Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
QUOTE: Originally posted by DigitalGriffin QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1 [ The 680 ohm resistor is added each of the functions, not the common blue wire. If you have the headlight and fire box flicker, two 680 ohm resistors are needed for LED's. Why would you need a resistor for a 12 Volt LED? Or are you saying a resistor is needed for LED's that have a lower voltage like 5 Volts? The information relates to LED and 1.5V micro bulbs only that I talked about, but the data came from the Tsunami Installation guide. The Tsunami has a CV for each of the lighting functions and you can select a bulb or LED along with the type of light that is being selected. I do not have any information about a 12v LED but I think Soundtraxx could address the question. The ony ones that I have used up to now will not take the full voltage except for a short test. I am only using the guide as Soundtraxx wrote it so my units are in warranty. On page 22 of the installation guide, it states the 12v to 16v bulbs are wired direct. The resistor is called out in the Tsunami installation page 23 and I followed the directions for my installation. It is on the Soundtraxx web page and you can download it. The handout you get with the Tsunami does not show the resistor, but you are warned that any output over 100m amperes will cause damage to the unit. I would think that the 12V bulbs might be too large a load for the drivers. They indicate a 560 Ohm resistor with a 1.5V bulb also. Soundtraxx has a technical email line and they have emailed me back with related answers. I have talked to them several times with the problem of articulated sound not being prototype. They do not have an answer yet on that one but were doing more testing. And by the way, the sound is really great overall and the firebox flicker can be programmed to work on its own at random or timed with the exhaust. I choose to use two LED's in the firebox, one on Function five programmed randow style, and a second LED on Function six timed to the exhaust. Reply Edit cacole Member sinceJuly 2003 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona 13,757 posts Posted by cacole on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 12:44 PM Most LEDs are rated at 1.3 to 1.5 volts. The resistor is to cut down on the initial current surge when the function is turned on, and is to protect both the decoder and the LED. LEDs will automatically pass no more than their rated voltage, but can be burned up from too much of a current surge without the resistor. But getting back to the original question, the light bulbs in IHC locomotives do not require any type of resistor because they are 14 volt bulbs that are wired directly to the wheels with no resistors or constant lighting board to cut down on the applied voltage, so why would they need a resistor to operate on 12 volts DC decoder output? I've never encountered an IHC or Rivarossi locomotive with headlights wired any different than this except the new IHC 2-10-2, which is now DCC ready with a constant lighting board and decoder socket in the tender. Reply DigitalGriffin Member sinceDecember 2004 From: Pa. 3,361 posts Posted by DigitalGriffin on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 10:41 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1 [ The 680 ohm resistor is added each of the functions, not the common blue wire. If you have the headlight and fire box flicker, two 680 ohm resistors are needed for LED's. Why would you need a resistor for a 12 Volt LED? Or are you saying a resistor is needed for LED's that have a lower voltage like 5 Volts? Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam! Reply selector Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Vancouver Island, BC 23,330 posts Posted by selector on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 10:18 AM Thanks for your replies, Gentlemen. I will pass this on to him. -Crandell Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 10:13 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by selector The fellow who is installing my Tsunami (no, I'm not there yet), needs to know if he can "half-wave" the lights using the red wire, and not the blue wire that is the conventional way. He wants to cut the voltage to help the lights to last, but doesn't know if the Tsunami can take that approach. Anyone know? Thanks, in advance, for your reply(ies). -Crandell If you go to the Soundtraxx page, you can download the Tsunami installation instructions. The Red wire has to be connected normally without a resistor. Using a resistor in the red or black wire would cut the voltage to the decoder and it would not function correctly. The 680 ohm resistor is added each of the functions, not the common blue wire. If you have the headlight and fire box flicker, two 680 ohm resistors are needed for LED's. If you are using the 1.5V micro bulbs, a slightly different resistor can be used to get the correct brightness. http://www.soundtraxx.com/products/dcc/docs.htm Both the installation guide and the programming guide is on the Soundtraxx web site. Reply Edit DigitalGriffin Member sinceDecember 2004 From: Pa. 3,361 posts Posted by DigitalGriffin on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 9:21 AM His best bet would be to use LEDs as these operate at the default voltage of 12V+, last a very long time, and consume very little current. (Plus they are bright too boot.) He could also use "Wheat" Bulbs which run as 12V without new resistors. Try Loys Toys, Lynchfield, or Tonys for advice BTW: I LOOOOVE my Tsunami. :-) Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam! Reply cacole Member sinceJuly 2003 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona 13,757 posts Posted by cacole on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 7:35 AM All 20 or so of the IHC locomotives that I have put decoders into have had 14 volt bulbs and no resistors were necessary. My latest install was a Tsunami into the new IHC 2-10-2 and it required no resistors. Use the blue and white wires as per NMRA standards. Reply selector Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Vancouver Island, BC 23,330 posts Posted by selector on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 1:28 AM Thanks, fellas. I told him I thought that he should install resistors, but he said that doing so raises the current from the decoder, and can cause another set of problems. He doesn't disagree with us; he just wants to know if his idea is possible because he has done that on other Soundtraxx decoders with success, but he doesn't want to fry a CDN $100 decoder. -Crandell Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 11:35 PM From what I know about DCC, what he describes is not possible. If he wants to cut voltage to the bulb, he needs place a risitor between the blue wire (which is the common accessory lead) and the bulb, and hook the red wire up like normal. Reply Edit jnichols Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Salt Lake City 388 posts Posted by jnichols on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 11:31 PM Although I have never tried this with any decoder, my guess would be no. Has he done this sucessfully with another brand of decoder? If you are worried about light bulbs getting too much voltage, just install a resistor in series with the bulb. This is the tried and true method of dropping voltage in all my (and most people I know) installations... [:)] Jeff Jeff ww.trainshoppeslc.com Reply selector Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Vancouver Island, BC 23,330 posts Tsunami help -lights on IHC Mike VERDICT Posted by selector on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 7:48 PM The fellow who is installing my Tsunami (no, I'm not there yet), needs to know if he can "half-wave" the lights using the red wire, and not the blue wire that is the conventional way. He wants to cut the voltage to help the lights to last, but doesn't know if the Tsunami can take that approach. Anyone know? Thanks, in advance, for your reply(ies). -Crandell Reply Subscriber & Member Login Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more! 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QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1 [ The 680 ohm resistor is added each of the functions, not the common blue wire. If you have the headlight and fire box flicker, two 680 ohm resistors are needed for LED's. Why would you need a resistor for a 12 Volt LED? Or are you saying a resistor is needed for LED's that have a lower voltage like 5 Volts?
[ The 680 ohm resistor is added each of the functions, not the common blue wire. If you have the headlight and fire box flicker, two 680 ohm resistors are needed for LED's.
QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1 [ The 680 ohm resistor is added each of the functions, not the common blue wire. If you have the headlight and fire box flicker, two 680 ohm resistors are needed for LED's. Why would you need a resistor for a 12 Volt LED? Or are you saying a resistor is needed for LED's that have a lower voltage like 5 Volts? Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam! Reply selector Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Vancouver Island, BC 23,330 posts Posted by selector on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 10:18 AM Thanks for your replies, Gentlemen. I will pass this on to him. -Crandell Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 10:13 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by selector The fellow who is installing my Tsunami (no, I'm not there yet), needs to know if he can "half-wave" the lights using the red wire, and not the blue wire that is the conventional way. He wants to cut the voltage to help the lights to last, but doesn't know if the Tsunami can take that approach. Anyone know? Thanks, in advance, for your reply(ies). -Crandell If you go to the Soundtraxx page, you can download the Tsunami installation instructions. The Red wire has to be connected normally without a resistor. Using a resistor in the red or black wire would cut the voltage to the decoder and it would not function correctly. The 680 ohm resistor is added each of the functions, not the common blue wire. If you have the headlight and fire box flicker, two 680 ohm resistors are needed for LED's. If you are using the 1.5V micro bulbs, a slightly different resistor can be used to get the correct brightness. http://www.soundtraxx.com/products/dcc/docs.htm Both the installation guide and the programming guide is on the Soundtraxx web site. Reply Edit DigitalGriffin Member sinceDecember 2004 From: Pa. 3,361 posts Posted by DigitalGriffin on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 9:21 AM His best bet would be to use LEDs as these operate at the default voltage of 12V+, last a very long time, and consume very little current. (Plus they are bright too boot.) He could also use "Wheat" Bulbs which run as 12V without new resistors. Try Loys Toys, Lynchfield, or Tonys for advice BTW: I LOOOOVE my Tsunami. :-) Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam! Reply cacole Member sinceJuly 2003 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona 13,757 posts Posted by cacole on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 7:35 AM All 20 or so of the IHC locomotives that I have put decoders into have had 14 volt bulbs and no resistors were necessary. My latest install was a Tsunami into the new IHC 2-10-2 and it required no resistors. Use the blue and white wires as per NMRA standards. Reply selector Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Vancouver Island, BC 23,330 posts Posted by selector on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 1:28 AM Thanks, fellas. I told him I thought that he should install resistors, but he said that doing so raises the current from the decoder, and can cause another set of problems. He doesn't disagree with us; he just wants to know if his idea is possible because he has done that on other Soundtraxx decoders with success, but he doesn't want to fry a CDN $100 decoder. -Crandell Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 11:35 PM From what I know about DCC, what he describes is not possible. If he wants to cut voltage to the bulb, he needs place a risitor between the blue wire (which is the common accessory lead) and the bulb, and hook the red wire up like normal. Reply Edit jnichols Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Salt Lake City 388 posts Posted by jnichols on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 11:31 PM Although I have never tried this with any decoder, my guess would be no. Has he done this sucessfully with another brand of decoder? If you are worried about light bulbs getting too much voltage, just install a resistor in series with the bulb. This is the tried and true method of dropping voltage in all my (and most people I know) installations... [:)] Jeff Jeff ww.trainshoppeslc.com Reply selector Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Vancouver Island, BC 23,330 posts Tsunami help -lights on IHC Mike VERDICT Posted by selector on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 7:48 PM The fellow who is installing my Tsunami (no, I'm not there yet), needs to know if he can "half-wave" the lights using the red wire, and not the blue wire that is the conventional way. He wants to cut the voltage to help the lights to last, but doesn't know if the Tsunami can take that approach. Anyone know? Thanks, in advance, for your reply(ies). -Crandell Reply Subscriber & Member Login Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more! Login Register Users Online There are no community member online Search the Community ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Model Railroader Newsletter See all Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox! Sign up
QUOTE: Originally posted by selector The fellow who is installing my Tsunami (no, I'm not there yet), needs to know if he can "half-wave" the lights using the red wire, and not the blue wire that is the conventional way. He wants to cut the voltage to help the lights to last, but doesn't know if the Tsunami can take that approach. Anyone know? Thanks, in advance, for your reply(ies). -Crandell