I picked up a used IHC 2-8-0 that the LHS said had a decoder in it, ( based on the four wires between the cab and the tender, it looked right)but he did not know anything else about it. when i got it home and put it on a programming track , I did not get any readpback for ID, so I programmed it with the cab number, "0158". Once on the main on the test track it ran - and had sound, much to my surprise.
The sound stopped after a couple back and forth runs on my three foot long - I do not know why. I could have touched some function buttons. I could have loosened the track power connection from the command center -It stopped running at the same time.
I opened up the tender and saw the 1" dia speaker (connected by two purple wires to the decoder) and the decoder - about 1 3/4" x 3/4" , protected by a light blue shrink sleeve ( same color as my Digitraxx motor decoders) (No identification on the sleeve). I reconnected things up, the loco runs fine/responds correctly to the cab control, but still no sound. The decoder is connected - red wire to the right rail pickup, black wire to the left rail pickup. The two rail pickups are also connected to the locomotive by an after market Miniatronice two pin plug.Two leads from the decoder connect to the locomotive: orange and gray via the as-installed plug between the loco and tender. I think that this means the decoder is providing sound as well as control to the locomotive.
Did I do something wrong?
I know nothing about sound decoders. Looking for any suggestions to try and restore life to the sound part of the decoder.
Mr. Mick
Modeling the New Haven
Try hitting Function 8. That's mute for a lot of decoders. MRC decoders require you hit function 0 ?possibly 1? I think before sound starts.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
I would try 6, 8 and 9 at a minimum. If that doesn't work hitting the rest won't hurt anything.
You might have hit the shutdown button by accident which is why we suggest a couple of buttons to try.
With the shrink wrap you might just have a tsunami.(good thing)
Springfield PA
If the decoder has purple shrink on it, most probably a standard Tsunami. There might be a 250ufd capacitor with it connected to the decoder by a red and black wire.
If a Micro Tsunami, the capacitor connects to a green/yellow wire and blue wire.
If yellow shrink, then maybe a SoundTraxx LC decoder that would have a 33 ufd cap in series with one wire going to the speaker.
Some experience issues with programing and connect a 1000 ohm resistor between the right and left rails while programing on the program track.
Don't know what color shrink other companies use.
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.
When I saw the suggestions for F8 for most, and maybe F0/F1 for MRC, I then goodled for 'muting an MRC sound decoder'. A different site indicated MRC decoders are muted and turned on with the " headlight" (F0" on my cab) key.
Sound was returned when I double-tapped F0; bell worked when I clicked F1, and steam whistle sounded when I tapped F2.
Thanks for all the answers and suggestions.
All is well, now, and I am guessing the decoder is an MRC model.
Thanks for the help.