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P2K Alco S3

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  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Sandusky, Ohio
  • 537 posts
P2K Alco S3
Posted by NSlover92 on Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:43 PM
Hey, I have a PRR P2K Alco S3. I have a decoder in it right now, but I want a sound decoder in it, but there is no where to put it! I also want sound quality to match my PCM's and BLI's. Any Ideas, I am willing to ship it out to have someone do it. Mike
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket Modeling PRR transition era operations in northern Ohio
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:09 AM

  Hey Mike

 Not on this planet. Unless you shave out every bit of weight there is no room. Threre is no after market sound decoder that would fit.

     Pete
 

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Richmond, Texas
  • 393 posts
Posted by RDG1519 on Sunday, April 27, 2008 11:23 AM

I just bought a LokSound micro for my Reading S-1. My plan is to remove the light board and place the decoder in it's place, hardwired. The speaker will be the LokSound twin speaker baffell with two .63 inch speakers. This will be cut into two chambers and if I am lucky the speakers can be glued back to back and inserted into the cab with the control stand and floor removed. At its worst I will use just one speaker.

LokSound has the best 539 for S-1 on the market. This project is a month away and I will post pictures when done.

Keep in mind that the P2K S-1 has an 8 pin DCC header and is listed as DCC ready, some people believe' and I agree, that you could potentially short the wheels to fame and burn out the decoder. You would need to insulate the motor from frame with tape and add a brush wire. If you are very careful you might be able to add a decoder without insulating the motor, just plug in the eight pin header. The light bulbs are 1.5 volt so be careful here as well and use resistors.

Hope this helps, Chris

Great grandson of John Kiefer, Engineman Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, 1893 to 1932
  • Member since
    October 2007
  • 97 posts
Posted by markalan on Monday, April 28, 2008 11:49 AM

Pete,

I'm in the midst of this same project.  I'm going to use the Lok Sound Micro and should have one next weekend.  My "consultant" tells me there should be no problem with this effort.  I have everything taken apart and am ready to try fitting things in when I get the decoder.  It may be necessary to cut off some of the metal piece that sits on top of the motor and extends over the fly wheels and gears.  Also, he said using led's in place of bulbs should give more room so I'm going to do that too.

 Here are two postings to check out on this and related project:

http://cs.trains.com/forums/1419299/ShowPost.aspx

http://cs.trains.com/forums/1237086/ShowPost.aspx

I'm taking photos of my efforts and will eventually post them when I finish.

Markalan

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