Adding a flickering firebox to a loco

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When a ooco is DCC ready, but has no lights/firebox.....

This is probably a really dumb question, but here goes…..

So, I have a DCC ready loco.  It has no additional features, other than it works.  It was DCC ready, with an 8 pin socket, so I purchased a 4 function decoder (a basic Hornby one, but I'm quite happy to change it…. I only have 4 DCC engines, kitted out with the Hornby decoders. Although I have just purchased a couple of new DCC concepts decoders…..)

The decoder harness plugs into the socket in the loco - I hope you know this basic decoder…. the decoder has wires going to the plug, the plug slots into the harness in the loco.  I hope I have explained that clearly enough!

Now, I would like to add a flickering firebox led.  I understand, perhaps incorrectly, that the green wire from the decoder and the blue wire (common) are required to set this up. I'm working from memory on this, so I may have got it wrong…..

My dumb question is…. do I cut the blue and green wire (if they are the right ones) from the plug and then wire these to the led to create the firebox glow, or do I have to solder wires to the plug?  Or to the socket?

I have googled this like crazy - loads of answers about leds and functions and hard wiring, but I can't find anything about how you add lights to a DCC ready loco!!

Thanks!

Michael
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The best solution would be to wire it to the socket. That way, you can swap decoders later if desired or necessary.

If you wire it to the decoder, and the decoder fails for whatever reason, you will have to go through the process all over again with the replacement decoder. 

Another scenario for the future is if you decide you want a better decoder than the Hornby one, or even a sound decoder. If the firebox LED is wired to the socket, then the swap will be very easy.

Last edit: by SRman


Jeff Lynn,
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Thank you Jeff.  I will investigate…

Michael
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Michael,


I realise this is not exactly what you asked but in the example I showed, the YouChoos effect of flicker was thru coupling (in some undisclosed way) supply of power to the green wire with a Sound Function Key. In my case F3 for Coal shoveling which is conveniently random. This then turns the LED on / off when F3 is on.


I don't think it will look very good unless you can get this effect, when I first installed mine, I had the LED too bright and the flickering was not as obvious. I put in a bigger resistor to overcome this problem with the result you saw.


An electrical whiz might be able to design a mini circuit to insert in the green line to get the effect you need. I know someone I can ask. That would pose less risk to your processor I guess



Colin



 

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Hi Michael,

Does the DCC socket board have solder pads for FX wiring? If the locomotive is advertised as DCC ready it should have these and they should be labeled. Get a decent replacement 8-pin socket board with soldering pads if not, or if you rewire the existing setup, wire the socket as Jeff says. Needle tip on the iron, tin the wire not the socket tube. Only works if the outside of the tube is accessible! Mask adjacent tubes.

Flicker - bright golden white is better than red. And minimal flicker. Check some videos to see what it looked like - white hot not campfire smoldering embers. If the decoder does not have resistors built in use various values to get the glow you heed. 10-15k is usually good.

Nigel

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Thanks all - as always, most helpful!

Michael
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If the feedback I've had from DCC Concepts and my own experience with Zimo chips is any measure, there is no problem.

To illustrate for DCC Zen Nano Chips

Use the Green line combined with Blue positive to drive your LED, a suitable resistor in series.
Turn on Flicker via the F1 key et voila, the light should flicker.

To adjust Flicker rate CV 135 can be tweaked away from its default of 16, so I'm told.

ESU apparently support similar functionality, check with your DCC supplier for the correct settings,


If not, then a flickering LED is a 2nd option

 
Cheers,

Colin

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Hi Michael.    I am not certain about firebox glow. Especially after my first visit to Russia. When I got home after a couple of days they sent out videos of the journey and featuring the fireman shovelling the coal, while another man? Opened and shut the firebox doors,whether this was to save the heat or save having toasted tibias I am not certain. But some of the shops that advertise their services really do have a bright fire.  Best wishes Kevin 

Last edit: by Passed Driver


Staying on the thread Kevin.
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.  .  . or of course, just buy one of the Dapol Moguls. Fire glow comes as standard  :)

Decent and welcome progress in two years!

Bill

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At 6'4'', Bill is a tall chap, then again, when horizontal he is rather long and people often used to trip over him! . . . and so a nickname was born :)
 
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