Has anyone had experience with installing a decoder in a Atlas New Jersey Transit Multi level Cab car. The instructions in the box say to look at ESU LokSound select ESU 73900. My research so far has shown this decoder needs to be programmed with special programmer from ESU. ALso the price is more than the Atlas Cab Car. Price is not a show stopper, but having to use a special programmer???? Question is is there another decoder out there at a more reasonable price, I really only want to control the lights, not really interested in the different sounds, as I have the Atlas ALP-45 Gold as prime mover. Dom
What scale are you in? Have you checked Digitrax's decoder selector... http://www.digitrax.com/products/engine-matrix/decoder/ Sumner
You only need the ESU programmer if you want to reload/ change data on the decoder. Changing CVs works just like any other decoder. If you don't want sound look at their Lokpilot range, much cheaper than the sound ones.
ESU Loksound and Lokpilot decoders are very good, even also Zimo decoders , but eventually it will come down to which of all the decoders out there impress you and will do what you require and is easy for you to get hold of. Judging from the recent changes in decoders at ESU, Zimo and Piko we might see a lot more changes from the other decoders makers later in the year.
ok finally decided to go with loksound decoder 54621. Not a sound decoder as the ALP 45 has sound. So far only thing that works are the head lights on the Cab car. Lost the interior lights once decoder was installed. I can not find any information on Atlas or Loksound web sites as to how to install this decoder or how to program it. Did find a video showing installation of a sound decoder (cost more than the cab car) but it removes another circuit board that i suspect runs the lights inside the car.
The decoder you got is from ESU "old" v4 range. Look for the ESU v4 Loksound and/ or lokpilot manual on the internet. If you have to do a bit of soldering to install, the colouring is the same as any of the other decoder makers. Plugin harness even easier. DecoderPro is still the easiest way of setting your decoder they way you want it. Before you setup with Decoderpro do the CV54 setup (see manual) to get the setting for motor and then just read the motor sheet in to get the settings. ESU manual cover a range of decoders (e.g. Lokpilot V4) and not a single decoder.
ok after a day and a half looking through loksound manuals, I give up. Decided to return the decoder to where I purchased it. Will try a different decoder from different manufacturer. Just cant seem to get AUX 3 and/or Aux 4 to work. I am aware that these are logic level outputs but with a meter connected to either aux 3 or aux4 the is zero volts, nothing regardless of which Function key I hit. Cant find anything in the manual either except for reprogramming these outputs. It cant be that hard to light up the interior of the passenger car. Head lights ditch lights and tail lights work Ok.
All of the functions that I'm aware of take whatever you are controlling to ground. That should be the reason you are seeing zero volts. On the ones I've worked with you take the blue positive to the item you want to power. Then the Aux function wire for that item is connect to the ground side of the item. When the function activates then the circuit through the item is complete and it turns on. Hopefully that is clear and hopefully some others will weigh in on this. Maybe also elaborate a little more on what you are trying to accomplish with Aux 3 and 4. Sumner
Hello summer thanks for your reply. Some additional details on this. I installed this decoder in a atlas New Jersey transit bi level cab car. I have the decoder working headlights taillights, and ditch lights. This is taking up four functions. I am trying to use aux 3 to control the interior lights. The decoder has 21 MTc plug and is connected to a socket on a light board. It looks like the aux 3 output goes to a transistor so i think I have the drive requirement satisfied. I just can't seem to get aux 3 pin to do anything. It just sits a 0 volts. Other function outputs switch between 0 and 11.8volts. Aux3 and 4 are logic outputs so I would assume it should be going between 0 and 5 volts. There is 5 volts in the Vcc pin.
Hi, not sure if any of this will help or not but think I found the right manual... https://www.intermountain-railway.com/customerservice/dccwebpage/ESU LokPilot V4.0.pdf and I would look at the following for starters ... Page 55 -- 12.2.3.1 Example Example: Switching AUX3 with F8. Assuming you have a LokPilot V4.0 decoder and you want to switch AUX 3 with the button F8 subject to direction of travel. With the help of the ESU adapter board 51968 you added a light bulb to AUX 3. A glance at the table “Standard mapping LokPilot V4.0” on page 55 shows that nothing has to be changed in the input block. F8 has already been entered in mapping row 14. As per the table in chapter 12.2.2.2., we must set the first CV of the block to 16 in order to activate AUX3. From the overview table on page 42 we determine that this must be CV 474 (Index 2). Therefore we first must set CV 32 to value 2 and then CV 474 to the value of 16. For this example to work the AUX3 output must also be switched on. This is explained in chapter 12.3. 12.2.4. Page 58 -- 12.3.1. Switching on outputs and different options Each function output can / must be unlocked prior to using it. Furthermore each output can be set to a certain effect and can be combined with the global function “Grade crossing”, “Dimmer” and “Fire box”. Effects are divided into lighting effects and special effects. Note the 'Each function output can / must be unlocked prior to using it.' Not sure what to say if none of that helps you. I haven't dealt with one that has this complexity so you are a ways ahead of me, Sumner
Thanks again Sumner for your quick reply. As far as the manual, the one you point out is the one I am using. I did see all the paragraphs you refer to. Tried some of the stuff but cant get it to work the way I want it to. This is very confusing and should not need a PHD to figure out how to turn on some lights/LEDs. Anyway I decided to return the decoder and get a NEC D16MTC which has six function outputs that seem to be very easy to control. Thanks again Dom
Sounds like probably the best plan. This did pique my interest in the logic-level function outputs as I hadn't run into them before. Did find a good discussion on them by Googling the following .... Using ESU Logic-level function outputs - page 1 - DCC Since it sounds like you never saw 5 volts I'm wonder if the function's output ever got turned on? Even if it was, to use it with an LED (or a light?) it sounds like you need either another board from them or need to get the parts like what is mentioned in the discussion above. A decoder that only uses non-logic-level functions like what you have found seems to be an easier way to go. Sumner
Hi Sumner. I suspect you are correct that the outputs were not turned on. I just gave up trying to figure it out. Biggest problem is the manual one 78 page manual covers 7 or 8 different decoders!! As far as logic level vs non logic level what I have found is that logic levels are popular with non us locos like marklin. The NEC decoder I found clearly states "set CV 115 to 0 for full function or 1 for logic levels (may be backwards but you get the idea)" . Once I get the nec decoder I will update this post to let you know the result for future reference.
Ok got my new nec 6 function decoder with 21MTC plug. Everything works fine. I can control all lights and effects with no problem. Now on to the trailer cars to be able to shut off interior lights Will probably look for simple 3 function decoder
