Hey gang,
Wanna have 2 spots on my layout that does sound when the train gets there only.I know someone who uses a tape that plays continuos but had to always walk over and hit the play button,than stop button.any suggestions?
Jeff
Is something like this what you’re looking for?
I’m guessing You are running DC, If You switch to DCC You could use sound modules. Of course if Money is an issue You would need another solution.
SOUNDS come out of a speaker. Speakers can be ‘mobil’ or ‘stationary’.
Sounds are Analog in nature, but can be STORED on tape or Digitized chip. ACCUATION is entirely automatic, or by push button.
COMMERCIAL products abound, but you have to select from the above choices, first.
Jeff,
there are two parts to your question, something to activate your sound maker and the sound itself.
You could use either a reed switch with a magnet or an IRdot type detector or normal block detectors to trigger the sound.
These days an old MP3 player is pretty cheap particularly as you don’t need one with a huge memory capacity. You just need to record your sound into the MP3 player then find the contacts that start the player and wire your detector to them. If you don’t need loud sounds the MP3 player can power small speakers at a low level of sound, If you want loud, you’ll need a small audio amp as well.
There is also a thing called a dream player that does all you want and much more. You can find out more here http://www.pricom.com/Trains/DreamPlayer.shtml
You could also join the layout sound group on Yahoo they are very helpful guys.
cheers
Alan J
I have not done this but what about modifying the cheap motion detectors that come with novelty items sold at Walgreens and other stores – the toy frog that “ribbits” when you walk by and such?
A friend of mine has a DCC layout with a few sound equipped locomotives but he has also long had a continuous loop cassette player (I don’t know if they even make those any continuous loop tapes any more) with intermittent diesel sounds, at a rather low volume, and frankly the latter is much more effective.
Dave Nelson