I have a Bachman 2-8- with DCC – I want sound also in DC mode
Do I have to swap out the DCC module and replace it with on with DCC and Sound or can I get a sound only module that piggybacks the existing DCC moduled
It appears from the Bachmann website that the 2-8-0’s that come DCC with sound have a dual mode decoder that will operate with either DCC or DC. The 2-8-0’s that are DCC without sound do not state anything about having a dual mode decoder, so I would assume that they are DCC only.
If this is really the case, you will not be able to piggyback a sound-only decoder to the existing decoder and have it run on DC because the supplied motor decoder won’t support DC operation.
Of course, you know what happens when you assume!
I am currently running their DCC equipped 2-8-0 on DC with no problem
I think all Bachmann “DCC On Board” models use a modified Lenz decoder, and all DCC and Sound On Board use the SoundTraxx Tsunami. You’d be better off changing out the motor control decoder for a Tsunami, which can be ran on DC or DCC; however, you’re not going to have very good control over any of the sounds on DC.
For the cost of a new unit with sound already installed compared to adding a tsunami and its cost and effort I might as well get a new 2-8-0 --only $40 more and that way I have an extra engine