Can a DCC motor decoder run a FRED?

[ryan_wilkerson]

I haven't run across a commercially available FRED that has an accurate flash rate and would like to come up with a solution I can use for about a dozen trains that need them.

I have some hard wire (motor) decoders that I'd like to repurpose to control flashing rear end devices (FRED).

Can the flash rate be set on an ESU or TCS decoder?

Has anyone done this? Or have a better solution to drive the FRED?


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CiWVfg-I818

[vermonter_railfan]

So I used a ESU lokPilot Nano FX for my FRED, don't remember if you remember it on my grain train at E24. There is a TCS KA-N1 keep alive attached to it as well and then brass tubes over the wheel axles to supply power.

I used the single flash on the function output and changed the timing to get a good flash rate. (The FRED output wasnt too convincing). I'll post some photos later.

[peteski]

Most DCC decoders (Digitrax, ZIMO, ESU, TCS, and others) which have lighting effects feature have a flashing light (FRED or just plain flasher) effect available, and all such decoders I have dealt with have adjustable flash rate.  Real FREDs flash in a specific way: The light comes on instantly, but it decays more gradually when it turns off.  That was with older FREDs. Maybe there are some new LED-based FREDs which turn on and off quickly. I don't know.

I have build a FRED simulator which fairly accurately simulates the flashing, but it uses an older chip which is no longer being made, and it needs a large electrolytic capacitor, so the circuit is rather bulky.

[Tad_T]

I used TCS Z2’s in some Atlas Track Cleaning Cars and wired up LED’s as beacons on those cars.

I wasn’t trying to emulate a specific flash rate or anything. The beacons do look pretty decent, though.

Tad

[ryan_wilkerson]

Hi Ryan, I didn't notice your FRED, I should have been on the lookout since I need to build quite a few.
So it makes sense the FX (non-motor control) decoders would work for this but how about regular LokPilot motor decoders?
Looking forward to some photos when you have a chance. What did you use for the actual FRED?

So I used a ESU lokPilot Nano FX for my FRED, don't remember if you remember it on my grain train at E24. There is a TCS KA-N1 keep alive attached to it as well and then brass tubes over the wheel axles to supply power.

I used the single flash on the function output and changed the timing to get a good flash rate. (The FRED output wasnt too convincing). I'll post some photos later.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Thanks Peteski. I have noticed the FRED flash sequence isn't just a regular on/off but I'd like it to be close. Do you have a video of your FRED simulator?

So is there any special consideration for programming a motor decoder to just run a single flashing light? Maybe I should just try it

Most DCC decoders (Digitrax, ZIMO, ESU, TCS, and others) which have lighting effects feature have a flashing light (FRED or just plain flasher) effect available, and all such decoders I have dealt with have adjustable flash rate.  Real FREDs flash in a specific way: The light comes on instantly, but it decays more gradually when it turns off.  That was with older FREDs. Maybe there are some new LED-based FREDs which turn on and off quickly. I don't know.

I have build a FRED simulator which fairly accurately simulates the flashing, but it uses an older chip which is no longer being made, and it needs a large electrolytic capacitor, so the circuit is rather bulky.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Tad,
Did you control the cleaning motor with the decoder?

I used TCS Z2’s in some Atlas Track Cleaning Cars and wired up LED’s as beacons on those cars.

I wasn’t trying to emulate a specific flash rate or anything. The beacons do look pretty decent, though.

Tad

[Tad_T]

Tad,
Did you control the cleaning motor with the decoder?

I did. 

I wired them just like Mr. Ron Bearden @u18b  shows in his tutorial. 

I put the beacon in the switch hole since the switch was no longer necessary. I also body mounted MT couplers on the Atlas Cleaning Cars.

[u18b]

http://u18b.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tomix-clean-car.pdf

[peteski]

Thanks Peteski. I have noticed the FRED flash sequence isn't just a regular on/off but I'd like it to be close. Do you have a video of your FRED simulator?

So is there any special consideration for programming a motor decoder to just run a single flashing light? Maybe I should just try it

I don't have a video, and I'm not even sure a video will capture the flashing correct. Cameras don't like LEDs.  They often miss what the human eye sees.

I know you have spare motor decoders, but I still think that getting a function-only decoder would be the best way to do this. But there is nothing special about using motor decoder for only lighting functions. Just leave the motor leads disconnected.  Of course, like with most function-only decoders. since there is no motor load  to generate the programming acknowledgement pulses, you will be programming it blindly (the command station will not know of the decoder took the programming or not.

Most (if not all) of motor and function-only decoders have multiple lighting effects to chose from, and flasher is one of those functions.  They also have configurable flash interval.  Since different brands do things differently, you need to read the specific manuals to see hos to set it up.