Newbie decoder installation - need advice

[Motley]

Well… after my LHS told me they would charge $60-$80 and 4 weeks time to install a tsuanmi with speakers, I decided to attempt the install myself!! omg!!!

I have been reading the tsuami installation manual and have a few questions.

The loco will be an Athearn SD50

1.) How do I remove the shell safely?

2.) Besides the decoder and speaker, do I need any more additional wires? or speaker baffles?

3.) Where do I install the speaker, in the tank? under the fan grills?

4.) What about lights? Do I need the 1.5 Volt micro-bulbs from tsunami? I want the full lighting affects to work.

I don’t have a dremmel tool, do I really need one?

I appreciate all the help with this.

Thanks,

Michael

[cacole]

If you’ve never done one before and haven’t even removed the shell to see if there is room for the decoder and speaker, I’m afraid you’re in way over your head. Before even ordering the Tsunami and speaker, you should have at least opened up the locomotive and checked to see what might or might not fit.

I’ve installed sound into two Athearn RTR GP locomotives and TCS T-1 non-sound decoders into two RTR SD40 T-2s.

Tsunami is not the correct decoder for these – you need the QSI Revolution with an oval speaker and enclosure.

To remove the shell, you must first take off the couplers. Then the shell should just pull straight up, but it is a very tight fit and there are a lot of wires going from the circuit board to the lights on both ends of the shell.

I never changed any of the light bulbs because the QSI decoders I used had provision for Athearn 1.5 Volt bulbs.

[Motley]

Where did you install the speaker? In the tank or under the fan grille?

I think I can handle it, doesn’t seem that complicated.

Did you replace the lights with microbulbs or LEDs?

Will I lose functionality by using the stock lightbulbs?

Edit: So the Athearn RTR already has the 1.5v micro bulbs? What about ditch lights?

[cacole]

Where did you install the speaker? In the tank or under the fan grille?

I installed an oval speaker and enclosure in the back of the shell There’s no room or provision at all for putting a speaker in the tank.

I think I can handle it, doesn’t seem that complicated.

Did you replace the lights with microbulbs or LEDs?

I never changed any of the lights. The QSI Revolution decoder has internal voltage regulators for the Athearn 1.5 Volt bulbs.

Will I lose functionality by using the stock lightbulbs?

What functionality? On/Off is the only function for headlights and backup lights other than Rule 17. The decoder I used supports Rule 17.

Edit: So the Athearn RTR already has the 1.5v micro bulbs? What about ditch lights?

The QSI Revolutioin also supports ditch lights.

[Motley]

I just called Athearn tech support, the guy was really cool. He told me that the SD50 already has the 1.5v bulbs, no need to replace them. Although he told me that it does not have ditch lights.

He also recommended that I get the oval speaker with baffle and just install it in the body, there’s plenty of room for that.

So I’m gonna go for it on friday night, wish me luck!!! LOL

[Motley]

I’m also looking for some LEDs to install. Can anyone suggest which one would work for the Athearn SD50 for headlight and reverse lights?

Would the 3mm size work? How much modification is necessary for this?

[davidmbedard]

Wow…you have a tonne of questions for a do it yourself install.

Personally, (as a professional decoder installer), I would have someone do the install for me and reverse-engineer it. I have done many of these units (including installing ditchlights), but I use fiberoptics and various LEDs to get the proper effects.

David B