FAQ

On this main board (cod.4-30109) it is possible to install the car lights with some tricks.
To drive the car lights you can use the outputs AUX1 and AUX2, this involves the loss of the independent management of the red running lights that will be managed automatically opposite to the white lights through F0.

Set all 4 jumpers JP1,JP2,JP3 and JP4 to position A (see figure 8).
Connect a led to the pads indicated by the arrows in figure 8 paying attention to the correct polarity.

For cabin lights you can use one of our PCB led items with built-in resistor code 4-30004/P2 (figure 9).
Warning: if you connect a generic led instead, add a resistor in series on the negative of about 1000 ohm.

Question:
I have purchased a sound mainboard and a non, for the 345 roco with big motor but I can’t figure out how to set up the release/hookup maneuvers with the cv.
How do I command the hooks and operate them?

Reply:
Setting up the decoder to use electromagnetic couplers can be cumbersome and the correct calibration of the couplers depends on the type/brand of couplers.
On the kit in question, the output that can be used to connect a hook is indicated on the pcb as A4 and corresponds to the AUX6 output of the ZIMO Plux16 decoder.

Zimo decoders support the coupler effect with appropriate options to be set on the output used for this purpose through CV115, CV116 and 132.

As described in the manual, CVs have the following meaning:

CV132 – sets the desired effect for the output, in this case AUX6. For the Coupler effect the value to assign is 48

CV115 – the value contained in this variable is between 0 and 99

• The DECLINES indicate the time for which the coupler receives maximum tension according to this table:
  0 = always active
  1 = 0.1 sec
  2 = 0.3 sec
  3 = 0.4 sec
  4 = 0.8 sec
  5 = 1 sec
  6 = 2 sec
  7 = 3 sec
  8 = 4 sec
  9 = 5 sec
• The UNITS indicate the percentage of voltage (V+) with which to keep the coupler powered (holding) according to this table:
  0 = inactive
  1 = 10%
  2 = 20%
  3 = 30%
  4 = 40%
  5 = 50%
  6 = 62%
  7 = 75%
  8 = 87%
  9 = 100%

Example: if you want to activate the coupler for 1 second and have a holding voltage of 40% of the maximum voltage, CV115 must be set to value 54.

For Krois couplers it is recommended to use for CV115 = 60, 70 or 80 as holding tension is not necessary.

CV116 – This variable determines the release movement,

• the TENs determine the movement time in seconds:
  0 = always active
  1 = 0.1 sec
  2 = 0.3 sec
  3 = 0.4 sec
  4 = 0.8 sec
  5 = 1 sec
  6 = 2 sec
  7 = 3 sec
  8 = 4 sec
  9 = 5 sec
• the UNITS determine the speed of movement during coupling/uncoupling
  0 = disconnection off
  1 = speed 4
  2 = speed 8
  3 = speed 12
  4 = speed 16
  5 = speed 20
  6 = speed 24
  7 = speed 28
  8 = speed 32
  9 = speed 36
• the value of the HUNDREDS determines whether before uncoupling the loco must move towards the convoy to facilitate this operation
  1= active
  0 = inactive

Example:
CV116 = 61: The locomotive uncouples and moves away from the train for 2 seconds at speed level 4.
CV116 = 155: The locomotive first pushes against the train to disengage, disengages and then moves away from the train for 1 second at speed level 20.

Question:

I purchased the 4-30106 mainboard with the ESU Lockpilot v5 decoder preinstalled, I connected the engine and tracks to the mainboard then through Z21 control unit I changed the cv1, I then did a reset of the decoder, it seems that the values are stored, but the locomotive does not move.

Reply:

Verify that you have wired the two pads at the corners of pcb A to the corresponding pads at the corners of pcb B

to which the motor is connected (see manual page 5).

Question:

I had a problem with the switching on of the white lights on the intercom side, which did not respond to any function key, I tried to replace the ESU V4 plux22 decoder with the ESU V5 plux22 decoder and by doing so with the F1 key I could activate and deactivate the white lights of the car on the intercom side. So everything works perfectly.

Are Esu decoders compatible with Almrose mainboards?

Reply:

There are no compatibility problems between our products and ESU decoders, whether they are V5 or V4 versions.
You can safely use any brand of decoder on our products.
Regarding what has occurred surely depends on a configuration issue of the decoder.
The ESU decoder “V5” has in fact a different default configuration than “V4”.
To solve your problem it is necessary to verify that, on the decoder you intend to use,
all the functions used are correctly configured, in this case F0 and F1.

Question:

I noticed that the red tail lights on Vitrains E.464 667 “BILL VIOLA” TTV2230 model are very dim, if I replace the LEDs with other type will I solve the problem?
Or should I replace the resistor on the pcb as well?

Reply:

The lights are low because of the type of LED used by Vitrains, not particularly bright and the light guides that disperse some of the brightness.
The leds can be replaced with brighter ones, but they are not standard leds, they are concave type with 120° emission angle cod. 7-10035/P2 red light or cod. 7-10034/P2 warm white light.
You can try, as an alternative, to put in parallel to the resistor R1 (white light) or R2 (red light) placed on the underside of the pcb a 2200 Ohm resistor to reduce the value of the total resistance and then check if the brightness is sufficient.

Question:

1. I have a problem with the running lights on Vitrains model E.464 667 (pcb Almrose cod. V01915 rev1.2) “BILL VIOLA” TTV2230 of the intercom side. The white lights come on dimly reversing the gear everything works correctly the decoder I installed is an ESU LokPilot V5 plux22.
2. I noticed that the model has some pads for auxiliary exits, how should I proceed if I want to use them?

Reply:

1. On this model, the lights on the intercom side are normally off.
   They can be kept on by a jumper that closes the two pins of the SW1 plug.
   In digital mode the switching on of the running lights on the intercom side are controlled by the output AUX1, therefore for these to be switched on the output AUX1 must be active which, in turn, must be configured on the decoder to be activated by the function F0 or other function key.
   It is possible that there is a minimum brightness of the LEDs even when they are disabled but normally this is not perceptible when the body is mounted.
2. On the pcb there are pads connected directly to the auxiliary outputs of the decoder and are called AUX3, AUX4, AUX5; to use them you need a decoder that supports them and the device to be connected to the output vа connected to the desired output and to the pad V+ (common positive).
   In case the output is used to pilot leds it is necessary to insert a current limiting resistor in series to one of the connections.

Question:

I would like to know if the Almrose decoder code 9-860019 has the shunting speed function, which is necessary because of the long braking that the decoder makes the loco do, often exceeding the stop signal.

Reply:

The decoder has the ability to adjust the inertia under braking, just like the one under acceleration.
This behavior can be handled by changing the value entered in CV4, which admits values from 0 to 255.
CV4 = 0 the function is switched off
CV4 = 1 the function is engaged with a very low inertial value, i.e. it stops immediately. Increasing the value increases the braking distance and time.

There is also a second, more refined setting, which is used to manage more specifically the value entered in CV4.
CV 24 contains additional braking speed information to be added or subtracted from the base value contained in CV4.
This is a 7-bit value (bits 0-6) with bit 7 having the function of subtracting if equal to 1 or adding if equal to 0 (0-adds, 1-subtracts).
More specifically: values up to 127 add inertia and values from 128 to 255 subtract it.

Question:
Is it possible to mount a sound decoder on the Lima D445 big engine?

 
Reply:

• These machines are old and very noisy, so much so as to nullify the sound emitted by the decoder
• Power outlets are inadequate and cause sounds to reset continuously.

Question:
Can you move the LEDs to a PRO light board code 2-10091?
Can LEDs be added to those already present?
Which ones and how many can I add?

Reply:
Desoldering LEDs without damaging them is quite complicated, you need to have proper equipment.
A hot-air soldering iron would be advisable, and, of course, some familiarity with these operations.
In fact, the risk of damaging them is very high.
Replacement LEDs of the same format (SMD LED format 0603 cod.7-10002/P10) are on sale on the site.
Regarding the possible addition of leds, you can put only 1 led for each group of pads.
You can then add as many leds as there are already installed (9 leds).

Question:
What can be used to illuminate two Corbellini carriages from the Rivarossi HR4298 set released this year?

Reply:
The Corbellini Lima and RR carriages exist in different versions, it is necessary to make a careful assessment on each model because in some cases the assembly can be hindered by the conformation of the plastics of the attic.
The Corbellini Lima and RR carriages exist in different versions, it is necessary to make a careful assessment on each model because in some cases the assembly can be hindered by the conformation of the plastics under of the roof.

The product suitable for these carriages is the basic light board code 2-20080 / WW – 8 led.