't much difference - unless you want to add strobe or mars lighting to your RS1.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, August 5, 2017 6:08 PM

tstage
Rule 17

That makes sense.  Thanks Tom

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, August 5, 2017 5:59 PM

Whenever I've programmed Rule 17 to a locomotive: Both headlights are on and dimmed when stopped.  The headlight facing the opposite direction of travel will remain dimmed until the direction is changed again.

To put it another way:

  • Forward - Front headlight on full; rear headlight dimmed
  • Stopped - Both front and rear headlight dimmed
  • Reverse - Rear headlight on full; front headlight dimmed

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, August 5, 2017 5:46 PM

tstage
Have you downloaded the Loksound Select manual from the ESU website?

Yes but I just figured out how to print it full page without the huge margins.  With my old eyes, that is GREAT.

Page 8 says locomotive direction and the headlight should turn off while the backup light turns on. If even this simple operation does not work, please make sure that on the controller, locomotive number 3 is set to use 28 or 128 speed steps

Changing loco number shouldn't matter and I'm good on 128 speed steps.

Looks like a reset is in my future. 

I found my biochemistry text book easier to manage.  Can anyone translate Rule 17 Reverse?

"Rule 17 Reverse: Applicable only if the output is set to either “Dimmable headlight” or “Dimmable headlight with fade in / out”. Causes the effect to be dimmed to around 60% of the set brightness, if the locomotive is stopped. When the engine is running in reverse direction, the output will be set to the desired brightness level"

My understanding is the forward headlight should dim when stopped.  A loco without cars should have the rear light lit as well but dimmed.  True or false?

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, August 5, 2017 4:17 PM

Henry,

Have you downloaded the Loksound Select manual from the ESU website?  Even with the Loksound programmer, it's worth having for a reference.

For convenience here's a link to a .pdf version of the Select manual on the Intermountain website:

http://www.intermountain-railway.com/customerservice/dccwebpage/ESU-LokSound-Select-Manual.pdf

Pgs. 29-32 is where the lighting effects section is located.  As mentioned in the manual, be sure to change CV32 to "0" before changing any of the default lighting effects.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Non Directional Headlights Loksound Direct Select LEDs solved
Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, August 5, 2017 4:04 PM

NCE power cab, Atlas RS-1 (I think, it's > 20 year old with an aftermarket shell, Kato motor) and I did my first successful ?  decoder installation.

I wired the rear LED backward, and it did not work.  The front headlight stays on in both directions.  Wired it properly and now both headlights are on in both directions.  I can dim them or turn the both off or on but I can't run with just one on.  There don't seem to be any other electrical surprises.

Sound was installed with a Loksound programer.  I did the BEMF adjustment and for the record it still makes noise at low speed with the sound off. 

I'm too much of a DCC newbie to have touched any consist settings.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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