Would like to know if any of my learned colleges have converted a bachmann christmas train tinder sound system from batteries to rail power? If so, any help would be appreciated.
Can this type of loco be dcc/sound equiped bypassing the tinder sound system?
Also because this is a low end loco set, can the trucks (cars) be changed to steel with pickups for lighting?
starlite801 Would like to know if any of my learned colleges have converted a bachmann christmas train tinder sound system from batteries to rail power? If so, any help would be appreciated. Can this type of loco be dcc/sound equiped bypassing the tinder sound system? Also because this is a low end loco set, can the trucks (cars) be changed to steel with pickups for lighting?
The answer to all of these questions is, I believe, a qualified "yes." Replacing the trucks (or the wheels) with metal will allow pickup from the rail. If your trucks are like mine, there's places for LGB's carbon rod pickups. I've done this about a dozen times. It's not hard. I also replaced the incandescent lamps with LEDs.
A qualified "no". Unless your Christmas Engine is a 2-4-2 or small 2-6-0, they do not have the plunger holes. Big Hauler 4-6-0's, none up through and including Version 5 have them.
So, you need pickups. Maybe metal wheels.
If you add pickups to all the cars for lighting, you may need two engines, as the drag can really add up.
The sound system is, on a scale of "high quality" to "junk", far closer to the second.
It works on a 9V battery.
Maybe if you only run your trains at 9V to the track, have carefully configured positive and negative leads to the sound system, and never, ever reverse your locomotive (which may blow the sound system up), then the answer becomes a qualified "maybe".
At least a full-wave bridge, maybe a 9V regulator with filter cap, and then you still have a sound system that just makes periodic white noises.
Metal wheels, pickups, good quality sound (Phoenix?) with battery backup for track power (PB-11 or later), but you have now exceeded the original cost of the entire set by a substantial amount.
Welcome to LS.
TOC
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