I just purchased a Soundtraxx (820090) DSD-B210LC sound decoder and plan to install it in a Bachmann Berkshire 2-8-4. I know it was designed for the 2-10-0 or 2-10-2 but thought it would work in the Berkshire just as well. I bought it on Ebay ($40 so I took a chance??????) and tested it and it works although the sound is low (will have to look into that when I get it installed as there is no speaker box (I plan to use the tender shell). My questions are 1) the light board in the tender has the 8 pin socket which matches the Soundtraxx but is not lined up (90 degrees out) where it fits in the tender. I plan to add a harness to extend the plug so I can mount the decoder. Is this a good way to solve the problem or should I remove the light board and wire directly to a new 8 pin socket? 2) There are two green capacitors (? I think that is what they are) on the light board; should I remove them if I keep the light board? 3) the speaker fits into the floor of the tender where a factory speaker was to go (if it was sound equipped) but the back of the speaker magnet is about 1/16" below the tender weights (2 steel plates screwed to bosses). Is that too close that it could affect the speaker? I could put weights elsewhere in the tender as there is plent of room and that would also allow room for a speaker enclosure as well.. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I realize I took a chance on buying the decoder but it does work and the seller said it was fine and he tested it before shipping (not that it is always what the seller says!). I wanted to try a Soundtraxx decoder without shelling out $100 or more.
Thanks,
Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I have the same decoder installed in a Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0. The 8 pin socket did not fit due to position and I had to 'move' it so The decoder could plug into it. The speaker is in the shelf under the coal load. It is loud enough, Be aware that these are 'DCC Only' sound decoders - they will be damaged if you run them on DC! I picked mine up 'used' as well(A guy bought a 2-10-0 and found out it would not run on DC). I painted it for him, and he gave me the decoder in payment for the paint job.
I also have a pair of Spectrum 2-8-0's with the Soundtraxx decoder for that model - it is a 'drop in' upgrade and the engines run nice. Good luck wdith your upgrade!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Jim,
Are you saying that this model Soundtraxx is a drop-in for the 2-8-0? I have 3 of them without sound! Hmmm??. I don't think the 2 older ones have the speaker mount though.
- Bob
The DSD-B280LC has the speaker mounted on the decoder board. It plugs unto the DCC 8 pin socket in the tender. The speaker is aligned under the coal pile. They suggest that one drills lots of small holes through the coal pile so that the sound gets out. I cannot remember what size drill bit I used, but you cannot even see the holes unless I point them out. Even then, I had to 'turn down' the sound!
Well, I installed the decoder today and was I in for a surprise. I removed the Bachmann light board entirely and then realized that Bachmann didn't follow NMRA color standards for their wires. I put red to red and black to black for the left and right track pickups. NOT! They wired the loco in reverse and I got an immediate short. Also, they didn't use grey/orange for motor leads, they used brown and orange in the loco, but when it went through the connector to the tender they became red and yellow??? I had to remove the boiler/cab and the junction box to trace the wires to the loco. Red/Black for headlight, orange/brown for motor and red/black for track pickup. They all changed colors at the tender connector plugs. I finally made a color conversion layout so I could follow the wires to their proper locations. Four hours later I had the engine running and a somewhat dissapointing sound system. Once I got on DecoderPro all was good. Sound is loud and clear and I found a nice whistle and bell. The chug/exhaust was finally adjusted so it sounded good throughout the speed range. I am very happy now but very disappointed in Bachman's wiring scheme.