cooped Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 This has been bugging me for a while, what's the loose purple wire for on these decoders? Thanks Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooped Posted June 11, 2011 Author Share Posted June 11, 2011 I should probably say that I have read the spec leaflet that comes with the decoder and I see it says function 4 but what would I use this for? Thanks, Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 It's another function wire. You might want to add extra lights or DCC couplings etc.-----------------------------Get off the line Bobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 It's official colour is violet btw. :-)-----------------------------Get off the line Bobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooped Posted June 11, 2011 Author Share Posted June 11, 2011 Thanks poliss. So I would just fit lights and connect to this wire then f4 would turn them on and off? Still feeling my way through this DCC stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 Not exactly. The white wire is for the front headlight, the yellow wire is for the rear headlight and the blue wire is common return. You'd need to have lots of different lights before you got up to having to use the violet wire. :-) I know you can't really call a light at the back a headlight, but that's the term the NMRA uses. The violet wire is 'output 4', but that may not be controlled by f4. Roger (RJ) knows which function buttons are used. Here's the NMRA color code guide for decoders. http://www.nmra.org/standards/DCC/standards_rps/RP-9.1.1%20200801.pdf">http://www.nmra.org/standards/DCC/standards_rps/RP-9.1.1%20200801.pdf-----------------------------Get off the line Bobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnerZ Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 I suppose you might use it if you had lets say a steam train with a sound chip, a cab light, a flickering firebox light and a lantern on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooped Posted June 11, 2011 Author Share Posted June 11, 2011 Thanks again. I can see how this could quickly become confusing! As FinnerZ pointed out, pretty unlikely I'd get as far as needing this wire! maybe one day, when I get a little more advanced than the current changing loco address! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Loco Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Hi, I have just joined this forum for the first time though I have visited this site(plusold one) for the past few years. In my opinion, the description on the instruction sheet doesn't explain in detail about the green and purple wire. I normally use the green wire for the cab light (press F1 on my Lenz 100) I use the purple wire for lighting the coaches using small connector I bought on e-bay. To activate this, all I have to do is press F2 button. No need to change CV at all. Alternatively, one can use the green wire for the front cab and the purple for the back cab. I wish Hornby instruction sheet explains this, its by trial and error that I found this. When used on a loco, I have to change CV4 to 0 to allow it to stop without jerking forward. I don't have to do this on R8245 (Sapphire). Due to its current limitation, I use R8249 mainly for lighting the dummy cars eg. class 43, Pendolino and Class 395 Hitachi and also lighting coaches. I think R8245 is the better decoder to run a loco. I hope this helps as I found the same problem when I first bought the decoder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregd99 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Guys,the sapphire/8245 is a far more sophisticated decoder. more power, more flexibility, more capabilities such as autonomous running (programmed events), flashing/dimming lights, fuel/water simulation, re-mapping of functions/outputs.....This means that it is more complex to set up. You don't have to be a rocket scientist but you should plan to take some time understanding the various CVs.Also note that it is significantly bigger than the 8249.Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregd99 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Guys,the sapphire/8245 is a far more sophisticated decoder. more power, more flexibility, more capabilities such as autonomous running (programmed events), flashing/dimming lights, fuel/water simulation, re-mapping of functions/outputs.....This means that it is more complex to set up. You don't have to be a rocket scientist but you should plan to take some time understanding the various CVs.Also note that it is significantly bigger than the 8249.Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornbyjohn Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I am puzzled, a friend used a R8249 to convert a non DCC ready loco, said it "Didnt work" sent chip back to retailer who said the warranty was invalidated because the plug had beeen cut off? they still replaced the chip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregd99 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 dcc ready locos have a socket for the decoder to plug into. Most (all?) dcc-ready from hornby have an 8 pin plug but other sizes exist too.to use an R8249/8245 decoder in a dcc-ready loco you "just" plug it in. The violet wire is not terminated on the 8 pin plug and flies loose. It needs to be insulated.non dcc-ready locos are typically converted by cutting of the plug and soldering the wires directly.I am surprised that a retailer replaced a decoder with the plug cut off.Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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