Brighter headlight on 2-8-4?

[bnoem1]

Does anyone know of a way to get the headlight brighter on the 2-8-4?  I've messed with some CV values but nothing helps.  Kind of my only complaint about some of the steam these days is that the headlight is so weak.  Thanks for helping.

[Mike C]

Without changing the decoder , no .  I swapped in an Soundtraxx Econami decoder and used 1000 ohm 1/4 watt resistors on both lights .  Got better sound , and motor control too .  The stock decoder does have a dimmer switch , make sure F7 isn't on on your controller , it changes the headlight output to full or dim . 

[gatrhumpy]

Try the suggestion as above, and if that doesn't work, you'll need to find and change the resistor that is attached to the headlight.

[spookshow]

I bet that dual headlight mask on the lens probably accounts for a lot of the dimness. If you're not married to prototypical accuracy, you could try removing it.

Cheers,
-Mark

[Mike C]

Good point Mark . Mine are the C&O versions with the single headlight . From the factory they are a bit dim , but not as dim as the stock 2-8-0 .

[spookshow]

I didn't know there were different versions? Mine is a C&O as well, but it definitely has a double-bulb headlight.

I don't have a picture handy, but it's basically like the EM-1 (except that the "bulbs" are stacked instead of side-by-side) -



Cheers,
-Mark

[spookshow]

Here's my Berk -



The masking isn't particularly noticeable unless you're in there up close looking for it. But in any case, I'd assume the headlight would look a lot brighter without it.

Cheers,
-Mark

[Mike C]

 Well , I'll be um , darned .  I never noticed that before . Maybe the brightness has to do with bulb position . I notice mine mostly shine out of the top part of the mask . OK , so it looks like the "mask" is painted on . I took a sharp Exacto knife and was able to scrape most of it off . Doesn't make it any brighter , but it is a bit more noticeable .