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Paragon 2 question

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  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 550 posts
Paragon 2 question
Posted by hdtvnut on Monday, April 13, 2015 4:17 AM

I finished installing six disk magnets on the driver #3 of my BLI UP 4-12-2 to get around BLI's inability to generate a synchronized six-chuff with their flywheel pickup.  I planned to use a Hall Effect sensor, but a reed switch worked much better.

Of course, because the Paragon 2 in this engine was set up to divide the input count by three, I get two chuffs per driver revolution, so I must either change decoders, or find out if the Paragon can be changed to eliminate the divide function and correspond with a chuff per each input.  Does anyone know if an undocumented CV change, of if a point on the board to connect to after the divider could solve this problem?

Hal

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 550 posts
Posted by hdtvnut on Monday, April 13, 2015 3:27 PM

I called BLI to ask if the divide-by-three circuit could be bypassed, but it had to be referred to another tech, so am waiting.  The only thing I know yet is that the divide circuit is set as part of the firmware.  In two cylinder engines with the usual gear ratio of 24:1, it is divide-by-six.

WOW would also be my choice, and I have some on hand, so am prepared for a negative answer.

Hal

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 5:58 AM

Disreguard this, I was thinking of Baldwin #60000 with the 90-135-135

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 550 posts
Posted by hdtvnut on Saturday, May 9, 2015 3:54 PM

The answer from BLI was negative, no way to get 1:1 pulse/chuff.  But I also got out my scope and went all over the decoder board with no success.

The Wow transplant into the 4-12-2 went well.  I was able to set up the lighting with the same Rule 17 dimming, but I put the cab light and red light on separate throttle functions.

Regarding sound, I found a recording on Amazon to use as a model for the 3-3 chuff.  The Wow whistle called "reconstructed ATSF 6 chime" sounds very much like the recording, so am using it. 

The chuff is reliable with a red washer added to the axle to limit sideplay.  It wasn't necessary, but I decided to take the smoke generator out since I never use one.

Hal 

 

 

 

 

 

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