Flunter Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Hi all, Can anyone cleverer than me (that'll be most of you then) advise which CV I need to change to increase the brightness of the firebox flicker, I've done the usual search but struggling to find any info? The brightness level out-of-the-box is ridiculously low. The model I have is the sound-fitted version (the sound is excellent BTW), fitted with a Zimo decoder. On a separate note; are there any iTrain wizards on the forum? If so, where would I post questions, if at all? I am aware iTrain has its own forum. TIA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kaput Posted February 19, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 19, 2021 CV60 is usually the overall brightness for Zimo decoders and the easiest option. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 20, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20, 2021 (edited) I just tried adjusting CV60 to a range of values from 40 to 255 (MX659). Makes no difference. I think the decoder outputs are just turning the Dapol firebox "flicker" circuit on and off. (The "flicker" being a regular cycle between orange and yellow LEDs...) The brightness problem is not electronic - it's more that the physical design doesn't work very well. And note that the recent update on the Dapol Manor describes "improved firebox flicker". Edited February 20, 2021 by Harlequin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinofLoxley Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 It was seen on the youtube review that the firebox glow was pretty minimal. Didnt come on at all until about 70% of loco speed. The iTrain wizard is Iain Morrison but he usually asks people to take problems to the iTrain forum itself. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 20, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20, 2021 Under DCC control the flicker doesn't vary with loco speed, of course. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinofLoxley Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Just now, Harlequin said: Under DCC control the flicker doesn't vary with loco speed, of course. Not what was seen on the review - my memory escapes me but it was a very well-known reviewer 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 20, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20, 2021 2 minutes ago, RobinofLoxley said: Not what was seen on the review - my memory escapes me but it was a very well-known reviewer I guess it might have been DC control in the review? I'm just reporting what I observe on my model under DCC control. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 You need to change the DCC chip for a Hard Welsh Steam chip. Its well known that GWR loco's wont run on anything else - I'm sure I read that somewhere. Jon 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamburger Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 If the loco has a built-in flicker device that flickers with DC and you add a decoder with the output also set to flicker, this can lead to brightness problems. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 20, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20, 2021 16 minutes ago, Hamburger said: If the loco has a built-in flicker device that flickers with DC and you add a decoder with the output also set to flicker, this can lead to brightness problems. Good point, thanks. I just checked my model and one of the two outputs controlling the firebox (from the same Function key) was set to random flicker. Changed it to simple on/off. No discernible difference. It would be great if there were a simple config tweak to make the firebox brighter but I fear that the only way to overcome the fundamental design problem is to modify the loco. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flunter Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 Thank you everyone for the replies. I had my fears that the brightness would be factory set without any option to adjust. The loco I have is the DCC sound factory-fitted model, I really don't fancy messing with the decoder, not to mention the extra expense. Not having a firebox flicker is no big deal, but as it's there we should be able to see it. Thank you also for the iTrain input, I'll pop over there and pose my question Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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