Add sound to a proto 200 switch that is DCC enabled

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi,

I hav e Proto 2000 Switched that is DCC enabled. I was wondering if anyone has added a decoder to one and then put in a speaker? I am thinking about getting into DCC and I was curious about adding it to my existing switcher. If someone was able to do this, what was used and what was the cost roughly?

Thanks,

Kevin

2

Kevin, DCC enabled suggests that it already has a decoder. DCC ready would mean that is has the socket or connections for a relatively simple DCC installation.

Sound will be quite hard to install. THere is not much room in a switcher so this would be a challenging installtion. There are numerous small decoders that would give you DCC control that would likely fit. Expect prices from $15 - $30 depending on the features that the decoder has.

Bruce at www.litchfieldstation.com has added sound to an HO switcher, so you might contact him for advice and decoder selection.

3

Proto 2000 actually sells thier switchers with sound installed. As far as installing it yourself, well good luck. The hardest part about installing sound is finding room for all of the components, and there is not much room in one of those locos. The sound equipped ones they offer are specially designed with the frame milled specifically to accomodate the decoder and speaker(s).

Also there is a big difference between DCC ready and DCC equipped. A DCC equipped loco has a decoder installed at the factory and is ready to run on DCC. A DCC ready loco just has a plug that a decoder can easily be plugged into so you dont have to hard wire it yourself.

Good Luck.

4

Hi,

Thank you for the information and advice. Guess I will look for a sound equipped one and just bite the bullet on the cost.

Kevin

5

You really had me puzzled with the topic title. “Add sound to a proto 200 switch that is DCC enabled.”

DCC sound for a turnout???

Then I read far enough in the post to see it was about a switcher locomotive, not a “switch”.

Had me really going for a while. People are starting to do things nobody would ever think of doing…

6

Kevin,

Which switcher do you have that you want to add sound to? Is it the S1? If it is, as Simon already mentioned, Bruce Petrarca @ Litchfield Station has successfully put one in an S1. Caution: Even though Proto 2000 says the S1 is “DCC-ready”, it really isn’t and will require you to isolate the motor from the frame first before install a decoder.

Tom