Digitrax DH165A0 1.5 amp HO Scale DCC Mobile Decoder - Atlas, Athearn, Kato, etc

Description

Current Rating-Motor
1.5 Amp (2.0 Amps Peak)
Size
2.877” x .667” x .173” (73.07mm x 16.93mm x 4.4mm)
Fits with Athearn Genesis, Kate, Stewart & Other HO Locomotives
Installation
Board Replacement
Function Outputs
6 function decoders support F0 Forward and F0 Reverse, F1, F2, F3 & F4.  This allows for reversing headlights and for four separate functions. or 6 separate functions if automatic reversing headlights are not used.  In most cases, these decoders do not have wires attached for all functions.  Instead they have solder pads that allow the user to attach function wires during installation.
Most Board Replacement decoders have LEDs for forward and revese lights wired to F0 Forward and F0 Reverse.  They have solder pads for additional functions that must be wired by the end user.
How functions are numbered:
F0 (FWD) White
F0 (REV) Yellow
The Blue wire is Lamp Common to allow for continuous lamp operation.
F1 Green
F2 Violet
F3 Brown
F4 White with Yellow Stripe
F5 White with Green Stripe
F6 White with Blue Stripe
F7
F8
F9
and so on... are each counted as one function.  This is an industry wide convention.
Function Type
Digitrax Real FX
3
Turn functions on and off.
Head lights and tail lights are automatically reversing unless you make them independent.
All function outputs have FX generators for prototypical lighting effects and have qualifiers for FX effects and qualifiers for standard on/off functions.
All Digitrax Series 3 decoders have FX
3
type functions.
FX
3
decoders offer full function mapping so you can choose which function (F0-F12) controls each function lead.
FX
3
decoders offer master light switch capability.
FX
3
decoders offer qualifiers for FX function operation qualified by one of the following:  the loco's direction of travel, whether F0 is on or off, loco direction and F0, or whether the loco is moving or not. These qualifiers are also available on function outputs that are used as standard on/off functions.
Motor Isolation Note:  FX
3
decoders
have motor isolation protection. If the decoder senses that the motor is not isolated, it will not run the motor. In this case, you will be able to control the loco’s functions but the motor will not work.
Here is an explantion of how the CVs that control FX
3
effects work.  Most modern Digitrax systems do not use hexadecimal format but it is provided here in case you need it for older systems.
CV 49-52, CV113-116, CV62 & 63: Digitrax Real FX
3
Special Light Effects
Decoders with FX
3
features have 8 user configurable, independent special effects generators.  These are set up by programming CV values as described below.  If your decoder is not a “series 3” decoder, please check the spec sheet to determine which type of functions it supports.
FX
3
functions incorporate FX generators with additional dynamic and static qualifiers.  FX
3
functions are fully remappable so they can be controlled by any function key on your system.  A master light switch can be set up to turn off all lights on a locomotive. Functions associated with advanced consists can be controlled, too.
Setting Up FX
3
Effects On Function Outputs
1. Each function output has an FX
3
control CV associated with it. Using TABLE IVa below, determine which CV you need to program to set up an FX
3
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 FX
3
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:  FX
3
Generator
CVs
FX
3
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 FX
3
control.
2. Each FX
3
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 FX
3
CV value is made up of 2 digits. The second digit determines which FX
3
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 FX
3
CV value to program into the CV selected in step 1.
TABLE IVb:  The Second digit of the FX/FX
3
CV value determines which FX
3
effect will be generated.
FX
3
CV   value second digit (hex)
FX
3
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 FX
3
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 FX
3
effects generated will work
FX
3
CV   value first digit (hex)
How the FX
3
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
FX
3
CV value first digit (hex)
How the FX
3
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 FX
3
CV value from step 2 to the FX
3
CV 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 FX
3
decoders, you can set up as many as 8 function outputs. All FX
3
outputs can be set up with FX
3
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 FX
3
Effects-Rate and Keep Alive: CV62
CV62 lets you control the rate and keep-alive brightness for each FX
3
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 FX
3
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.
FX
3
Examples
Any function output on the decoder can be set up for any FX
3
effect by programming its associated FX
3
CV to the appropriate FX
3
CV value. For example, if CV52, the FX
3
CV for F2, is programmed with an FX
3
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:  FX
3
CV EXAMPLES
CVs that affect all FX
3
function outputs
Meaning
Recommended
CV# & CV Value
dec/hex
Effect on Decoder
Analog Functions Enable/Disable
(Not applicable for FX
3
)
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 FX
3
outputs:
Function/
Color
CV# &CV Value
dec/hex
FX
3
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 FX
3
decoders you have 8 FX
3
generators available to use with your function outputs.
Setting Up Static (Non-FX
3
) Functions with FX
3
When an FX
3
decoder output is set up for static on/off operation (no FX
3
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 FX
3
control CV will always be 0 to set the decoder for static (no FX
3
)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 FX
3
effects
Common problems with FX
3
set up are:
Trying to program a decoder for FX
3
when the decoder does not support FX
3
.
Be sure the decoder you are programming has FX
3
features. Digitrax introduced FX
3
in 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 & FX
3
decoders use different CVs for controlling the function outputs of the decoder.
FX
3
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 FX
3
Decoders
For FX
3
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/FX
3
control CV to enable the master light switch on F0.
Features
Digitrax Decoder Series Numbers
Over the years as technology advanced, Digitrax has added more and more features to our mobile decoders.  Also, over time, the industry standards and uses of come CVs have changed.  Each of our decoder web pages includes a link to a specification sheet for that particular decoder so that you will know which CVs are used for which features in that particular model.
Digitrax uses series numbers to let customers know which feature set is part of a particular decoder.
The fifth character of each mobile + function decoder part number is the Digitrax series designator.  For sound + motor + function decoders we typically use the sixth character as the series designator.  There are variations in a few part numbers.
Series 6
Compatible with Digitrax PX series Power Xtenders to keep locos and sound running in the presence of dirty/poor track work.
FX
3
outputs optimized for both LED and bulb applications.
FX
3
outputs have configurable pulse available on all outputs.
Improved Scaleable Speed Stabilization (BEMF).
SoundFX Series 6 Features
Sound decoders available with either 8 bit standard or 16 bit premium sound.
Sound decoders configured for 8 Ohm speakers.
Allows for longer sound fragments.
Available in either standard 3 or premium 4 voice versions.
Auto CV configuration by sound projects
Scaleable Speed Stabilization (BEMF) optimized for sound operation.
Series 5
Sound Bug Compatible:  Series 5 Digitrax Decoders add the ability to add sound to regular mobile decoders with Sound Bug.  Some Series 5 decoders have sockets for simply plugging in the Sound Bug while others require soldering to wire the Sound Bug to the decoder.
Series 4
First generation SoundFX decoders
Most are mobile, sound and function decoders, some are sound and function only decoders.
Series 3
Series 3 decoders with 6 functions have FX
3
function outputs
Torque compensation
SuperSonic motor drive for quiet operation (silent operation)
Support for all DCC programming methods as of the time of release
Operations mode read back capability for CV read back on the main line
Scaleable Speed Stabilization (Adjustable Back EMF)
One Step decoder Factory CV reset (CV08=8 or CV8=9 to preserve loadable speed tables)
Motor Isolation Protection
Transponding
White or Golden Yellow LEDs on decoders that come equipped with LEDs
Series 3 decoders with less than 6 functions have a modified set of features
Series 3 Economy
Digitrax Decoders have all Series 3 features EXCEPT Scaleable Speed Stabilization (BEMF)
Series 2
FX function outputs
Scaleable Speed Stabilization (Back EMF)
Transponding
Series 1
Digitrax decoders have standard or configurable strobe function outputs.
Replaced by
DH165A0
Current Rating-Functions
500mA