Installed new speaker, now engine stops on it's own!!

[wjstix]

This is really odd. Last summer I installed a Soundtraxx DSD-C628LC decoder (plug and play board replacement for Stewart Alco C-628's) and unbaffled 3/4" speaker, worked fine but sound not great. After reading the recent MR article on sound, I put in a new Soundtraxx 810089 speaker and used their 1/2" speaker baffle kit. The baffle made a great difference, volume and quality of sound both increased. [:)]

However, now when I run the engine (forward or backwards) it will go along fine for about 10-20 seconds and then for no apparent reason coast to a stop, the sounds will rev down and the idle sounds will start up. It will sit there for a while idling, then start up again and run, then do it all over again. Does it at all speed settings, whether lights are on or off, even if F8 is used to turn sound off.

Sound is uninterrupted, quality is fine, but it's like it's a streetcar model programmed to stop every block to pick up passengers !! [:(!]

I can't believe replacing the speaker would make that difference - if there is a short or something, I would assume it wouldn't work at all?? Next step is to reset the decoder and start over, but before doing that, I wondered if anyone had any ideas?? (I did reset a couple of the sound CV's, might I have accidently set a CV unintentionally??)

Thanks!!
Stix

[cacole]

Just changing the speaker should not have caused these symptoms -- I think your last statement about changing a CV inadvertently is what has happened, though I have no idea which one could cause this erratic behavior.

Did you put a capacitor in the wiring to the new speaker? If not, the decoder may be overheating and shutting down to protect itself from damage. That's the only thing I can think of that might have gone wrong as far as the speaker itself is concerned.

If all else fails, send an e-mail to SoundTraxx and ask for their help. I have heard that they are pretty good about answering.

[wjstix]

Thanks, I've sent an e-mail to them, and I did mention the capacitor like you suggest, to see if that could be it. I see checking their website that some speakers do require one, but they're a little vague about it.

[wjstix]

Answer ended up coming from current RMC, problem was dirty track and / or wheels. My guess is that when soldering the speaker wires, a little drip of flux got on a track or wheel and it spread to the other wheels on that side, causing a momentary loss of current which caused the loco to reset back to idle. Once I cleaned the wheels and track thoroughly, the problem went away. [:)]

[selector]

Now, THAT"S gotta build confidence for you!! Good service, a good product, and now, good performance. Ya gotta love it!!!.[tup] Good for you.