I am new to On30. I have a Bachmann Spectrum Little River 2-8-0 # 25963. It is DCC-equipped.
I would like to add sound to the engine. Can this be done and how hard would it be?
Thanks for your help!
Ralph
It should not be difficult,
You will needd to source a sutable sound decoder and a speaker not sure what the avaiabilty is over there, but possibly Digitrax will do a suitabe one,
It is simply a case of removing the tender bady to gain access to th intterior, mount the speaker in the base after removing the pcb. ( I think the tender base will already be moulded to accept a speaker if not it will be nescessary to drill a few 1/8" holes to let the sound out.
The new sound decoder is then plugged in to the 8 pin socket (assuming it is 8 pin) on the pcb after removing the original decoder.
Since Bachmann uses SoundTraxx products, below is a link to the SoundTraxx site with a decoder selector.
http://www.soundtraxx.com/
Below is a link that will show you how to attach the Tsunami decoder to the eight pin socket in the tender.
Look in SoundTraxx, Tsunami.
Do yourself a favour, take time to look thought the SoundTraxx site and Mr DCC site. You will develop a lot of knowledge about DCC. Sure beats being led by the hand. You get a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
http://www.mrdccu.com/
Below is a sound install by Jonathan. This guy is great for tutorials. It is HO scale but might be close enough to help.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,16616.0.html
Rich
Steve and Rich thanks for your reply's and your help. I will take a look at the links tonight. I am new to On30 so I am sure I will have a few questions in the future. Thanks again.
Ralph
Ralph,
I've done this several times. It is pretty easy to add sound to an On30 2-8-0. My first sound-install was into one of these.
The Soundtraxx Tsunami TSU-1000 fits easily in the tender, along with a speaker. The new TCS WOW sound decoders are really nice too, but they don't have full JMRI support yet. The Soundtraxx documentation is better than the TCS documentation. Both companies have documentation on their web sites. I am beginning to like the TCS WOW decoder better than the Tsunami, but without JMRI, the TCS WOW is harder to program.
I remove the original Bachmann circuit board and hard-wire the decoder, although you can leave it in place and use an 8-pin plug and plug directly into the Bachmann decoder socket. The Soundtraxx Tsunami has a removable wiring harness. For a few extra dollars you can get a harness with the 9-pin JST connector on one end to plug into the Tsunami and an 8-pin NMRA plug on the other end to plug into the Bachmann circuit board. If you remove the Bachmann board and hardwire directly (my personal preference), remember to include resistors for the head/backup lights. A 1000 ohm resistor works fine. Radio Shack has little packets of 5 resistors for about a buck.
I have used the high-bass speaker from Soundtraxx in this locomotive. It sits a little higher, but there is still room for the TSU-1000. Be sure to seal all openings (except the speaker grill) into the tender shell (I use latex caulk from Home Depot). It will really improve the sound quality if the back-side of the speaker enclosure is air-tight. If you go with the TSU-1000, you can adjust the sound a little with their equalizer...it can really improve the sound to tweak it a little for the acoustics of the tender body. Again, this is easiest using JMRI.
The Soundtraxx TSU-1000 and TCS WOW decoders both have extra function wires....consider adding working classification lights, tender markers, cab light or firebox light while you have it opened up. Precision Scale makes some nice marker and classification light housings. A 3mm LED fits nicely in their marker light; I use 0603 green & white LEDs in the classification light housings.
Have fun....take your time...and be sure you KNOW (don't guess) which wires you are connecting.
Paul
Hi Ralph
The 2-8-0 has a lovely tender for adding sound, big enough to fit the QSI 1.57" HiBass which repays the little bit of extra work installing it - cut out the tender speaker grill completely, shape some scale timber (2" scale thickness in O scale) around the face of the speaker to allow the diaphragm to move, glue some stocking material across the tender floor to keep stuff out).
I did have a Tsunami light steam installed, but was unsatisfied with its running qualities and the whistle selection - chuff was so-so to ok. Replaced it with a WOW 101 decoder. Chalk and cheese. Much prefer the WOW. WOW decoders, apart from sound, program readily on Decoder Pro. For sound, use Audio Assist or preferably the programming tool on the TCS website:
http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Technical_Info/WOWSound/guided_programming_vers2.php
Program the values shown on the 4 CV panels directly into the loco using POM (Program On Main).
Regards
Steve Magee
Newcastle NSW Aust