QSI Titan Q3 Decoder usa trains 10 amp

[Thirdrail68]

Hi,

I wonder can anyone advise please.

I have recently installed a Traintek adapt a board and a QSI Titan USA trains 10 amp sound decoder into a USA trains GP9. I have two areas that I cannot seem to solve and the enigma code or should I say the QSI DCC reference manual does not help. Firstly what I would say is that installation of the board and LED upgrade kit and decoder was fairly simplistic and the sound,lights and feature quality is superb.

Anyway, smoke boards. I have at this time decided to use the factory smoke boards to provide the smoke. Reason is if I cut off the connectors now and wire direct to decoder as per recommendation and it doesn't work then there's no turning back so I have connected the smoke units to the connector lead on the adapt a board. I switched the smoke unit on via the switch under the train. Now how do I get the units to work via my NCE pro cab. The traintek manual States I can control the units via the controller but cannot switch off as this is done with the switch under the train. Well I can find no way of controlling them or getting any response. I have not put any fluid in the resorvoi, is that the problem. I have emaile traintek twice in the last week with no reply which annoys me. Anyway can anyone advise on how you control the factory smoke units via the adapt a board connection and decoder. I will eventually wire direct to decoder and remove factory boards but I want to see what this option looks like first and probably save myself a job.

Secondly, cab light. I upgraded the front and rear lights with the traintek LED upgrade kit and they are superb. However what do I do with the cab light. I cut off the usa trains connector and wired it too the decoder as per QSI install manual but it does not work. Now this bulb I assume is not LED so could be problematic but I'm rather surprised that traintek overlooked this light. Again no response from traintek so does anyone have any advice.

Apologies for the long post. Again highly recommend both products just a lot of tweaking to be done and no customer support.

Cheers

Steve

 

[HBBahn]

Hi Steve, re. The smoke units, if you're switching them on/off via the switch underneath, there isn't anything else to do. My only experience is with a GP38, and the units in that have a heating element and a fan. I'm guessing that yours are the same, in which case, if you can't hear the fans, they're not working.

In order to make smoke, you must have smoke fluid in the reservoirs, and I think that you can damage, or burn out completely, the heating element if you run them dry.

Also, if you're running G scale DCC track voltage (~24V), this is probably a bit higher than the DC voltage the smoke units are designed for, and may also cause damage.

 

[Thirdrail68]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I will quote the Traintek manual.

The smoke boards may be powered via the adapt a board using a decoder such as a QSI Titan USA 10 amp. This particular decoder has a pin that powers the smoke power wires on the adapt a board. Operating the smoke units with the factory smoke boards will allow you to turn the smoke on/off with you're DCC throttle if using a QSI Titan USA decoder. You will not however be able to adjust the speed of the smoke fan unit and they will remain on high when turned on.

It then goes on to recommending to wire the fans/heater direct to the decoder which I probably will be eventually but from what it's saying above I should be able to turn on/off via my controller.

Tony I remember when I ran the loco on DC the smoke unit was running even though no fluid on test.

Why do they make things so difficult.

Cheers again

Steve