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Setting Up Digitrax FX3 Effects On Function Outputs

Last updated 231111

Setting Up FX3 Effects On Function Outputs 

1. Each function output has an FX3 control CV associated with it. Using TABLE IVa below, determine which CV you need to program to set up an FX3 feature for the function output you are working with. For example, if you want to set up an FX feature on your forward headlight, you will use CV49 to control the FX3 feature for the lamp attached to F0F. Some decoders do not have function output wires attached. See the specific decoder instructions to determine which "pad" on the decoder controls each function. Use thin wire or wire saved during previous decoder installations to solder function output wires to the pads associated with the function you want to use.

 TABLE IVa:  FX3 Generator CVs  

FX3

CV#

Function #

Output Color

CV49

F0/Light Forward (F0F)

White

CV50

F0/Light Reverse (F0R)

Yellow

CV51

F1 Function 1

Green

CV52

F2 Function 2

Violet

CV113

F3 Function 3

Brown

CV114

F4 Function 4

White/Yellow

CV115

F5 Function 5

White/Green

CV116

F6 Function 6

White/Blue

 NOTE:  Decoders with FX function generators use different CVs to control function outputs.  Click here to go to FX page.  CV53 & CV54 are not used for FX3 control.     

2. Each FX3 effect has a CV value that generates the effect you want and controls how the effect works with respect to locomotive direction and the head light (F0) function.

The FX3 CV value is made up of 2 digits. The second digit determines which FX3 effect will be generated. The first digit determines how the effect will work with respect to the locomotive direction, the head light and other functions. Use TABLE IVb to determine the second digit and Table IVc to determine the first digit of the FX3 CV value to program into the CV selected in step 1.

  TABLE IVb:  The Second digit of the FX/FX3 CV value determines which FX3 effect will be generated.

FX3 CV   value second digit (hex)

FX3 effect generated

x0

No effect, normal function control of lead

x1

Random flicker 

x2

Mars light

x3

Flashing head light

x4

Single pulse strobe

x5

Double pulse strobe

x6

Rotary beacon simulation

x7

Gyralite

x8

Rule 17 dimmable headlight, dim   when F4 is active or locomotive direction is opposite normal direction of   travel (NDOT)

x9

FRED or "end of train" light

xA

Right ditch light on when loco is running forward and F0 is   on.  When F2 is on, the right ditch   light flashes alternately with the left ditch light to simulate ditch light   operation at a grade crossing.

xB

Left ditch light. on when loco is running   forward and F0 is on.  When F2 is on,   the left ditch light flashes alternately with the right ditch light to   simulate ditch light operation at a grade crossing.

xC-xF

Digitrax reserved for effects expansion.

 

TABLE IVc  The first hex digit of the FX3 CV value determines how the effect generated will behave. For example, two strobe lights can be set up to flash alternately by setting one to phase A and the other to phase B. The strobes can also be set up to be on when the loco is moving forward and off when moving backward.

TABLE IVc:  How FX3 effects generated will work 

FX3 CV   value first digit (hex)

How the FX3   effect generated will work

0x

Forward direction, ON with function ON, effect phase A

1x

Reverse direction, ON with function ON, effect phase B

2x*

Non directional effect, ON with function ON, effect phase   A

3x*

Non directional effect , ON with function ON, effect phase   B

4x* Master Light Switch F0

Forward direction, ON with F0 ON & function ON, effect phase A

5x* Master Light Switch F0

Reverse direction, ON with F0 ON & function ON, effect phase B

6x Master Light Switch F0

Special Logic for Fwd Ditch Light or Rule 17 dimming    Standard Ditch Light Operation

7x Master Light Switch F0

Special Logic for Rev Ditch Light or Rule 17 dimming    Standard Ditch Light Operation

FX3 CV value first digit (hex)

How the FX3   effect generated will work

Ax

Speed=0, non directional effect, phase A and function   qualifier

Bx

Speed>0, non directional effect, phase B and function   qualifier

Ex Master Light Switch F0

Ditch off phase A  Alternate Ditch Operation-Off when running flash on with   F2

Fx Master Light Switch F0

Ditch off phase B  Alternate Ditch Operation-Off when running flash on with   F2

3. Program the FX3 CV value from step 2 to the FXCV identified in step 1. If you are using the PR1, an FX set up section is available where you can just "point and click" to set up the effects you want to use. The software lets you select which function output and which FX feature you want from a menu so you don' have to use the tables above to determine which CV or CV value to use. 

4.  For FX3 decoders, you can set up as many as 8 function outputs. All FX3 outputs can be set up with FX3 effects. 

5.   If you want any function output to remain a simple on/off output, leave it programmed to the factory default of CV value 00.      

Customizing FXEffects-Rate and Keep Alive: CV62 

CV62 lets you control the rate and keep-alive brightness for each FX3 effect you set up. The CV value for CV62 is made up of 2 digits, the first digit and the second digit.

The first digit controls the keep alive/baseline off voltage for incandescent lamps. This value should be between 0 and F. A value of 0 gives no keep alive and a value of F gives maximum keep alive. Values between the high and low allow you to vary whether the lamp actually goes off between light pulses or whether it stays on very dimly or more brightly. (If you are using LEDs, the first digit for CV62 should be 0.)

The second digit controls the rate of the FX3 effects programmed. This value should be between 0 and F. A value of 0 gives a fast rate and a value of F gives a slow rate of operation. We recommend you start with a 4 and adjust it up or down until you get the effect you are looking for.

Ditch Light Hold Over Time CV63

If you are using the ditch light effect in conjunction with F2, CV63 lets you set up a hold over time to control how long the ditch lights continue to blink after F2 turned off by releasing the key on the throttle. Remember that F2 is a momentary key on most Digitrax throttles that will keep function 2 on as long as you hold the key down and then turn function 2 off when you release the key. This allows the ditch lights to be on steady during regular operation and to begin alternate flashing when F2 (usually the horn) is activated and to continue flashing alternately for a predetermined length of time after F2 is released; just like the prototype. A value of 00 yields no hold over time, a value of 40 yields a realistic time of about 5 seconds. A value of 255/xFF yields about 20 seconds hold over time.

FX3 Examples

Any function output on the decoder can be set up for any FX3 effect by programming its associated FX3 CV to the appropriate FX3 CV value. For example, if CV52, the FX3 CV for F2, is programmed with an FX3 CV value of 002/x02, the violet F2 function output will be a Mars light when F2 is turned on for this decoder address and the decoder's direction is forward.

TABLE IVd:  FXCV EXAMPLES

CVs that affect all FX3 function outputs 

Meaning

Recommended

CV# & CV Value

dec/hex

Effect on Decoder

Analog Functions Enable/Disable

(Not applicable for FX3)

13: 207/xcF

All functions F0 though F4 are ON in analog (DC) mode

Configuration Register

29:006/x06

Advanced 28/128 speed step mode, analog mode conversion   enabled

Keep Alive/Rate

62:196/xc4

High keep-alive for lamps, Rate 4 for approx. 1 sec FX   effect rate

Ditch Light Hold Over Time

63:064/x40

5 Sec Ditch light holdover after F2 is turned OFF

 CVs that affect specific FX3 outputs:

Function/

Color

CV# &CV Value

 dec/hex

FX3   Effect Generated

F0 Fwd White

49:104/x68

Rule 17 dimmable headlight,   directional

F0 Rev Yellow

50:000/x00

Normal directional reverse headlight, NO effect used

F1 Green

51:106/x6A

Right Ditch light, directional.  F0 & F2 must be ON for this to operate.

F2 Violet

52:107/x6b

Left Ditch Light, directional.  F0 & F1 must be ON for this to operate.  

F3 Brown

113:034/x22

MARS light, ON when F3 is   ON  (If we used {113:050/x32} we would   get opposite phase MARS light)

To set up two alternating double pulse strobes on the green and violet function outputs controlled by turning on both F1and F2, program CV51 to a CV value of 037/x25 and program CV52 to a CV value of 053/x35. This is an example of using the alternate effects phases A & B.

For FX3 decoders you have 8 FX3 generators available to use with your function outputs.

Setting Up Static (Non-FX3) Functions with FX3

When an FX3 decoder output is set up for static on/off operation (no FX3 effect), you can use static qualifiers to customize the operation of the on/off function of that output.

In this case, the second digit of the FX3 control CV will always be 0 to set the decoder for static (no FX3)function operation. The first digit is determined by the following table according to how you want it to work.

Static CV value

How The Static Function   Output Will Work

000/x00

On/Off   Output controlled by function map

016/x10

On/Off   Output controlled by function map

032/x20

Forward   qualified On/Off Output

048/x30

Reverse   qualified On/Off Output

064/x40

F0   qualified On/Off Output (Master Light Switch F0)

060/x50

F0   qualified On/Off Output (Master Light Switch F0)

096/x60

F0   On in Forward Direction qualified On/Off Output (Master Light Switch F0)

112/x70

F0   On in Reverse Direction qualified On/Off Output (Master Light Switch F0)

160/xA0

Speed=0,   non directional qualified On/Off Output

176/xB0

Speed>0,   non directional qualified On/Off Output

Troubleshooting FXeffects

Common problems with FXset up are:

Trying to program a decoder for FX3 when the decoder does not support FX3. Be sure the decoder you are programming has FX3 features. Digitrax introduced FXin 2002 in the “series 3” decoders. Digitrax introduced FX in the summer of 1995 in all of its premium decoders so if your decoder was made before then it does not have FX capability. FX & FXdecoders use different CVs for controlling the function outputs of the decoder.

FX3 effects don't work as expected. Review the qualifiers you set up for the effect. For example, if the effect is set up to come on only when F1 and F0 are active and the loco is headed in the forward direction, be sure you have met those conditions.

Setting Up A Master Light Switch with FX3 Decoders

For FX3 decoders F0 can be used as a master light switch to turn off all lights in the locomotive when F0 if OFF.  To do this set up all functions qualified to be on when F0 is on and off when F0 is off.  See Table IVc above and use 4, 5 ,6, 7 ,E, or F as the first digit of the FX/FX3 control CV to enable the master light switch on F0.