Here we go again... Dim light?

baldwinjl

Member
Are the lights in series or parallel when you hook them up? If in series, and the decoder is set up to put out 1.5 V, then they probably won't light if both are hooked up. I woul dbe surprised it the decoder can't drive both in parallel.

And they are bulbs and not LEDs, right?

Jeff
 

green_elite_cab

Keep It Moving!
They are wired in parrallel. I soldered together the corresponding lamp wires so that I could wire them in one to each headlight out put lead.

It says you can modify the decoder to run at 30mA instead of 15mA, would that help it, could programming increas the power?
 

baldwinjl

Member
OK, here we go.....
When you only light one lamp, is it bright enough?
If so, I think you have two choices, and from what I can glean from the documentation, either should work....
Since it seems to be a current limiting supply, rather than a voltage, just wire them in series.
Or, double the current by cutting the trace on the board. I think I'd try series, first. The downside would be that if one goes, there will be no light.

Jeff
 

green_elite_cab

Keep It Moving!
What's the rear light, and what's it wored to? This could also be a programming thing....

Jeff


Its on the rear headlight terminal. the DH165AO is a boar replacement type decoder, so the outer corners go to the corresponding truck and side, the pair of middle contacts on each end go to the headlights, and the central pair of contacts go to the motor.

I'm starting to wonder if i might have accidentally shorted it out without knowing, but i see no damage.
 

baldwinjl

Member
Its on the rear headlight terminal. the DH165AO is a boar replacement type decoder, so the outer corners go to the corresponding truck and side, the pair of middle contacts on each end go to the headlights, and the central pair of contacts go to the motor.

I'm starting to wonder if i might have accidentally shorted it out without knowing, but i see no damage.
Do we know the bulb is good?
 

baldwinjl

Member
I guess it could have shorted out, but being current limited, I'm not sure that would burn it out.

Have you tried resetting the decoder, in case there is somehow and odd special effect programmed in? Another thing you could try is putting a resistor across the output and seeing if there is a voltage there when you expect the light to be on. And of course, check the connections carefully.
 
L

lester perry

Wow, this is why I do business with LHS. when I have a problem I take it to him and he fixes it. the internet guys don't have that service.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOBBY SHOP, you will need it.
 

baldwinjl

Member
Wow, this is why I do business with LHS. when I have a problem I take it to him and he fixes it. the internet guys don't have that service.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOBBY SHOP, you will need it.
That sounds like a nice theory, but these days there are a lot of people that don't have a LHS, or the LHS does not carry what they want, or doesn't know how to support it, anyway. If you are lucky enough to have a LHS that can provide the service you need and want, supporting it is great, but this option isn't practical for everyone.

Jeff
 

green_elite_cab

Keep It Moving!
Wow, this is why I do business with LHS. when I have a problem I take it to him and he fixes it. the internet guys don't have that service.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOBBY SHOP, you will need it.

Sadly, of the local hobby shops, most deal primarily in Aircraft or generic hobbies. Only two anywhere realistically close even focus in trains, one of which that does more O-scale, the other doesn't have expierience with DCC. the altter one is the best, but i think its reaching the end.

Its a mess in south jersey.
 

baldwinjl

Member
Sadly, of the local hobby shops, most deal primarily in Aircraft or generic hobbies. Only two anywhere realistically close even focus in trains, one of which that does more O-scale, the other doesn't have expierience with DCC. the altter one is the best, but i think its reaching the end.

Its a mess in south jersey.
Yep, and that's in a populated area!

Any luck on the rear light?

Jeff
 
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