The DCC replacement board I ordered for my P2K GP60 arrived this week. (Digitrax DH165L0)
Easy to install and it works as excpected. The only problem is that the front headlights (in this case it has two small ~1.5v bulbs for the front) aren;t recieving enough power. Reverse the locomotive and the rear headlight illuminates fully. But in forward, the bulbs jsut aren't getting enough power. If you look close in dim lighting, you can see the filaments have a dull red glow, so they are getting some. I experimented and put the original light board back on and ran the loco on DC; the bulbs are just fine then, so it's not the wiring between the 8-pin harness and the bulbs.
Is there a CV or something I need to change in order for the front bulbs to get enough juice?
Thanks,
Acela (DCC Newbie )
The timbers beneath the rails are not the only ties that bind on the railroad. --Robert S. McGonigal
Does it have just one light bulb in the back, but two up front? If so, this is where it stops being plug and play. The DH165L0 includes the dropping resistors needed to run the light bulbs in P2K locos. ONE at each end. It depends on how the two at the front are wired, it they are in series, it MIGHT work in parallel, although two bulbs in parallel may draw more current than the function output can handle. You can get around it all by slicing the jumper on the decoder that will bypass the dropping resistors, however you will then have to install your own or the bulbs will instantly burn out. Or, repalce them with LEDs and resistors and never worry about it again.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Yes, it has the two bulbs up front, one in the rear.
Hmmm the LEDs sound like a better option. I like their look better anyway.
Would I have to use different sized resistors?