Numberboards light seperate from Headlight in DCC?

[SkipGear]

I have been helping Tim (BCR 570) with a ditchlight project that has gotten me back to thinking about my SD45 from a while ago. I set it up for DC originally but now my modern fleet is slowly changing over to DCC and I decided to update it tonight and put a decoder in. I had a DZ143 handy and I figured that would be enough outputs for the lights and alternating ditchlights.

Wrong, I forgot about the numberboards. I had them set up so they were constant, independent of direction of travel on the DC loco. That won't work with the decoder..or will it?

I'm thinking that I run the blue constant to the numberboard LED and then use both the ground from the front and rear to drive it. They would need to be diode issolated from each other but for the life of me, my brain can't get wrapped around how to set it up.

This would have the number boards on any time the lights are on and independent of direction. This loco will almost always be on the front of the consist so I'm not to worried about mid consists the lights being off thus the numberboards being off.

My other option is to wire them to track power, with only a resistor and leave them on all the time. The only problem then is if the loco is setting dead in a siding, the numberboards will still be on.

Any suggestions?

BTW - Headlights on in the middle of a consist, or numberboards off in the middle of a consist are a pet peave of mine. Neither looks right but since everything else out there has the numberboards tied to the headlights, I want to make this work that way. It may not be right but it is consistant with the norm.

I know, I really need a 6 function decoder but I don't have one handy right now.

[sizemore]

Yes this can be done. You only need one function lead since you will have the SMLED's wired in series. Program it to another function and it should work, you will need to control the number boards independant of the headlights.

T

[SkipGear]

NelsonB came up with the wiring diagram for me on the A-board. I need two fuctions for the ditchlights because I want to be able to toggle them between alternate and solid. The numberboards will be tied to the headlights and anytime a headlight is on, the numberboards will be on.

[sizemore]

NelsonB came up with the wiring diagram for me on the A-board. I need two fuctions for the ditchlights because I want to be able to toggle them between alternate and solid. The numberboards will be tied to the headlights and anytime a headlight is on, the numberboards will be on.

Could you post the diagram I'd possibly be interested in trying this too!

[SkipGear]

Here is what he came up with...



I knew the basic design but it was late last night and I couldn't decide on polarity of the diodes and didn't really want to do trial and error chancing a decoder or $4 LED's in the process.

[Iain]

I fail to see how the numberboards would be on with headlights off.

[sizemore]

I fail to see how the numberboards would be on with headlights off.

They are using the White and Yellow as common leads. When you turn off the lights completely, not just direction, they will not complete the circuit and will be off.

Skip, I assume the blue lead is not common for the headlights correct? It should be only used for the numberboard LED's ?

T

[Nelson]

I fail to see how the numberboards would be on with headlights off.

They won't, that can only be achieved with another function output, which Skip does not have.

They are using the White and Yellow as common leads. When you turn off the lights completely, not just direction, they will not complete the circuit and will be off.

Skip, I assume the blue lead is not common for the headlights correct? It should be only used for the numberboard LED's ?

T

No, The Blue is common to all 3, front, rear and numberboards

Nelson

[Iain]

I fail to see how the numberboards would be on with headlights off.

They won't, that can only be achieved with another function output, which Skip does not have.

Nelson

My point precisely

[Nelson]

I fail to see how the numberboards would be on with headlights off.

They won't, that can only be achieved with another function output, which Skip does not have.

Nelson

My point precisely

He specifically stated
"This would have the number boards on any time the lights are on and independent of direction. This loco will almost always be on the front of the consist so I'm not to worried about mid consists the lights being off thus the numberboards being off. "

 so your point seems pointless.

[Iain]

Oops, misread that...

[SkipGear]

Nelson,
 Thanks for your help, it worked perfectly. Now I just need to rebuild my ditchlights, UGH. I grabbed the wrong resistors when I was wiring up the ditchlights and cooked them shortly after getting it all to work. I wasn't thinking about the higher voltage of DCC, OOops. Exactly why I made the ditchlights on a replaceable plug because I make dumb mistakes every once in a while.

[SkipGear]

The result.....

[Philip H]

The result.....

That looks Great!  Congradulations.

[Packer]

Aww, no gyralight or lightpulse? :'(

Looks good, although I think David might want his boxcar back. ;D