Hi there.

My 2 Digital locomotives have no headlights at all when I run them on the Delta 6604. My Delta Locomotives have lights.

I have set the address to the correct Delta address and they run just fine.

According to the instructions the regular headlights should work in the direction of travel...

Is this normal?

Thanks.

If you have a 6021 or CS or MS, try activating the Function button and then place the lok back on the Delta circuit. Do the lights still not work?
If the Loks are older 36XX numbers, they were designed with lights that did not function in analog mode. I am not sure whether they would work in Delta operation, as they have to be activated in digital use for them to work. I think that those were 6080 or older decoders. Delta works pretty much the same as on the digital system, only there are no functions and only 4 selectable addresses.

Regards

Mike C

I'm not sure which decoders are in my 2 locomotives. They are from the 29859 Digital starter set. Circa 2001.

I will try to take them to a setup with the Digital controller and switch on the lights.

Thanks for the advise. :)

The 29859 Set came with a 6021 Control Center. Why are you using the basic Delta controller instead of this digital unit? Any lok that will work on Delta will also work with the corresponding digital address.
I will do some tests with my loks from the same set with a surplus delta controller that I have here and will report back to the forum.

Regards

Mike C

Hi HLL,

Welcome to the forum.

Older digital locos have the "lights off" as the default setting - meaning they need to be activated by a "real" (read - more expensive) digital controller. The 6604 Delta does not have the ability to control any digital function, nor will the light work in analog operation, unfortunately.
The latest Delta controller had a function on/off, as well as the latest Delta decoder boards with 80 settable addresses (just before the mfx protocol was introduced).

Newer full digital loks (2003-5??? -> onwards) have "lights on" as default, I believe... They did a rethink and enabled the function since many analog users were a bit "upset" that the lights didn't work...

I remember being very displeased with the fact that the lights did not work on my 3791 BR 03.10 when I bought it in the 90's, but I caved in and got myself a 6021 and went digital...

Thanks to everyone for all this information.

I only have the 6604 & 6647 set-up at my place. My friend has the 6021.

Have not yet decided if I should get a digital controller. I think the 00748 controller is cheap now and it can control lights - but that is only 18va. Dunno if I can use it to power 3 trains at once. Dunno if I can use my 6647 to power the 00748 either. Or if the power supply with the 00748 allows analog turnouts & a 7272 to be plugged in. I could use the 6647 to power the turnouts only and then have a big mess of controllers and wiring.

If I got a 60653 that would not be cheap as I would then have an excuse to get digital decoders for my turnouts. And I already spent a load of time soldering wire extensions onto my 77490 mechanisms.

Wow, so complicated...

Don't allow others to dictate the way you run your layout!

I entered the digital world myself with a delta setup. I was aiming at getting a starter set with the 6604 delta controller, but in the end the set they had at the shop I went to had the latest (at the time) 66045, which was even better as it allowed control of the lights on digital locos.

When I joined the forum I felt under enormous pressure to get the latest and best digital control, but I felt it didn't suit the way I like to play with my trains. After a couple of years I got a good deal on a 6021 controller, which was really easy to integrate in place of my 66045. I use it to run the trains, and I operate the turnouts and accessories with old fashioned control boxes. The 6021 gave me more digital addresses available to use, and also access to the main functions on locos. I don't plan to extend the system with digital accessory control, computer control, routes, etc, because I don't feel they will add anything to my enjoyment of my trains. Others, of course, will disagree, which is fine!

My point is, decide for yourself what will work for you. Don't feel under pressure to get a really expensive controller which may or may not be what you really need.