Hi Guys,
I have a Galloping Goose HOn3 loco (can you really call these locos?). When I bought it, I had the LHS install a regular, no sound DCC decoder in it, as there was no sound decoders for these as yet.
Soundtraxx came out with a new sound decoder for the Goose recently, Model TSU-750.
The first decoder is wired to a 8-pin plug, which in turn is plugged into its circuit board, which is wired to the Goose.
In installing the sound decoder, should I splice the sound decoder wires into the corresponding colored first decoder wires, soldering the splices and applying heat shrink around the splices?
Or, should I try to run the sound wires into the corresponding colored wires decoder plug? The wires going into the decoder plug are tight inside the plug, and I do not want to pull them out in fear of the original wire and the new wire will not go back into the plug.
Obviously this is my first install of a sound decoder. I would appreciate some advice.
Happy New Year!
I would see if I could find another plug, and attach the Soundtraxx decoder to that. That way, you’d still have the original decoder intact for another application. My second choice would be to do the splices into the original plug.
I have used a jewelers screwdriver to gently pry the decoder plug out of the loco receptacle. You will have to solder the 750 wires to the same type of 8 pin plug. The other way, is to splice the matching wires. I would go with soldering the wires into a new plug. Do not know what experience you have with soldering.
Rich
Rich & Mister Beasley,
Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.
My plan is to get a new plug and solder the two decoder sets of wires into the plug. Fortunately Caboose Hobbies is about 1/2 hour away and they should have this plug.
Happy New Year,
Why, oh, why are you doing a dual decoder-install when the Tsunami is more than up to the challenge?
I suggest removing the exsisting decoder and simpling soldering the leads of the Tsunami into the proper holes of the 8-pin interface. Just use the old decoder plug for reference, keeping in mind that the Orange wire is pin one (usually indicated with a “1” or an arrow on the PC board).
David B
Hi David,
As I said in my initial posting, I am new to decoder installation (and purchasing the best for what is needed).
I assume the Tsunami is a operating/sound decoder. To answer your why oh why question, I had originally bought and had installed an operating decoder, as the sound decoder was not yet available for the Goose, according to a LHS. When the sound decoder was available, I bought it from the same LHS. My guess is now that I bought both, it would not make economic sense to go back and buy the Tsunami.
Your thoughts?
My thoughts? Take out the decoder that is in the Goose and replace it with the Tsunami. Any other choice just makes it more complicated. Use your older decoder in another unit, or sell it.
David B
David,
I’m ahead’in to my LHS this week to buy the new plug!