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Offline GLI  
#1 Posted : 16 September 2021 05:31:53(UTC)
GLI


Joined: 28/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 82
Location: Lithgow NSW Australia
I have installed an ESU Lokpilot 5.0 DCC Decoder in a Hag Ae 4/7 2 rail DC locomotive, but I am having difficulties with the lighting.

The locomotive as built has the Swiss 3 plus 1 lighting system which in analogue is achieved by using 2 bulbs, diodes and a separate power feed for the right hand light at each end with a common return. I wanted to retain the 3 plus 1 lighting system, and decided to do this by using the 2 additional functions that come with the decoder to power the right hand light at each end. The blue wire on the decoder with a 0.5 watt 270 ohm resister in series was used as the common return.

After the decoder was installed, the locomotive ran as expected, but the lights do not work. The lighting function works by itself as intended, but as soon as either of functions 1 and 2 are turned on to activate the right hand light at each end, neither of those lights work, and the lights that are on go out.

I have installed decoders in several hundred locomotives over the years, but strangely in all those years I have never had the need use the 2 additional junctions that come with most decoders. Clearly I have done something wrong, but I have no idea what. Any help would be appreciated.
Offline skukuza  
#2 Posted : 16 September 2021 05:46:54(UTC)
skukuza

New Zealand   
Joined: 04/04/2014(UTC)
Posts: 22
Location: Melbourne
Hi Geoffrey,
Are you able to draw up a wiring diagram of the circuit? I think it may be something to do with the resister on the common return?
Kevin
Offline GLI  
#3 Posted : 16 September 2021 09:20:12(UTC)
GLI


Joined: 28/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 82
Location: Lithgow NSW Australia
Hi Kevin
I could draw a diagram but my computer skills are limited and I have no idea how to post it to the forum. The resistor was inserted on the blue wire about 15mm from the decoder. I inserted it to reduce the voltage to protect the light bulbs which are only 12 volt. I had also wondered myself whether the resistor could be the problem. so I removed it. You were right, Kevin, and the lights now work, but the bulbs will now burn out because of the increased voltage, so I have solved one problem but now have another. Is there a solution to this problem?
Geoff

Offline H0  
#4 Posted : 16 September 2021 09:41:57(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Hi!
I replaced the light bulbs with 20+ V types and do not use resistors.
The voltage drop in the resistor depends on the load, so better use resistors at each function output. Resistors for two bulbs in parallel should have 50% of those used for single bulbs to have same intensity of lights.

You can reduce the brightness of lights using the function output settings of the decoder. For three-rail usage, this sometimes does not work for 12 V bulbs. But since the lights are working in your loco, you can reduce the brightness using decoder settings.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline skukuza  
#5 Posted : 16 September 2021 09:47:36(UTC)
skukuza

New Zealand   
Joined: 04/04/2014(UTC)
Posts: 22
Location: Melbourne
Yes Geoff I thought it was the resister.
There are two solutions.
One is to try different resisters starting from say 22 ohms or 47 ohms and working your way up OR and I don't know if this will work for you but you will need a CS to get into the decoder parameters and set the voltage down on the F1 and F2 outputs.
I'm not too familiar with ESU decoders but at the end of the day they do operate very similarly to Marklin decoders.
Kevin
Offline GLI  
#6 Posted : 16 September 2021 10:57:38(UTC)
GLI


Joined: 28/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 82
Location: Lithgow NSW Australia
Hi Kevin
Thanks for your assistance. I am using the latest Ecos for control. I will look into reducing the voltages on the decoder outputs to overcome the need to use a resistor.
Regards
Geoff
Offline skukuza  
#7 Posted : 16 September 2021 12:57:07(UTC)
skukuza

New Zealand   
Joined: 04/04/2014(UTC)
Posts: 22
Location: Melbourne
Please let me how you go Geoff. Always nice to know when a problem is solved.
Kevin
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