OpSw Setup
Enter OpSw mode by pressing the OpSw button. The OPS and ID light will flash alternating RED and GREEN.
Use your throttle in SWITCH mode to set switches to thrown or closed to match your desired OpSw setting.
There are currently no published OpSws for the BXPA1.
If you erroneously set an OpSw, the BXPA1 can be factory reset by setting OpSw40 = Closed
Trip Speed Pot
The Trip Speed Pot can be adjusted to set the speed at which auto reversing and power management is resolved. Turning the pot clockwise will make the speed slower and turning it counterclockwise will make it faster. It is not recommended to turn the pot all the way to one side or the other. The flat edge of the pot should not go past perpendicular with the circuit board. The factory default sets the pot with the flat edge of the rotary portion facing directly up, parallel with the circuit board. This setting should be sufficient for most command stations.
When using the BXPA1 with a DCS51 command station the trip speed pot must be set faster than default. Rotate the pot counterclockwise until reliable auto reversing is achieved.
Trip Amps Pot
The Trip Amps Pot can be adjusted to set the amp load at which auto reversing and power management is resolved. Turning the pot clockwise will make the setting higher and turning it counterclockwise will make it lower. It is not recommended to turn the pot all the way to one side or the other. The flat edge of the pot should not go past perpendicular with the circuit board. The factory default sets the pot with the flat edge of the rotary portion facing directly up, parallel with the circuit board. This setting should be sufficient for most command stations.
Additional Connections
The BXPA1 comes equipped with optional outputs and control connections.
Opto Isolated Detector Output
Connections between the ON and OP terminals of the BXPA1 allow for external triggers when the detection section of the BXPA1 is active. When the detection section is occupied the ON and OP connections will conduct and turn on the circuit. These terminals are isolated from the rest of the BXPA1 circuits.
On the 8 pin connector, Pin 7/OP is the collector of OPTO NPN transistor, Pin 8/ON is emitter. If Pin7/OP is at +5V then Pin 8/ON will conduct to a grounded 20k resistor on Pin 8/On. This resistor can be the input of another PCB.
External Status Output
The XR and XG outputs can be connected to and External Bi-Color LED to indicate the status of the reversing section. An appropriate resistor should be used with the LED. The LED indicator can be mounted in a layout facia or other convenient location.
NOTE: RS, COM, MO, and P are not used at this time and reserved for later implementation.
BXPA1 LED indications
The BXPA1 has 3 indicators, STATUS, OPS, and ID.
The ID indicator will be mostly ON winking off when the unit is powered. The OPS indictor will also be off when a LocoNet message is received.
The OPS indicator shows detection and transponding info. When the OPS indicator is steady on the reversing section is occupied. When the OPS indicator is flashing this indicates there is transponding in the reversing section.
The STATUS indicator will show the current status of the reversing section Polarity.
GREEN = INA -> OUTA : INB -> OUTB
RED = INA ->OUTB : INB -> OUTA
If the OPS and ID indicators are alternating flashing SLOW the BXPA1 is in ID mode.
If the OPS and ID indicators are alternating flashing FAST the BXPA1 is in OPS mode or receiving an IPL update.
If the OPS and ID indicator are both blinking on and off simultaneously track power is off in the reversing section. This is commonly due to a short circuit.
Setting up Locos and Rolling Stock for Transponding
Your locomotives or other rolling stock that you want to use for transponding must be equipped with either a transponder device or a decoder with Digitrax transponder capability included. Transponder devices such as the TF4 & TL1 can be added to non-transponding decoder installations. These devices are very small and easy to install. If you have not put decoders in your locos, it is easy to use a transponder equipped decoder and then you won’t have to add a second board inside the loco. All Digitrax current production decoders support Digitrax Transponding.
When you install a wired transponder equipped decoder, you should check the decoder installation instructions. For some decoders it is recommended you install a load resistor of between 270 ohms & 470 ohms between the blue and white decoder leads. If you are using a board replacement, and some other decoders the resistor may already be installed on the decoder. Digitrax compatible transponder current pulse generation uses the F0F decoder function or white lead that is also used for the forward light function. Transponding will not affect the operation of the forward light but you may see a slight glow when the light is turned off because of the way transponding works.
Notes: If the resistor is not connected between the blue & white/F0F leads, then the locomotive will transpond in only one orientation on the track. If you are using a DH126D, DH166D, TF-4 or TL-1 to equip your loco or rolling stock for transponding, you won’t need to install the resistor because it is already included in the decoder.
Enable transponding in the transponder equipped decoder by programming CV61 to a value of 02.
Place the loco on the track, select it and run it back & forth. Verify that transponding is working in that orientation. If transponding is not working, be certain if required that the resistor described in step 2 above is installed properly between the white and blue leads of the decoder.
Pick up the loco and turn it around on the track, select it and run it back and forth again. Verify that transponding is working in that orientation. If transponding is not working, be certain that the resistor described in step 2 above is installed properly between the white and blue leads of the decoder.
NOTE: Locos must be selected in the system for transponding to work.