Recently, on the LokSound groups.io forum someone brought up the interesting topic of two stage ditch lights and whether or not it was possible to create this effect on ESU v5 decoders. The effect is demonstrated at the beginning of the video below.
This is an interesting effect and the author was ready to dive right in on it but, not for the first time, the IndianRailModeler had an answer for it. Apoorva always does. So lets jump into this and see how to accomplish it. We will be using the S0778 sound file so you can follow along but before we begin you must understand that the locomotive you are trying to do this with MUST have individually wired ditch lights. If they are not then this procedure will not work.
First, there are two brightness settings that need to be set up. This is done on the Function Outputs Sheet of the Decoder Pane. We will use both the AUX1[1] and AUX2[1] settings. Set the Output mode (effect) to Dimmable Headlight on both of these settings. Rename the AUX1[1] output to Ditch light dim and check the dimmer checkbox. See figure 1.
Figure 1 AUX1[1]Rename the AUX2[2] output to Ditch light bright and make sure the dimmer checkbox is not checked. See figure 2.
Figure 2 AUX1[2]
Now to the sound slot. Switch to the Sound pane and open sound slot 2 which is not used. In the Sound Slot Properties define 2 variables named BrightTimer and DimTimer and assign the values 3 and 1 respectively. See figure 3. Make sure the unlimited checkbox is checked.
Figure 3 The variables
Now in the schedule portion create four states and assign then Conditions and Actions shown in figure 4. Be sure to check the Loop checkbox in the Repeat playback section of the Transition properties for each of the states.
Figure 4 The schedule
For the final step, once you finish creating the schedule we need to assign the proper AUX values we created earlier to the correct states. The two Dim states will have the dim ditch light AUX assigned and, you guessed it, the Bright states will have the bright values assigned. Figure 5 shows an example assignment for the Left Ditch Light Dim.
Figure 5 Assigning AUX values to states
Lastly, assign this sound slot to a function key on the function mapping sheet and you're done! In sound file S0778 the ditch lights are already assigned to F6 so remove them and select the sound slot file you created in F6's Sounds column.
You can adjust the bright and dim timers if you want and also, if you have them available, you could assign them to SoundCVs but SoundCVs are a valuable and scarce comodity so I suggest you just use the hard coded values.
One last thing, and perhaps this should have been stated first, this project may work or it may not. Try a it and see.
Most of all have fun!
If you have an idea for a blog post here, let me know. If I can comment on it, I will or I'll see if someone else can and post it.
