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Digitrax SE8C User Manual
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Digitrax SE8C User Manual

Signal decoder
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SE8C Signal
DECoDEr
Features & Specifications
Control signals on your layout:
Manually with any LocoNet Throttle and Command Station.
Automatically with detection and compatible computer software.
Drives as many as 32 signal heads with popular LED signal types:
Bi-color LED searchlights with 2 or 3 leads.
Three-LED heads with common anode or common cathode.
Can drive B&O or Pennsy-type heads.
Designed to model most US signalling systems.
Built in current limiting resistors for setting brightness of LEDs.
Simple modular wiring:
Modular Plug 'N Play system.
Each Signal Driver Cable drives four heads.
Includes sample Signal Driver Cable and Test Signal Mast.
Drives either
8 slow motion turnout machines such as Circuitron's Tortoise
8 semaphore signals using slow motion turnout machines.
Provides 16 inputs:
8 control lines for local turnout control.
8 occupancy sensor inputs.
Use with DC or DCC controlled layouts.
A computer & compatible software are necessary to realize
the full feature potential of the SE8C.
Accessory Products make SE8C installation easy!
These items are available for purchase separately:
Signal Mast Base Kit: Includes 3 Signal Masts that can be used as Signal
Mast Bases in any scale or can be painted and detailed and used as N-scale
signal masts.
Signal Driver Cable Kit: Materials for making 2 Signal Driver Cables for
SE8C. Includes 20'of 10-wire Signal Driver ribbon cable & 8 10-Pin sockets.
Signal Mounting Hardware Kit: Under layout mounting hardware for Signal
Driver Cables and sockets. 6 metal signal straps and 6 signal spacers.
Terminal Strip Mounting Kit: Includes terminal strip board with resistors
installed for easy installation.
©2010 Digitrax, Inc.
Complete Train Control
Run Your Trains, Not Your Track!
www.digitrax.com
OR
TM
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Summary of Contents for Digitrax SE8C

  • Page 1 Signal Driver Cable Kit: Materials for making 2 Signal Driver Cables for SE8C. Includes 20’of 10-wire Signal Driver ribbon cable & 8 10-Pin sockets. Signal Mounting Hardware Kit: Under layout mounting hardware for Signal Driver Cables and sockets. 6 metal signal straps and 6 signal spacers.

  • Page 2: Parts List

    1 Instruction Manual Additional Equipment/Software Required To Run SE8C Operation of the SE8C requires a Digitrax LocoNet Throttle and Command Station OR compatible software such as Railroad & Company, WinLok or JMRI and others. See www. digitrax.com/SE8chome.htm for links to LocoNet compatible software.
  • Page 3 The SE8C sends its output to the signal driver boards to drive the signal heads. Each SE8C has 8 sets of signal drivers, each capable of driving a set of signal masts. Each set of masts can have up to four heads and each head can have up to four different lamps or a multi-color searchlight.

  • Page 4: Pre-Installation Set-Up

    We recommend testing your new SE8C prior to installation on your layout. The following testing procedures will help familiarize you with the general opera- tion of the SE8C. No track power is required for testing, but you will need a working LocoNet connection and throttle or PC running DCC control software.
  • Page 5 850-872-9557 www.digitrax.com 5. Before testing, be sure the SE8C is set to factory settings. If settings have been changed, reset the SE8C to its factory settings as follows: a. Press and hold the Option Button until the red LED starts to blink.
  • Page 6 Sw259. Next, select Sw260 and close the switch. The lower signal should change to flashing yellow. Throw Sw260 and the signal changes to a steady yellow. * Flashing Yellow aspect can be changed with OpSw settings. See SE8C Option Switch Settings. Pre-installation Testing - “B/C” orientation Signals 8.
  • Page 7 Panama City, FL USA 32404 850-872-9557 www.digitrax.com 11. Test the other SE8C Driver Sockets to verify the aspects show properly and there are no cable or connector problems. The factory settings for control- ling aspects are listed in the table below.
  • Page 8 Complete Train Control Run Your Trains, Not Your Track! are already installed on your layout. Be sure that when you configure the SE8C that the switch address ranges you select to operate the signals do not conflict with other devices, like DS54s, already installed. We strongly recommend that you keep accurate documentation of the address ranges used to control all devices on the layout to avoid conflicts that might cause problems.
  • Page 9 1. Press and hold the Option Button on the SE8C board until the red LED starts to blink. Release the Option Button. The red and green LEDs should blink alternately indicating that the SE8C is in Option Switch mode.
  • Page 10 LEDs operated with your SE8C. These resistors are incorpo- rated into the Digitrax Plug ‘N Play Signal Mast Base board. If you do not use this board, you must add your own resistors to prevent damage to the board.
  • Page 11 Customizing the Signal Masts You can use the Digitrax Signal Mast Base for connecting any signal mast in any scale you want to use to the Signal Driver Cable. 1. Cut the Digitrax Signal Mast off the Plug ‘N Play Signal Mast Base.
  • Page 12 Wiring for A (main) and Wiring For B (main) and (diverging-dwarf) C (siding) If common cathode signals are used, K&A on all LEDs will be reversed and you must set OpSw05 & OPSw08 to closed ©2010 Digitrax, Inc. www.digitrax.com...
  • Page 13 The signal driver ribbon cable pin out is: Installing Searchlight Signals The SE8C can be used with searchlight type signals with either 2 or 3 wire bi- color green/red LEDs. Leads from the signal can be soldered directly to the pads on the Signal Mast Base or to additional lengths of wire and then connect- ed to the Signal Mast Base.
  • Page 14 2-Wire Bi-color Searchlight Signal Schematic(Standard Polarity) Wiring for A (main) and Wiring For B (main) and (diverging or dwarf) C (siding) 3-Wire Bi-color Searchlight Signal Schematic Wiring for A (main) and Wiring For B (main) and (diverging or dwarf) C (siding) ©2010 Digitrax, Inc. www.digitrax.com...
  • Page 15 Pennsy and B&O/N&W signals are available at www.digitrax.com/SE8chome.htm. The SE8C can also be set up to use the 8 turnout motor drive outputs to sup- port 8 three-position semaphore type signals using slow motion type turnout machines, such as the Tortoise™...
  • Page 16 Run Your Trains, Not Your Track! Locate the SE8C board on your layout to minimize the number of long cable runs. The SE8C board can be mounted on the underside of the layout or on a pull-out table/tray for added convenience. See the Advanced Transponding Application Note on www.digitrax.com for photographs of an example wiring...
  • Page 17 1. Cut 10-wire ribbon cable to the length you need. When measuring the dis- tance from the SE8C location to the signals, allow enough cable to provide for twisting the cable into position under the layout, securing the cable and connectors to the sub-roadbed base and to allow plugging in the Signal Mast Base.
  • Page 18 Run Your Trains, Not Your Track! Installing Signals On Your Layout Locate the SE8C near the center of a high density signal area on the layout to minimize the length of the cable runs required. Make up Signal Driver Cables to match the run requirements for each plant where you plan to install signals.
  • Page 19 Signal Driver Cable under the layout to position the sockets in the proper orientation for signal installation. The last socket on the Signal Driver Cable is held in place with clay alone. ©2010 Digitrax, Inc. www.digitrax.com...
  • Page 20 Run Your Trains, Not Your Track! Installing Turnouts and Feedback Input The SE8C will control as many as eight slow motion turnout machines, like Circuitron’s Tortoise. It also provides as many as eight inputs for detection. The 44 connector pin out is detailed on the following page.
  • Page 21 2443 Transmitter Rd 850-872-9890 Panama City, FL USA 32404 850-872-9557 www.digitrax.com Pin outs for SE8C 44-Pin Edge Connector NOTE: Do not connect any wires to the terminals 1, 20, 21, 22, A, X, Y, or Z. ©2010 Digitrax, Inc. www.digitrax.com...
  • Page 22 We will be glad to assist you by phone and to verify that your SE8C is working properly if it is connected according to the pre-installation set up and testing procedures described in this manual.
  • Page 23 2443 Transmitter Rd 850-872-9890 Panama City, FL USA 32404 850-872-9557 www.digitrax.com SE8C option Switch Settings Digitrax, Inc. is not responsible for unintentional errors or omissions in this document. ©2010 Digitrax, Inc. www.digitrax.com...
  • Page 24 SE8C Signal Decoder Super Super Available Computer Interface Computer Interface Decoder Programmer Decoder Programmer Sound Programmer Sound Programmer 2443 Transmitter Road Panama City, FL USA 32404 www.digitrax.com 850 872 9890 Made in U.S.A. 850 872 9557...