Brass SP GS4 DCC Install Sunset Models

[James4014]

Engine Type

Importer: Sunset Models

Year: 1989

How Many Made: 100

Type: 4-8-4

Class: GS4

Description

I recently bought a sunset models daylight, and I was planning on installing a Tsunami2 sound decoder inside the tender. I don’t know much about brass engines, as this is my first brass engine, and I don’t know where to solder the red and black wires to. I have already successfully soldered the motor wires, the wires for the headlight, and the speaker wires. Anybody got any tips?

[trainnut1250]

James,

The red and black wires are for track power. The decoder directions should point this out (I'm sure you knew this). Typically one wire is soldered to the tender floor and the other to the frame of the locomotive in an unobtrusive spot. You will want to trace the power paths with a meter to make sure that everything is correctly set up and there are not shorts/crossed polarities.

Given the year and brand of this loco, I presume it has a can motor and it is isolated from the frame. Check to make sure. I also presume you checked the voltage out of the decoder light feed to make sure that you wont blow up the headlight.

Other considerations are speaker size and placement and the connector between the loco and tender. I often hardwire this connection but that can make it difficult to separate the loco from the tender. Sound traxx and other companies sell connectors if you want to go that route. These days I go with the 2 amp TSUs to offer more robust protection against blowing up the deoceder due to frozen mechanisms and other brass anomalies.

 

Good luck with the install,

 

Guy

[7j43k]

I wouldn't solder the red and black wires to the locomotive or tender.  I would drill and tap a hole, and use a screw.

It doesn't matter whether the red or the black wire goes to the tender.  Or the engine.  You can set the final direction for the loco using CV 29, when you set up the decoder.

I'll also endorse being VERY sure your two motor connections are not also connected to the locomotive body or frame.

 

Ed

[SeeYou190]

Couldn't you just use the wires that used to go to the motor for the red and black wires on the decoder?

-Kevin

[Trainman440]

Hey! I made a post showing how I installed DCC sound into my Hallmark brass 2-8-0, you can check it our here:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/289165.aspx

(scroll down to the latter half)

Brass installs are tricky but theyre also very rewarding and saves you money...some people want $200 for a brass loco install!

Charles