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Decoder to turn on/off passenger car interior lights
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Offline Peter Neumann  
#1 Posted : 19 March 2010 05:11:27(UTC)
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Peter Neumann

United States   
Joined: 18/12/2002(UTC)
Posts: 251
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Forgive me if this is a duplicate post - can't find the thread from earlier posts...

What kind of decoder provides a simple and inexpensive solution for turning on and off passenger car lights? The cars, are connected via current conducting couplers so only one decoder would be used. The lights are LED light bars from Tams, installed in ROCO HO cars. I drive 3-rail K-track digital with Märklin engines using a 6021/6040 etc.

Thanks for suggestions of specic brands / models.
Peter
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Offline Piggy  
#2 Posted : 19 March 2010 09:51:09(UTC)
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Piggy

Australia   
Joined: 08/05/2009(UTC)
Posts: 590
Location: Sydney
Hi peter, I use an ESU function decoder, driving a relay. I installed it in toilet, so it can't be seen from the outside. I think it has four outputs, so if you put it in last coach, you can use a seperate function for a marker light, but then you are likely to have a power out when passing a signal going red. I think any cheap function decoder will do the job.
Regards
Kenneth
CS1 update - K & C tracks - German Era 3B & 4, with some Swiss and Austrian visitors. - My Layout
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Offline DamonKelly  
#3 Posted : 19 March 2010 10:22:11(UTC)
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DamonKelly

Australia   
Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,423
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Or if you have a loco decoder left over from an upgrade, you can use that: use a function output.
Remember it will be a different address from the loco.

Cheers,
Damon
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Offline H0  
#4 Posted : 19 March 2010 10:55:26(UTC)
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H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,432
Location: DE-NW
DamonKelly wrote:
Or if you have a loco decoder left over from an upgrade, you can use that: use a function output.
Remember it will be a different address from the loco.

Right, you can use either loco or function decoders - and you can use same address as loco or a different address as you like.

If the decoder can be programmed, you can use F2 or F3 for interior lights - then all functions can be switched independently even if loco decoder has the same address.
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 xxup  
#5 Posted : 19 March 2010 11:24:43(UTC)
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xxup

Australia   
Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC)
Posts: 9,578
Location: Australia
Okay.. I remember that to stop flickering you have to complete the circuit to the decoder, but most current conducting couplers have only one wire so how do you get the return wire??? Or perhaps a decoder that does not manage a motor does not have a flickering problem??
Adrian
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Offline tiono  
#6 Posted : 19 March 2010 14:45:58(UTC)
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tiono

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Joined: 09/02/2010(UTC)
Posts: 234
xxup wrote:
Okay.. I remember that to stop flickering you have to complete the circuit to the decoder, but most current conducting couplers have only one wire so how do you get the return wire??? Or perhaps a decoder that does not manage a motor does not have a flickering problem??


If the LED is using regulator or led-driver chip, then it will not flicker, even without returning back to decoder.
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Offline gachar001  
#7 Posted : 19 March 2010 17:05:49(UTC)
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gachar001

India   
Joined: 29/04/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,391
Location: Chennai
xxup wrote:
Okay.. I remember that to stop flickering you have to complete the circuit to the decoder, but most current conducting couplers have only one wire so how do you get the return wire??? Or perhaps a decoder that does not manage a motor does not have a flickering problem??

I use a full wave rectifier which I purchased from trainaidsa.com. It costs only around $1 and it prevents flickering. I however need to install capacitors to prevent flickering that occors due to loss of contact when the train runs.
Gautham
Atlanta, GA USA
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Offline Peter Neumann  
#8 Posted : 21 March 2010 15:07:01(UTC)
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Peter Neumann

United States   
Joined: 18/12/2002(UTC)
Posts: 251
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
If I could ask again, where can I find a single-function (on-off) decoder to achieve this? Or perhaps have I missed the obvious?

Thanks for your help.

Peter
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Offline trainbuff  
#9 Posted : 23 March 2010 04:17:03(UTC)
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trainbuff


Joined: 26/11/2006(UTC)
Posts: 507
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Peter Neumann wrote:
If I could ask again, where can I find a single-function (on-off) decoder to achieve this? Or perhaps have I missed the obvious?

Thanks for your help.

Peter


Peter, I haven't done this, but if I were I would use an extra decoder left over from an upgrade. Barring that you could get the cheapest compatible decoder and a relay. I see a ESU LokPilot Multi Protocol Decoder for $37 on one vendor's webpage. I think it has at least one function (you should confirm on ESU webpage). On the ESU web page is small relay and wiring diagram for controlling a smoke generator, you could do the same for the coach lights: http://www.esu.eu/en/pro...sories/miniature-relays/ . That isn't too expensive, even though it seems a waste to use a locomotive decoder just to turn lights on and off. Be sure to share your solution. Maybe someone with more experienced will chime in soon. Good luck.
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Offline jeehring  
#10 Posted : 23 March 2010 13:55:06(UTC)
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jeehring


Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC)
Posts: 2,786
Location: ,
Forgive me if I repeat myself, just in case you have missed the topic, another solution is a lighting bar with integrated decoder.
see here:
https://www.marklin-user...aspx?g=posts&t=15735

each lighting bar with its own decoder + 2 free outputs.
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Offline Nigel Packer  
#11 Posted : 23 March 2010 14:41:47(UTC)
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Nigel Packer

United Kingdom   
Joined: 11/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 694
Location: Cheshire, UK
Peter Neumann wrote:
If I could ask again, where can I find a single-function (on-off) decoder to achieve this? Or perhaps have I missed the obvious?

Thanks for your help.

Peter


Hi Peter,

Since you are using a Tams lighting product, I can recommend Tams for function decoders. Their FD-R Basic model retails at less than 10 Euros each and they work well (I have several).

If you email ctams@tams-online.de, Caroline Tams (I think) will help you in excellent English, and can accept payment via PayPal. I have just ordered some myself.

(I have no connection with Tams except as a customer.)

I hope this helps,

Nigel

PS I've just realised that all the Tams people are at the model railway show in Karlsruhe, so they can't answer until the 30th March!
Märklin collector since age 5.
H0 Collection from 1935 to today.
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Offline intruder  
#12 Posted : 24 March 2010 01:39:00(UTC)
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intruder

Norway   
Joined: 16/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 5,382
Location: Akershus, Norway
I have done this with Märklin function decoder 60960 and 60961, installed in one coach, supplying the connected cars via a relay.
Best regards Svein, Norway
grumpy old sod
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