Prairie Shadows/Rapido FPA4

[Joetrain59]

Just started running this loco on a strip of flex track. (All I have to run on now.) Bell and horn sounds work, but I don't get any prime mover sounds. Loco did not come with any DCC paperwork. ESU Loksound decoder in the pup. DCC setup is NCE Powercab.
 Thanks,
 Joe

[peteski]

Did you try pressing F8 on the throttle?  On most sound decoders F8 mutes the sound.  On some decoders it mutes all sounds, on others it mutes just the engine sounds.

[Joetrain59]

No Pete, did not try F8. Have to read NCE manual about accessing those buttons. Meanwhile, I just took the shell off and found a purple wire not connected to anything. End is not even stripped. For an unused option, or QC mistake? I will ask Jeff at Prairie Shadows.
 Thanks,
 Joe D

[Jbub]

No Pete, did not try F8. Have to read NCE manual about accessing those buttons. Meanwhile, I just took the shell off and found a purple wire not connected to anything. End is not even stripped. For an unused option, or QC mistake? I will ask Jeff at Prairie Shadows.
 Thanks,
 Joe D

The purple wire is for an unused function output. ESU decoders will sound horn and bell the mute button(f8) on. F8 is just the 8 button on the powercab.

[Joetrain59]

Thanks Pete and jbub, pressing 8 worked. I also noticed that rear light was not going on. Just tried pressing numerical buttons, and 5 worked!
 I have to learn about motor control, though. Some DCC locos need to start/stop a bit smoother.
 Thanks again,
 Joe D

[peteski]

Very good!  I still recommend reading through the NCE manual to familiarize yourself with all the features.  My PowerCab package included a printed manual - not sure if yours did. But either way, it will beneficial to read through whatever version you have.

[Joetrain59]

Yes, I got the spiral bound manual.

[peteski]

Yes, I got the spiral bound manual.

Perfect bathroom-reading material!  Just don't use it for toilet paper! 

[Paradise275]

Hi Joe.
E-mail Prarie Shadow. The locos were shipped before the instructions were printed.
You will be amazed at what these locos sound lid and can do.
I think you press F6 to get them started.

Rick

[Joetrain59]

Hi Rick,
 Thought it was odd that no DCC paperwork came with loco. 5 got it "started" and running.
 Thanks, will contact Jeff again. I would think he'd have them on his website for a download.
 Joe D

[Joetrain59]

I e-mailed Jeff, here is his reply;
"Hi Joe,

That’s correct, the decoders and their instructions were both made after the models.  I’ve been meaning to get the sheet on the website but can’t figure out how to get a PDF as an image.  Please see the attachment, I hope it helps

Thanks
Jeff"

Hopefully the pdf is attached to this reply
 Joe D

[peteski]

I e-mailed Jeff, here is his reply;
"Hi Joe,

That’s correct, the decoders and their instructions were both made after the models.  I’ve been meaning to get the sheet on the website but can’t figure out how to get a PDF as an image.  Please see the attachment, I hope it helps

Thanks
Jeff"

Hopefully the pdf is attached to this reply
 Joe D

Yes, the PDF attachment is showing up here.  But why doesn't Jeff just post the actual PDF on his website for the customers to download?  It will be clearer than reading a JPG image of it. 

[Joetrain59]

I think Jeff has too many characters for file name, and I could not attach it here. I shortened it, and put pdf at end.
 Joe D

[peteski]

I think Jeff has too many characters for file name. I shortened it, and put pdf at end. His download would not open.
 Joe D

The name you gave the file seems reasonable - I don't know what the original name was. Sounds like Jeff might not be a computer whiz (or an Apple user). 

[Joetrain59]

I just e-mailed Jeff to tell him what I did. We'll see. Now off to select a horn I like:)
 Joe D