Model Railway Forum

Morning Gents

Hope someone can help this novice, I recently purchased from Rails of Sheffield a d class 121 bubble car with a dapol impendium chip in it, the direction lights are working when i either use function 0 or the headlight button on my nce powercab but i dont seem to be able to get the carriage lights on, I have programmed the long code in thats all as far as i know any suggestions or should i reset the chip back to factory settings?

Hi
Firstly, I assume it does have carriage internal lighting? Front and rear lights are as you say controlled by F0 or the dedicated head light On/Off button.
If the unit does have internal lighting, then one of the other function keys will turn it On/Off and I would guess that will be F1 or F2 to do this?

Thanks Brian, again forgive the stupidity, yes it is fitted with carriage lights, they were working before I changed the chip address.

So if I am correct the number on the front of the NCE power cab are the function switches? so pressing 1 or 2 etc should turn them on?

Yes, the keys are multi use and are normally the Function numbers. With the correct locos address selected and entered, Press 1 and Function 1 is turned On. Press 1 again and Function 1 is turned Off. Press key 2 and Function 2 turns On and Off by a second press of the 2 key. Note that the display will show Functions that turned on in the lower right corner. L = Headlights On. and 1, 2 etc show that Function is turned On for that selected loco. Only Functions 1 to 6 are indicated the rest are not shown on the display.

Thank you, I will test the other numbers to see which one turns them on/off

Many thanks for your help

Many decoders have three or four functions. Two are used to control front and rear lights and they are automatically reversed around by the direction of travel setting. These would be allocated Function F0. Additional lighting or other items to be feed would be via F1 and if a four function decoder F2 is available too.

I have a new Bachmann Class 108 DMU and oddly all of the lights are under control of F0 - directional lights, destination boards and cabin lights. Mind you the cabin lights are so dim as only to be noticeable in a darkened room or if you look up into the units.

RAF96 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:23 am ..............................Mind you the cabin lights are so dim as only to be noticeable in a darkened room or if you look up into the units.

I think that is how it should be. In reality, coaches would not usually be lit during daylight, and at night time it just doesn't look right (to me anyway) to have a train lighting up the surrounding buildings or countryside as it passes through. The cabin lighting is only there for the comfort and safety of the passengers after all. Just my opinion of course.

RAF96 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:23 am I have a new Bachmann Class 108 DMU and oddly all of the lights are under control of F0 - directional lights, destination boards and cabin lights. Mind you the cabin lights are so dim as only to be noticeable in a darkened room or if you look up into the units.

I agree with RAF96 the cabin lights are DIM on the 108 i have to go to night mode! to see them - the light function on all my locos on my NCE is F0.

Assuming your NCE is the PowerCab then the Headlight button is preprogramed to output F0 when pressed. F0 is also be able to be accessed via the keyboards 0 button too. Both doing the same job. Both produce the "L" indication on the handset.