head lights not working

[controller]

Hi all, I have just purchased a Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance.I programmed all the locos I have and everything is working fine, except my MM IR 201 and 071 head lights. Marker lights and cab lights are all working fine. FO 0 will turn on the marker lights, FO 3 and 4 will turn on the cab lights. FO 2 will turn on the head lights, but only for a couple of seconds. Any advice on what I need to do, to fix this problem.

 

Thanks,

 

Controller.

[controller]

Hi Lads, Just a quick update on attempts to get my headlights working constant on my 071 and 201 locos. First of all, thanks for all your advice. I played around with the CVs you gave me, Irishthump. It did not work out the way it was suppose to,but after some changes to the ones you gave me I finally got the headlights, marker lights, and cab lights to stay on constant. I use different F numbers on the controller,but not F2. I am happy with the final result. Thanks.

 

Controller.

[WRENNEIRE]

Troops

I am messing around with 4 function chips ( Bachmann & LAIS)

I am not interested in cab lights, only ever used them to check for dirty sections on the track

I am having trouble with the headlights, I have front and rear side lights but cannot seem to get the headlight working properly

Anyone solved this problem?

[murrayec]

Hi wrennie

 

I bit more info required?

 

You say the head light is not working 'properly'?

 

Does that mean it come on and something weird is happening, or is it not coming on at all?

 

Are you using the yellow and white wires to run the headlight? these are directional.

 

Or are you using the green or purple wires?- as they are not directional and require 'push on button'

 

 

The Doctor

[WRENNEIRE]

Doc

The trouble is that the headlight will come on, when I change direction it remains on with the red rear lights

F2 gives me a headlight again with the red sidelights

Thumper produced this which is for 6 function, I am trying to use 4 function, cab lights are of no interest

Any idea what CV's I can abandon for the cab lights?

 

First, CVs 16 and 32 need to be given the following values. This step is very important!

CV31 = 16, CV32 = 2

 

Then programme the following CVs like so:

 

CV363 = 16

CV379 = 32

CV426 = 4

CV442 = 8

CV458 = 16

CV474 = 32

[Noel]

Hi Dave. I've 21pin 4 function decoders working ok in 141, 071 and 201s (Lais and Lenz), and the direction lights inc head lamp are working ok, the only thing not working is cab lights which doesn't bother me in the least either. From memory you need to turn F0,F1 & F2 on to get all lights working ok, but will pop a loco on some track in few mins to double check I've got that right, and edit this post. Noel

 

F0 = Fwd running lights on (white)

F1 = Rear running lights on (red)

F2 = fwd head light on

 

Turn F0 & F1 on for running lights, and F2 to turn head lamp on and off as appropriate (e.g. off entering stations). Change of direction will automatically swap the directional running lights.

Edited July 29, 2017 by Noel
more info

[Noel]

Lights - Lais/Lenz 4 function decoder on MM 071 or 201

 

F0 = Fwd running lights on (white)

F1 = Rear running lights on (red)

F2 = fwd head light on

[murrayec]

Hi Wrennie

 

I've not played with those CVs up in the 300 n 400, so cant give you advise on them. I have tried to program a 4 function chip with JMRI, following instructions from a DCC book to alter the lights- but had no luck. I came to the conclusion that the instructions were for a specific chip and would not work on the one I was trying to program! This may also be the case using the CV settings thumper posted up?

 

My best advise for now is 'Stay warm and drink plenty of liquids' for thumper may be along soon....

 

The Doctor

[irishthump]

Dave,

 

What brand of decoder are you using? Those instructions were for the Loksound decoders.

[WRENNEIRE]

Bachmann 36-557 4 pin, I had the same result with a Lais one

[irishthump]

Bachmann 36-557 4 pin, I had the same result with a Lais one

 

 

And sorry, which loco 201, 071?

[irishthump]

Hi Dave. I've 21pin 4 function decoders working ok in 141, 071 and 201s (Lais and Lenz), and the direction lights inc head lamp are working ok, the only thing not working is cab lights which doesn't bother me in the least either. From memory you need to turn F0,F1 & F2 on to get all lights working ok, but will pop a loco on some track in few mins to double check I've got that right, and edit this post. Noel

 

F0 = Fwd running lights on (white)

F1 = Rear running lights on (red)

F2 = fwd head light on

 

Turn F0 & F1 on for running lights, and F2 to turn head lamp on and off as appropriate (e.g. off entering stations). Change of direction will automatically swap the directional running lights.

 

Noel,

 

Which decoder are you using in the 071/201?

 

The Lais decoder seems to have the exact same manual as the Gaugemaster decoders which means they can be a bit limited when trying to map the lighting functions.

[WRENNEIRE]

Both man

But I am working on the 201 at the moment

[irishthump]

Both man

But I am working on the 201 at the moment

 

OK.

 

Taking the Lais decoder first, I'm guessing you have front and back marker lights on F0? And do the lights at one end come stay on when you press F2 or F3?

Edited July 30, 2017 by irishthump

[WRENNEIRE]

With the Lais:

FO front & back markers

F1 headlight which stays on and is non directional

F2 headlight flashes at opposite end to headlight, so it flashes at the red marker end, bizarre!

F3 does jack

[irishthump]

OK. You're using a Gaugemaster Prodigy or NCE Powercab?

 

When you say flashing do you mean it only stays on when you keep the button pressed or is it actually flashing on and off?

[WRENNEIRE]

Prodigy

Just stays on when I hold F2 down

[irishthump]

Prodigy

Just stays on when I hold F2 down

 

That's your problem. F2 on the Prodigy is "non-latching" so it only stays on while pressed down. All the other function buttons stay on when pressed once. You need to move it to another function button. Give us a few mins....

[WRENNEIRE]

The headlight is non directional, stays in the same position all the time, whether forward or reverse

[irishthump]

Try changing CV 36 to 16. That should move that headlight to F3 instead.

[irishthump]

The headlight is non directional, stays in the same position all the time, whether forward or reverse

 

I don't think there's way to get them to change directionally with that decoder. You'll have to settle for turning them on and off at each end.

[WRENNEIRE]

What about a Bachmann chip?

As far as I remember the 141's operate fine with a Lais hip

[Noel]

Noel, Which decoder are you using in the 071/201?

 

Hi Graham.

It was a laisdcc, which seems to be an identical a rip off of the TCS M4, so TCS function remapping might work. Mine worked out of the box with default settings on 071 and 201 using F0,F1,F2 as posted above and direction changes ok. Controller was an NCE. Wonder if the dip switches on the loco might have been accidentally changed?

Noel

 

Some Laisdcc feedback: http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/5706-DCC-Decoders?highlight=lais

Edited July 30, 2017 by Noel

[irishthump]

What about a Bachmann chip?

As far as I remember the 141's operate fine with a Lais hip

 

Not sure about the function mapping on the Bachmann, have to look into it.

 

The Lais works fine on the 141 because there's only 2 lighting functions to be mapped, the 071/201's have 4.

[WRENNEIRE]

I have tried a few different Lais chips in the 201 and they all seem to have the same problem

Been through most of the suggested remaps and I cannot get them to operate as per the MM chips in the 201

I have changed CV 32 to 16 previously and had the same result as Thumper suggested

I was really hoping for it to operate the same as the MM one

[irishthump]

Hi Graham.

It was a laisdcc, which seems to be an identical a rip off of the TCS M4, so TCS function remapping might work. Mine worked out of the box with default settings on 071 and 201 using F0,F1,F2 as posted above and direction changes ok. Controller was an NCE. Wonder if the dip switches on the loco might have been accidentally changed?

Noel

 

Some Laisdcc feedback: http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/5706-DCC-Decoders?highlight=lais

 

Yeah the TCS looks the same too. The Lais manual is a carbon copy of the Gaugemaster DCC25.

 

It looks like Dave's problem is actually the controller's F2 not being a latching function.

[irishthump]

I have tried a few different Lais chips in the 201 and they all seem to have the same problem

Been through most of the suggested remaps and I cannot get them to operate as per the MM chips in the 201

I have changed CV 32 to 16 previously and had the same result as Thumper suggested

I was really hoping for it to operate the same as the MM one

 

Just to clarify, did that change I suggested move the other light to F3?

 

The problem is the MM chip (ESU Lokpilot) is higher spec than the Lais or Bachmann which are budget decoders (fine for normal use but lacking extra features). Having said that the Lais have a lot of programming options for lighting effects like gyro lights, dimming and strobes but these are aimed at US modellers.

Edited July 30, 2017 by irishthump

[WRENNEIRE]

Worked fine man

Just a bummer having to work the headlights individually rather than directionally

[irishthump]

Worked fine man

Just a bummer having to work the headlights individually rather than directionally

 

Ya gets what ya pays or and all that!

[Noel]

Ya gets what ya pays or and all that!

 

Yip Lenz 10321 or ESU LokPilot V4 all the way.

[WRENNEIRE]

071 fix for non Murphy chips

 

CV 34 = 2

CV 35 = 4

CV 36 = 8

No cab lights with these 4 function chips

[Noel]

071 fix for non Murphy chips

 

CV 34 = 2

CV 35 = 4

CV 36 = 8

No cab lights with these 4 function chips

 

Hi Dave.

Is that specific to the Bachmann 36-557 decoder (i.e. SoundTraxx MC1)? CVs use is very different for specific decoders.

Noel

[WRENNEIRE]

Works on Baccy & Lais Noel

[irishthump]

071 fix for non Murphy chips

 

CV 34 = 2

CV 35 = 4

CV 36 = 8

No cab lights with these 4 function chips

 

Does that give you directional headlights or do still have to turn them on and off at each end yourself?

[WRENNEIRE]

Directional on the 071 Thumper

[irishthump]

Directional on the 071 Thumper

 

Thought so. The 071 has a different pcb to the 201.