Recently converted to DCC and now I’m looking at an engine roster of approx. 15 engines that need to be converted. I am assuming (hopefully I am not too naive) that the decoder installation is relatively straight forward-that there are instructions and help from here to get it done. However, converting older engines not designed for speakers has me concerned. Do the speaker mfg’s offer instruction of a particular speaker going into a particular engine? What would you advise as a first step to really getting a hold on this project(s)? I don’t have access to a club so I am kinda on my own. Any advise on getting an education would be appreciated. Thanks all.
First off a list of the loco’s,manufactureers, and how old they are might help. Some lococ’s are more DCC “friendly” than others. Also what scale? Steam or diesel? Joe.
No, the speaker manufacturers have no conversion data on what will fit what; that’s up to you to determine through trial and error.
The best advice I can think of is, buy several sizes and types of speakers and enclosures to use for testing the fit. Steam engines will normally have more room for a speaker since it can go into the tender. I have several diesel locomotives that have absolutely no room for a speaker, and some not even a decoder, without access to a milling machine.
There are sites that have install examples, such as the Train Control Systems site, where they have photos and instructions submitted by users, or Tony’s Trains and Litchfield Station, who do installs.
Rick Bell’s RPM Clinics group on Yahoo has a lot of sound decoder installs in their library, step by step fully illustrated with photos. Problem is, due to the limited space Yahoo gives you for files, the constantly drop older ones off. So be sure to copy them down and save them if it is a loco you are interested in.
–Randy
If you want an education on sound in a loco, then take look at
select “Tech Info” from the top line of options
go to the bottom of that ‘page’ and
select “Acoustic Designs for On Board Sound”
download the PDF
Cheers Rob
Totally depends on the exact locomotive. Some are straight forward and even easy (Kato/Atlas yellow box/Stewart). Others are enough to make one pull their hair out (can anyone say Bachmann John Bull).
Rightly so, sound is more than four times as hard as a straight DCC decoder install.
No generally not. Manufacturer’s assume if you wanted sound you would have purchased or would purchase their sound versions.
Step 1. Make a list of the locos, and what you want to do with them, just DCC or sound also.
Step 2. Research each DCC one and see if there is a drop in decoder for it. Or what the best decoder for each one would be.
Step 3.Research each one for sound and make certain there is a decoder that has the proper prime mover and horn/whistle sounds for that loco. If not decide if nnon-prototypical sound is OK by you, and what compromise decoder will work.
Step 4 .Examine each one where sound is to be installed and measure various places to fit (wedge) in a speaker. Some installs require milling of the frame.
Step 4. Put the list into priority order. And start working on the first unit. I do not recommend buying a