Electronics and DCC

 I need some help in setting up this locomotive: it came with a decoder installed, and i am now in theprocess of changing my locomotives over to DCC.  I have an MRC Prodigy Express system.

For this locomotive, I confirmed it ran well on DC; I then relocated the jumper plug per the Atlas instructions. I programmed in the loco address, and all seems well except the class lights now do not function correctly. They only come on while I press & hold  F2 on the cab; they do not operate otherwise.

I have emailed Atlas, but no answer yet.  Their on-line instructions for this loco indicate you can set the classification lights to another function ( e.g., F1) by changing CV-54 values, and the table shows bit values for this. I do not know what this means, or how you do it.

Can this be explained how I do this, in a simple step by step fashion? 

Any help will be appreciated.

 Mr. Mick

York, Maine

modeling the New Haven
 

 F2 is usually the horn function, so it's momentary - only works as long as you hold the button. To reporgram CV54 to a different function key, look at the numbers in parentheses in the right-hand column. These are the decimal values for each bit. Pick the F key you want to use for the class lights, then see what number in in parentheses in that row. Program that number in CV54 and now whatever F key that is will operate the class lights. For F1, the value would be 1. As it is current set on F2, the value should current be set to 2. For F3, you would use 4.

 Quick math lesson - remember place value in elementary school? That's all this is. From left to right, the 8 bits that make up a byte of data (a CV in the decoder) the values are 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1. Add together the values for every bit that has a value of 1, ignore ones with a value of 0, and you have the decimal equivalent. Just like in a decimal number like 3401: That's thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones. 3 thousands, 4 hundreds, 0 tens, and 1 one.

                                --Randy

Randy has it right. I was a little surprised that F2 (non latching relay) was assigned from the factory. Remapping to F3 (latching relay) worked for me using the table. I use an MRC prodigy express and I also use a programing track.

The lights will need to be changed by you manually using F3 for example as you change the loco's direction. I have not been able to get arround this. Change loco direction and than hit F3 until you have the green in the direction of travel. It is minor as the effect of these lights is excellent. When you first start the H 16 up you will also need to hit F3 a few times to get the directional lights to be green and red. They will start either off or yellow I forget right now.

Another thing I did with my ATLAS H 15 and and H16 is to use a Soundtraxx low cost decoder for FM sound only. I would not use the Soundtraxx low cost for power as it makes the motor hum, etc. Using the Soundtraxx for sound only worked out well. Program each to the same address. Program separately not at the same time. You can also assign different  "short addresses" to be able to program while installed in loco. When you are happy solder your wires etc. There is plenty of room in the big FM carbody.

Hope this is helpful, Chris

Forgot the following advice.

In sound equipped DCC F1 is Bell, F2 is Horn. I would remap to F3 as F4 and up have special assignments as well in sound decoders.

MrMick,

A quick note to those who do not have one of these. They have class/direction lights and are extremely realistic. I have two CNJ FM units and a CNJ ex B&O FM and am extremely pleased with the ATLAS decoder on these and these lights. The problem is that from the factory they mapped these lights to F2. This is a non latching relay that is set up for a horn not lights. To keep the class/direction lights on you need to keep the F2 pressed. Remapping this function to F3 eliminates this.

Just pulled out my index card on CV's for this locomotive. A good idea I learned on this forum. Just because these are all standard they still all end up different.

I set CV 54 equal to 4.

This setting remaps the class/direction lights away from F2 to F3. F3 is a latching relay. Stays closed until pressed again.

Look on ATLAS web site or if you have the manual at home. Page 3 says you can do it and page 9 shows the value.

The Prodigy Advance reads a CV but does not tell you what it is. So you will go to "programming" on the main, with no other loco's on the main, or go to "program track". Begin scrolling through the configuration variables as you did to change the road number.

You will come to CV 54, enter, fill in the number 4. Continue on until the end as you did when you changed the road number. Don't forget you need to select your loco with the new road number but I think you know that. F3 will now control the class/direction lights manually.

In addition you will note in operation that you need to manually change the class/direction lights when the loco changes direction. When first applying power to tracks the lights will be yellow. Press F3 until you see green in the direction you are traveling. Red is to the rear. When changing direction you will need to manually change the green to the forward direction. The class/direction lights will go out press again they will change to green in forward direction. I have not been able to figure out how to change these automatically.

I chose F3 because it might not be used when using a sound decoder. F1 is for Bell, F2 is Horn, F4 is dynamic brake on a soundtraxx, etc. As discussed above I use a Soundtraxx FM low cost for sound only retaining the neat class/direction lights that are on the ATLAS decoder. When you have the room the Soundtraxx low cost is the best sound only decoder you can buy.

Hope this is helpful, Chris

 Thanks for the detailed explanation; I was able to change the lights form F2 to F3, and they work fine. IT's really a nice feature, one that i wasnot totally aware of when I purchased the loco a coupe of years ago. Thanks, again!

Mr. Mick