Digitrax Decoder Index

Functions on Mobile Decoders

Digitrax decoders will make your locomotives move like the real thing. In addition, Digitrax decoders have outputs that can control lamps and other on/off devices installed in your locomotive. These are called functions. Functions are things like: lamps, sound units, smoke units, etc. All Digitrax decoders are equipped with two or more function outputs that are used to turn functions on and off.

Decoder function outputs can be in the form of :

1. Leads (wires) attached to the decoder that are used to hook up external functions. See Table I below for wire color codes used on Digitrax decoders.

2. Pre-wired function outputs that hook up by just plugging in the decoder. This is the case for decoders that come with lights attached to the decoder.

3. Solder pads on the decoder that allow you to solder wires to hook up functions to the decoder.

Some decoders have more than one form of function output. For example, the DN163K0a has two function outputs pre-wired to the white LEDs on the decoder and 4 additional solder pads available for adding wires to hook up more functions.

If you are planning to operate more functions in addition to headlight control you will need to use a decoder with more function outputs. For applications where you are using a sound module, you will want a decoder with at least 4 or 5 functions. Function only decoders, like the TL1, TF2 & TF4, are also available if you wish to add even more functions.

There are five types of functions available on Digitrax decoders:

Standard functions turn functions on and off. Many Digitrax decoders with standard functions offer head lights that can be set up to be either automatically reversing or individually controllable. Digitrax decoders are shipped with automatic reversing head lights enabled. Click here if you want to disable this feature. When you are using a standard function output, simply hook up the function output to the function device and you will be able to turn it on and off from your throttle.

Standard* functions turn functions on and off. These decoders offer automatically reversing head lights only. With this type of function output, no additional function configuration is possible. When you are using a standard* function output, simply hook up the function output to the function device and you will be able to turn it on and off from your throttle.

Configurable strobe (CS) functions can be set up to run as simple on/off or as single or double pulse strobes. This option is available only on a few Digitrax decoders where limited code space would not allow FX or FX³ functions to be added. Click here to learn how to set up configurable strobes.

FX functions incorporate generators for prototypical lighting effects, like Mars lights, ditch lights, Gyralites, random flicker, single & double pulse strobes, etc. Click here to learn about FX function set up.

FX³ functions incorporate FX generators with additional dynamic and static qualifiers. FX³ functions are fully remappable so they can be controlled by any function key on your system. A master light switch can be set up to turn off all lights on a locomotive. Functions associated with advanced consists can be controlled, too. Click here to learn about FX³ function set up.

Function outputs on Digitrax decoders are available in several current ratings depending on the decoder. See the decoder specifications for your specific decoder to determine the current rating of the function outputs.

Digitrax Mobile Decoder Wire Colors

What the wires are for	Wire Color
Power Pick-up Right (Engineer's Side)	Red
Power Pick-up Left (Fireman's Side)	Black
Motor + Right Brush	Orange
Motor – Left Brush	Gray
F0(Fwd)-Forward Light	White
F0(Rev)-Reverse Light	Yellow
Lamp Common	Blue
F1-Function 1	Green
F2-Function 2	Violet
F3-Function 3	Brown
F4-Function 4	White w/ Yellow Stripe
F5-Function 5	White w/ Green Stripe
F6-Function 6	White w/ Blue Stripe

Note: DH82 & DN92 decoders used a different wiring color code. Please check decoder spec sheets for the wire colors used with these decoders.

How many functions does your decoder support?

F0 (FWD), F0 (REV), F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9 and so one are each counted as one function. This is an industry wide convention. Check the decoder index for your decoder to determine how many functions it supports.

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This page, and all contents, are Copyright (C) 2003 by Digitrax, Inc., Norcross, GA, USA.

Updated 07-22-03.