SoundTraxx DSD-150/DSX Owners Manual - Manual (Page 8)

8 Digital Sound Decoder Owner's Manual
and backup light. These outputs may be configured for automatic direction control such that the headlight is on when
the locomotive is traveling in the forward direction and the backup light is on when the locomotive is reversed. The
lights may also be setup for “Rule 17” operation where the engineer must manually turn each light on or off as
appropriate.
The other two outputs are programmable Hyperlight effects and may be used in a variety of ways:
•
As a conventional on/off output, they may drive additional bulbs for the cab light, marker lights, number
boards, small relays or other electronic circuits.
•
As a Mars light, they may be used to simulate the famous warning beacon found in front of the modern
steam engines used by railroads such as the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Nickel Plate Roads.
•
The outputs can also be set up to simulate the flickering glow from the firebox. This is best done by
mounting an orange or red lamp underneath the locomotive’s firebox area.
•
A second version of the firebox flicker effect is available that turns on only when the sound of the firebox
door opening has been activated and turns off when the doors “close”. The lamp for this effect is best
mounted in the cab behind a partially open firebox door detail.
Each Hyperlight output can be independently programmed so it is possible to use one bulb as a Mars light and the
other bulb for the firebox.
The function outputs may also be used to control other electrical devices such as a smoke generator although you
must be careful that such devices do not exceed the output’s current rating (100 mA) in which case you will need to
add a relay or other low current switching device. A clamping diode may be required for inductive loads, such as a
relay coil.
You must also be careful that the combined current draw of each lamp and the locomotive’s stall current does not
exceed the decoder’s current rating.
Finally, you will need to decide whether or not to hardwire the electrical connections between the tender and the
locomotive or use a pluggable connector. Using a connector will allow you to separate the engine and tender for
storage as well as make painting and service easier but can be unsightly in smaller models and also opens the
possibility of accidentally damaging the decoder by reversing the connector during reassembly. Hardwiring the de-
coder will prevent this possibility at the expense of making tender separation difficult.
Throttle Up! offers several microconnectors suitable for locomotive use. P.N. 810064, 6-pin connector and P.N. 810065,
8-pin connectors are best for HO and larger models and they can be wired so they are “damage proof”, i.e., no
decoder damage will occur if they are accidentally plugged together backwards (see page 14, Step 8). The particular
connector you will use will depend upon the number of lighting functions you are using. The 8-pin connector provides
enough pins to wire the headlight and two auxiliary lighting functions. The 6-pin connector provides enough pins to
wire only the headlight. Individual connector pins are also available which will allow you to disguise the connecting
wires as air and water lines but requires great care when reconnecting them so as not to miswire the decoder.
After you have fully read the installation manual, we suggest reviewing Step 8 on wiring the decoder and draw
yourself a schematic similar to Figure 8 showing all connections between the DSD and various sub-components.
This will also help you determine which connector is best suited for your needs.
Step 3. Isolate the Motor
Pay careful attention this step as it is the most important step in successfully converting any locomotive over
to DCC operation.
The two motor brush connections must be electrically isolated so they are driven exclusively by the DSD motor
outputs. We’re not kidding about this!