I've got 2 Athearn Genesis SD70ACe's. One is Tsunami DCC/Sound fitted, the other is DCC ready. What difficulties (if any) would I encounter in swapping the decoder and lighting boards between them.
??? Seems a strange request. ??? Why do you want to do this. Or if they are painted different or something just swap the bodies...I've got 2 Athearn Genesis SD70ACe's. One is Tsunami DCC/Sound fitted, the other is DCC ready. What difficulties (if any) would I encounter in swapping the decoder and lighting boards between them.
Yes it is that they are painted differently and it's the opposite I'm wanting to keep. The lights are the same and in the same position, but not sure if the tsunami decoder will have different voltage bulbs to the DCC ready. If not then it's just a matter of unclipping the light wires etc from the boards when swapping and bob's your uncle (or aunty if so inclined), otherwise might be more of a mission (not something I've attempted). Yes and the speaker mountings would be another issue as well, so I am trying to pre-empt the effort of taking both apart first by picking the collective experience of the knowledgable.
Hmm, seems like a good opportunity to change the globes for LEDs.
Yes it is that they are painted differently and it's the opposite I'm wanting to keep. The lights are the same and in the same position, but not sure if the tsunami decoder will have different voltage bulbs to the DCC ready. If not then it's just a matter of unclipping the light wires etc from the boards when swapping and bob's your uncle (or aunty if so inclined), otherwise might be more of a mission (not something I've attempted). Yes and the speaker mountings would be another issue as well, so I am trying to pre-empt the effort of taking both apart first by picking the collective experience of the knowledgable.
Yes you can swap the boards. The Tsunami has built in resistors correct for the Athearn factory bulbs. I do this all the time with my Genesis locos as I buy them DCC ready and install my Tsunamis later
There is one fellow at the club who solders up those tiny surface mount LEDs. Jaycars have opened a shop in Strathpine. There should be one in Caboolture too. They sell a range of LEDs including a nice and bright 3 mm LED which seems to be favoured by modern modellers. I might have some optic fibre around somewhere.
What sort of lights are we talking? Headlights, ditch lights, number boards?
the downside to the athearn tsunami boards is that they are set up with 1.5 volt outputs for the lights, so they wont light up a 3 volt led. unless there is a way that i do not know about, or cant seem to find.
the downside to the athearn tsunami boards is that they are set up with 1.5 volt outputs for the lights, so they wont light up a 3 volt led. unless there is a way that i do not know about, or cant seem to find.
tootnkumin said:LED's might be a bit bright for #boards etc,...
Hmm, I was thinking about getting an Athearn GP-9 with sound to patch as an RSS loco. Just changed my mind. I'll go for the DCC ready version now.
the downside to the athearn tsunami boards is that they are set up with 1.5 volt outputs for the lights, so they wont light up a 3 volt led. unless there is a way that i do not know about, or cant seem to find.
They will light LEDs no problem. Just wire the positive leads all to the whole marked "14v" and put 1000 ohm resistors on the function pads on the decoder and solder the negative leads to thm. Done, never burn out, 5000+ hours of use.
Yep and set bit 7 to compensate if you like...
CV 49-52
Hyperlight Effect Select
Description
Used to set the Hyperlight lighting effect and control mode for their respective output:
CV 49, Headlight Effect Select
CV 50, Backup Light Effect Select
CV 51, FX5 Effect Select
CV 52, FX6 Effect Select
Bits 0-3: EF[0..3] Effect Type Select
0 = On/Off output
1 = Rule 17 Dimmable headlight
2 = Mars Light
3 = Pyle Gyralite
4 = Oscillating Headlight
5 = Single Flash Strobe
6 = Double Flash Strobe
7 = Western Cullen D312 Rotary Beacon
8 = Prime Stratolite
9 = Type I Ditch Light
10 = Type II Ditch Light
11 = FRED (End of Train flasher)
12 = Engine Exhaust Flicker
13 = Firebox Flicker
14 = Smart Firebox Flicker
15 = Dyno-Light
Most of the effects are self-descriptive. However a few need some additional notes:
Dimmable Headlight - The function output is normally an on/off output. If the output is on, the output level will be reduced about 60% whenever the dimmer function is on.
Type I and Type II Ditch Lights - These are identical when operating. However, if the grade crossing logic is enabled, the Type I ditch light will revert to a steady on state when it is not flashing whereas the Type II lights will turn off.
Lighting Effect CVs Bit 7 Bit 0 LED R17 XING PHSE EF3 EF2 EF1 EF0Tsunami Diesel Technical Reference Page 44
Engine Exhaust - This effect produces a random flicker whose intensity is proportional to the engine RPMs. It is best used by placing a red/ orange lamp under the model’s exhaust port, out of direct view. As the engine is revved up, it will glow brighter, imitating unmuffled exhaust gases and sparks.
Dyno-Light - This effect for diesel locomotives softly fades the lamp brightness on and off to simulate the heating and cooling of the bulb filament.
Bit 4: PHSE, Phase Select Bit
0 = Phase A
1 = Phase B
Phase Select Bit - Alters the timing of the effect so that it is 180 degrees out of phase with the other effects. This allows you to have two light effects that blink back and forth if desired. Set one effect to phase A and the other to phase B.
Bit 5: XING, Grade Crossing Logic Enable
0 = Crossing Logic disabled
1 = Crossing Logic enabled when Horn function is on.
Grade Crossing Logic Bit - Causes the lighting effect to become active only when the horn has been sounded (and the corresponding lighting function key is also on). A typical use would be to cause the ditch lights to flash at a grade crossing. The grade crossing logic can be used with almost all the Hyperlight effects. The on/off, dimmable headlight, FRED, engine exhaust, and firebox flicker effects will not be affected. The other effects will either turn off (strobes and beacons) or revert to a steady on state (mars light, ditch lights, etc.) as appropriate to prototype practice.
Bit 6: R17, Rule 17 Mode
0 = Rule 17 Mode disabled
1 = Rule 17 Mode enabled
Rule 17 Mode - Converts the headlight and backup light to independent, non-directional lights. When this mode is active, the headlight is controlled as if it were FX5 and the backup light as FX6 and vice-versa.
Bit 7: LED, LED Compensation Enable
0 = Incandescent Compatible Lighting Outputs enabled
1 = LED Compatible Lighting Outputs enabled
LED Compensation - Improves lighting effect contrast when using LEDs instead of incandescent lamps.
Default Value: 15 (CV 49, 50), 1 (Varies)
Related CVs: See also CV 59, CV 60