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sound for dcc equipped loco

Started by gg1, September 19, 2008, 08:20:29 PM

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gg1

Nu-bi, here, help.
how do you get sound in a dcc equipped loco.
gg1

Yampa Bob

#1
Replace the DCC decoder with a sound decoder. The consensus is Soundtraxx Tsunami is an excellent choice. Choose the decoder appropriate for your locomotive. (diesel, light steam, medium steam, etc)

Lots of information on these sites.

http://www.tonystrains.com

http://www.litchfieldstation.com

Both companies do custom installs, highly recommended, but it's not difficult if you can follow instructions and have some basic modeling skills. Depending on your loco, many decoders are plug and play.

With the EZ Command controller, you will have minimum sound control (one whistle or horn) more full featured controllers give you more options.

In order to further advise you, it would help to know what locomotive and controller you have.  
I know what I wrote, I don't need a quote
Rule Number One: It's Our Railroad.  Rule Number Two: Refer to Rule Number One.

gg1

Thanks for all the Info, I might be in over my head, but here go's.
The loco is a Spectrum dcc equipped HO 8-40CW diesel.
As this is all new to me, what else do I need. I'm running DC.
I need lots of help.
Thanks, gg1

Yampa Bob

Unless someone who has that loco can advise, you need to remove the shell and see if there is an NMRA 8 pin plug.  If there is, you can get a Tsunami sound decoder, maybe Micro Tsunami depending on the room inside, with a matching plug on the decoder.

If the old decoder is on a PC board, then you may have to remove the old board and hard wire in the sound decoder.

I'm just speculating, you really should contact Bruce at Litchfield, or Tony at Tonys Trains and ask for advice.  Running on DC, all the sound you will have is the engine noise.  If you want to sound the horn, you need an EZ Command controller as a minimum. 

Personally, I couldn't justify the expense of adding sound to a diesel, but that's your decision.

Perhaps the Bach-man will advise more about the loco.
I know what I wrote, I don't need a quote
Rule Number One: It's Our Railroad.  Rule Number Two: Refer to Rule Number One.

richG

Join the Yahoo SoundTraxx group where SoundTraxx DCC is the primary subject. There is quite a bit of discussion concerning diesel sound. Bruce from Litchfiled station is there as is Rick Bell from DCC Install & Sales.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soundtraxx/
The Micro-Tsunami does not have a connector. You need to solder the wires to a NMRA plug or hard wire.
With the standard Tsunami you need to solder the wires to a NMRA connector or use the 9 pin JST connector with an adapter to NMRA plug.

Rich