RFS

Hi Pete - I've tried a Zimo MX634D in mine but couldn't get the head code lights to work. Do they work on yours?

That would require a major rewire compared to reversing the head code/cab lights, and only necessary if you wanted to retain the cab lights on separate functions. Personally I'm not bothered with the cab lights, but I'd like to be able to switch out the rear head code lights.

How would this work as the head code lights are not directional? One possible option might be to swap over the wires between the head code and the cab lights. That would make the head code lights operate independently on F1 and F2, and the cab lights (both) on F3. No doubt you'd be invalidating the warranty though ....

I have done some more investigation on the top speed of my loco. As I reported earlier, I was getting 55mph with the Lenz Silver and approximately 60mph with a Zimo MX600R (on an 8/21 converter). The Zimo has much better slow control so I'm sticking with that for the time being. These speeds were recorded using RR&Co Traincontroller's profiling whereby it uses three track sections with occupancy detectors to determine exactly what speed the loco travels on a given speed step. However these speeds were recorded light engine and TC assumes Back EMF will take care of loads but it seems it doesn't: add load to the loco and it slows down. With 9 coaches (7 Hornby Maunsells and 2 Pullmans - a typical "boat train") recorded speed drops to 49mph - it really is noticeably slower. The issue here is that the motor is a coreless one, and therefore Back EMF needs to process accordingly. The default Zimo parameters do not work here. However the decoder does have support for coreless motors, and using their recommended defaults the problem is solved for me: the loco runs much better, and at a consistent speed with its load. For the record I've set CV9=51 and CV56=133. So to get the full benefit of this loco you need a decoder with 5 functions to work all the lights, plus one that has Back EMF support for coreless motors.

My E5004 came with a certificate saying it was a limited edition of 200.

21-pin with at least 5 functions.

A Bachmann decoder is not a good choice for this loco, especially if it's the 36-554 version. You may need to adjust the Back EMF settings in CV 54/55 - see http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/decoder_settings.pdf Top speed is quite low - mine is 55 mph with a Lenz Silver decoder. Bear in mind also that if you want the head code lights to work on DCC you'll need a decoder with a minimum of 5 functions.

Mine also has a top speed of 55 mph using a Lenz Silver 21-pin decoder. Track voltage on my Lenz DCC system is 14.5v after allowing for the 1.5v drop caused by using LDT RS8 occupancy detectors. I've tried it with a Zimo MX634D decoder and top speed is much better at 68 mph but the head code blinds do not light up. These are on function output 3 (AUX3) and work with the Lenz as it's a 5-function decoder. They should work with the Zimo as it has 6 functions and I'm trying to find out why they don't. Waiting on a response from Zimo. 55 mph is not good enough for me, but 68 mph is fine. Also the loco is still very noisy and I'm hoping that will ease when it's run in more. One concern I have for other DCC modellers is that I suspect many will install a 4-function 21-pin decoder and wonder why the head code blinds do not illuminate. Most 21-pin decoders generally available only have 4 functions. With this model the 3rd and 4th functions have been used up by the cab lights which I suspect many people are not really bothered about.

This didn't register with me earlier (post #1675) but here's Dave's definition of the lighting functions under DCC. As you can see AUX3 is required on the decoder for the front and rear head code lights. 21-pin decoders with only 4 functions do not have an AUX3 output - you need at least 5 functions on the decoder for all lighting components to work.

The TCS EU621 is indeed a 6 function decoder so it should work. The head code lights are not directional.

Still no joy I'm afraid so I'll wait and see what Zimo respond with.

On reflection I think you actually need a decoder with 5 functions not 4. On my loco the head codes worked using a Lenz 21-pin decoder that is described as having 5 functions - A, B, C, D and E which are assigned as follows: A+B (F0) - front and rear marker lights C (F1) - cab lights end #1 (function output 1) D (F2) - cab lights end #2 (function output 2) E (F5 on a Lenz system) - head codes (function output 3). So if your DCC27 is counting the front and rear lights as two functions then it won't operate the head codes as there's no spare. Perhaps Dave could confirm that you need a 5-function decoder to work all the lights as designed.

The head code lights are on function output 3 so you need a decoder with 4 functions. What decoder are you using?

I've done some speed testing with mine as mentioned earlier. I'm using RR&Co Traincontroller, and this builds a profile of the loco (ie speed curve) so that it knows how to run it. The process involves running the loco back and forth across three block sections and timing how long it takes to cross the centre section, whose length it knows and hence can determine the exact speed. For the profile it does 15 sample runs backward and forward spread over the speed range, and in the graphs below the vertical access is the speed recorded, and the horizontal access the speed step (1-126). Each black dot represents the speed recorded at that speed step. Here's the first attempt using a Lenz Silver 21 decoder with CV5=254 and CV6=48: Top speed is around 56 mph and minimum speed was about 4 mph. You can see the slightly sharper first run whereas the graph is otherwise very smooth. Not happy with that I tried a Zimo MX634D with CV5=252 and CV6=80 Surprisingly different performance. Slow speed is excellent but seriously overdone (it took ages to run, and now the loco starts and stops far too slowly - at speed step 64, for example, it's still only doing 15 mph. But top speed in both directions is 68 mph. However one unresolved issue with this decoder is that the head code blind lights do not work, whereas they do with the Lenz. I need to revisit the Zimo profile as I'd really like it to be more like the Lenz, ie a smooth progression through the speed steps.

Thanks for your help but I'm afraid it made no difference. I've tried toggling the function output assignments using CVs 33-46 but to no avail. The MX634D is defined as having FO3 and FO4 as normal function outputs, whereas the MX634C has them as logic outputs. You can switch between the two by setting CV8=4 to ensure it's in MX634D-mode, but that doesn't change anything either. The fact that the Lenz works with FO3 assigned to F5 implies the loco is wired correctly. Meanwhile I've sent an email to Zimo to see if they can advise.

Just acquired a DJ Models class 71 and I have a problem getting the lighting to work, in particular the head-codes. I'm starting a new topic for this because it's specifically decoder-related rather than an issue with the class 71 model. I first tried a Lenz Silver 21-pin decoder but the performance was not good - minimum speed about 4-5 mph and top speed only 55 mph. However all the lights function correctly - F0 - front and rear markers F1 - cab lights front F2 - cab lights rear F5 - head-codes The head-codes are on function output 3 which the Lenz decoder maps to F5. Instead of the Lenz I've used a Zimo MX634D 21-pin decoder. Performance is excellent so I'm happy to run with that. However, although F0-F2 work the lights as per the Lenz I cannot get the head-codes to work. Function 3 appears to be mapped to F3 but they don't come on. I suspect it's a mapping issue but I can't see what. Any Zimo specialists out there who can advise?

Thanks for the advice. I did check F3 and it's definitely not that as I found out when I turned it on by mistake! Another problem with the Lenz is that slow speed running is also not good - takes off at about 4-5 mph at speed step 1 (of 128). I have now tried a Zimo decoder, firstly with an MX600R connected to an 8/21 pin converter. This now gives me 61 mph forward and 71 mph backward compared to a fairly consistent 55/56 with the Lenz. However slow-speed running is very much improved as you'd expect with a Zimo. But I cannot get the headcode lights to come on - previously this worked with F5 on the Lenz. So I've "borrowed" a Zimo 21-pin MX634D from one of my 2-EPBs but that is doing the same: running is much improved, but I can't get the headcode lights on. Must be something to do with the Zimo assignment but just wondered if anyone knows what to do? F0 works the marker lights OK, as do F1 and F2 for the cab lights.

Just got my replacement loco today - the original had a paint mark on the roof that was clearly visible. I've fitted it with a Lenz Silver21+ decoder and it took a while for me to work out that the headcode lights come on with F5. I would have thought the documentation would have listed what the function numbers are? But my main concern is the top speed. I'm using a Lenz LZV100 controller at default voltage, and use automation with RR&Co Traincontroller. Using its profiling method (running the loco over 3 sections with occupancy detectors) it records the top speed in both directions as only 56 mph. (Compare this to a Heljan 33 which has a top speed at maximim CV5 value of 120 mph). Is this normal? If so, I'm a bit disappointed.

I gave up trying to get the screws out. Drilling the screws out might have released the body but then how do you secure it back on again? I was concerned that any "brute force" action might not only do serious damage but might invalidate the warranty. As I bought the loco from Hatton's, and they still had plenty in stock, I decided to take the safe route and get it replaced. The replacement was fine.

MS issued the patch on March 14th, so if your PC has been updated via the normal Windows update process it should be fine. See https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx

Got my E5004 today but unfortunately when I unpacked it I found it had a very noticeable smudge of dark grey or black paint on the roof that was clearly visible whichever way you looked at it. A cotton wool bud moistened with clean water wouldn't shift it. Looks like a basic QC issue at the Chinese factory. Called Kernow who advised sending it back for replacement and it's on its way now....

Could be the photo was taken just as the signal was changing aspects.

If you are still running the initial July 2015 version of Windows 10 (known as version 1507), then today's patch Tuesday update will be the last as it will no longer be supported. Newer versions are 1511 (November 2015 update), 1607 (Anniversary update) and 1703 (Creators update) have all come along since and you will need to update to one of these to continue being supported. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4015562/windows-10-version-1507-will-no-longer-receive-security-updates

BBC have got it wrong - it's a change to Windows Defender which doesn't come with the patch Tuesday fixes. Go to Start -> settings -> update and security -> Windows Defender and check the engine version is 1.1.13704.0. Next signature update will install that if it's not already there.

I think when you ordered you were given delivery option choice - Royal Mail or courier. I chose RM because the postie comes at almost the same time every day, whereas courier could be any time. Mine too is on its way for delivery tomorrow.