Hi, I had posted this elsewhere but Andy rightly pointed out that it's better to post it here. So it's duplicated here, just FYI. I recently acquired an N scale Kato EMD F40PH Metra #174 with the TCS K5D7 decoder. Could anybody please help me with configuring the light functions on the locomotive? I can't seem to understand the instructions. I wish to set a function key to activate alternating ditch lights. If I can be helped with understanding how to configure the other lights too, would be very much thankful! As of now I can only get all the lights just to be steady ON by using function F0 & F1. https://tcsdcc.com/sites/default/files/K5D7_0.pdf https://tcsdcc.com/sites/default/files/2018-04/Comprehensive Programming Guide.pdf DCC command station: Digikeijs DR5000 Software for programming the decoder: JMRI Decoder Pro Automation software for operating the layout: iTrain Any help appreciated, Krish
I have not tried to program Ditch Lights yet (I don't even know if I have a loco that includes them). If your ditch lights are wired to the Green and Violet wires from the decoder, then you're in luck! On page 24 of the Comprehensive Programming Guide, the "quick preset" for ditch lights is documented. Programming CV8 to value 10 automatically programs the shown list of other CVs to given values for Ditch Light control. If those settings are not just right, you still can use that CV list as a guide for which CVs need to be programmed to control which details of the Ditch Lights capability. Look up each of those registers to determine how, if necessary, you need to set their values to work for your installation and desired operation. Then program those CVs with values according to your needs. I haven't looked at Decoder Pro's screen layouts for this decoder, so I don't know how much information it provides for the above-listed registers. Try it and see. Hope this helps...
The decoder is 'factory fitted' by Kato, so there are no wires at all. That's why I have been confused about the green & violet & other colors being mentioned. CV 8 is currently at 153. I did see page 24 but did not program value of 10 in CV8 because I am not sure about green & violet wire thingy. Am attaching the Decoder Pro's lighting page sheet for this decoder, if it helps. Thanks Andy!
If the F40PH is like every Kato locomotive I have that has illuminated ditch lights, then the ditch lights are illuminated by the same LED as the headlight. It uses a light pipe (piece of clear acrylic) to direct the light output from the LED to the headlight(s) and ditch lights. To have separate control of the ditch lights you have to cut up the light pipe and add additional LEDs.
Krish, If the decoder has no wires, then every light you have is an LED on the decoder board. There are probably two (front and rear). As Robert said, they often use a clear plastic "light-pipe" casting that directs the light from a decoder's LED to the "light opening(s)" in the shell. Thus, you do not have independent control of the individual "lights" illuminated by a light pipe and its associated LED. This is one of the differences between "drop-in" decoders and high-end custom decoder installations. I could not see where the "green and violet" wire pads were on the drop-in decoder's manual diagram, so they may not be brought out from the decoder IC on that board. There were other colored wire locations shown which, if unused, could be wired to separate LEDs fastened appropriately to the inside of the shell for the ditch lights. This might require a modification (cut and or black-out) to the light-pipe. If you are not experienced at soldering, I would not suggest you attempt this yourself. It would be nice to see additional surface mount LEDs on drop-in decoders that, with custom 3D printed light pipes, could provide independent ditch lights, etc. with ease.
