I have decided to start trying to install DCC in my two current locos on my layout. One is a Bachmann Spec. Connie, and is from a few years ago and just has a PCB in the tender (according to the schematic). The other is a powered Proto FA and dummy FB in the older brownish box. It also is from before the days of "DCC ready" sockets.
What is the best method to go about installing DCC in these? I would like sound as well sooner or later for these, so should I buy a sound and DCC decoder from the beginning or maybe do like a Digitrax decoder that I can plug a Soundbug into down the road?
I appreciate any help or advice I can get.
I have no experience with the Proto locomotives you're asking about, but I think the Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation has been DCC ready from day 1. Does it have two sets of wires running from the tender to the back of the engine with two separate plugs, one with 4 wires and the other with 2 wires? If so, it is DCC ready and a SoundTraxx sound decoder can be fit into the tender because it has an NMRA standard 8-pin socket on the circuit board.
Here are some ideas.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=spectrum+2-8-0+soundtraxx&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
cacole wrote: I have no experience with the Proto locomotives you're asking about, but I think the Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation has been DCC ready from day 1. Does it have two sets of wires running from the tender to the back of the engine with two separate plugs, one with 4 wires and the other with 2 wires? If so, it is DCC ready and a SoundTraxx sound decoder can be fit into the tender because it has an NMRA standard 8-pin socket on the circuit board.
I'll go and check that out. It would be great if it worked that way. As for the FA/FB, I was thinking about installing a Digitrax decoder in the A unit then attach the new "soundbug" to that decoder and put the speakers in the B unit. I won't run the A unit without the B, and the diaphragm between will hide the wires running between them.
Soundtraxx used to make a "plug and play" sound decoder for the Spectrum Consolidation, speaker included on the board. Otherwise you should be able to fit a decoder and speaker in there. I recently added sound to a Spectrum 2-6-6-2 by adding an MRC Sounder to the existing Digitrax decoder. One problem with steam sound decoders is that if they don't have Back EMF and you aren't using a cam to synchronize the "chuffs", you have a problem because the engine will slow down going uphill and speed up going down, but the chuff rate will remain the same. With a Digitrax decoder with Back EMF 'cruise control', the engine maintains a steady speed, so is much easier to synch up with the chuffs.
As for the FA's, are both powered or just one?? I've done it both ways with other engines - I have and E8A/E7B set that I run together. Both are powered, the first has a TCS decoder to allow for a Mars light and other functions, and the B unit has a Soundtraxx LC decoder with a 1" speaker where the cab would be. I also have an FT set that I set up with a powered A unit and dummy B, with the 1" speaker in the B unit. The dummy B does give you a lot of room to work with, I could fit in a bigger speaker (like 1" x 1.5" oval speaker) if I really wanted to.
KIM the MRC Sounder is LOUD, with the volume on zero it's like twice as loud as a Soundtraxx decoder on full blast. I ended up using my diesel Sounder in a Kato SD-70, replacing the 1" speaker with a 1/2" one which helped lower the sound levels to better range.
davidmbedard wrote: My question is WHY? Why put the speaker in the B unit when you have loads of room in the A unit? Why make it more complicated than it is?David B
My question is WHY? Why put the speaker in the B unit when you have loads of room in the A unit? Why make it more complicated than it is?
David B
Well, the A unit doesn't have that much room in it, and it seems to me that putting 2 speakers in a basically empty B unit would allow for larger speakers and more air and "space" to move sound through. I was thinking along the same lines that manufacturers use for steam engines, where they put the speakers in the tender.
Maybe I'm wrong...?
NYCentral1 wrote: davidmbedard wrote: My question is WHY? Why put the speaker in the B unit when you have loads of room in the A unit? Why make it more complicated than it is?David B Well, the A unit doesn't have that much room in it, and it seems to me that putting 2 speakers in a basically empty B unit would allow for larger speakers and more air and "space" to move sound through. I was thinking along the same lines that manufacturers use for steam engines, where they put the speakers in the tender.Maybe I'm wrong...?
No you're not wrong, putting a large speaker in a dummy B unit works fine. I did what you're talking about, having an A unit controlled by a convential decoder, with a Sounder in the B unit. However with the attached one inch speaker it was (for me) way too loud. I guess you could put in a potentiometer to reduce the volume, but I ended up moving the Sounder to another engine using a 1/2" speaker, and will put a different sound decoder in the A-B set. Actually I'm thinking about doing an FTA-FTB-F2A set-up, with both A units powered with sound decoders, and each having a 1" speaker in the B unit.