while I was running a Backmann GP7, that I had previously installed a sound decoder in, it picked up a loose track spike on the bottom speaker box via the speaker magnet. It made a couple of scratchy sounds and now no longer has any sound. All other decoder functions work (lights and movement) in DCC except for sound. My question is: is there any way to test the speaker to see if it is good or blown?
I don't see how the track spike could have caused the problem. But then, I'm not there looking at things.
Yes, you can check a speaker out. You have to disconnect the speaker from the decoder. Then you put a VOM on the two speaker leads. If you have a very high resistance, it's blown. If not, probably not.
I just did that on one of two Walthers Proto E7's I bought used. The seller said they ran fine, but there was no sound. He thought maybe the decoder had to be re-set. I was taking one of them apart anyway, so getting to the two speakers was easy. One was blown, one wasn't. But since they are wired in series, one going down kills the sound.
I am guessing that's what's wrong with the other, too. Haven't looked yet.
All that said, I have a feeling you have a loose wire connection.
Ed
I had a similar situation with a decoder. All functions worked but no sound. Try programming the address again. It worked for me.
I would try resetting the decoder. It's kinda like restarting a computer: Fixes a number of unexplainable things.
Tom
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A meter should show a few ohms if it is ok.
Back many years ago I use to use a nine volt battery to check a speaker for proper polarity before speakers were marked when making speaker bafles. I would also get a click from the speaker and notice which direction the cone moved.
Rich
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