Hi All,
I would like to turn the sound on my loco on and off as it enters and leaves a tunnel.
Is there a way that uses dcc electronics, say with block detectors or optic sensors
to turn off the engine sounds off and leave the light on when entering a tunnel and
turn it back on when leaving.
Thanks, Kenny
There may be a way to automate that with a software driven layout but I'm curious. Why would you want to?
Springfield PA
Probably so the mountain doesn;t chug.
You COULD turn the volume down so the mountain properly muffles the sound.
This coudl be done with block detecotrs and a script in JMRI, but you have ot know which loco is running, so when the tunnel entrance is tripped, it sends an F8 or whatever is the mute command for that particular decoder to the loco address, and when it comes out it turns F8 off to bring the sound back.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
It is a large mountain...and while it is running thru it passes underneath other tracks. I think
it would sound funny to hear a train and not see it
Kenny350 It is a large mountain...and while it is running thru it passes underneath other tracks. I think it would sound funny to hear a train and not see it
?????? I guess I just don't quite see the dilemma. Wouldn't you hear the prototype inside a tunnel before it emerged into daylight? How long - i.e. track-wise (in feet) - is the train out of view? Could you somehow dampen the sound from underneath with acoustical foam?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Ya this is a strange request. I think hearing a locomotive inside a tunnel is the best thing ever. I always blow the horns on my locomotives going through the mountain tunnel.
For me, when I was a kid, we'd take a car trip up in the mountains, and driving through the tunnels, my parents always blew the horn, to hear it echo. It was the coolest thing ever.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Think of the added expense of sensors and electronic interface with your DCC controller? Different manufactures of DCC controllers? How about the sound gradually decreasing as they enter and increasing as they exit?
How would users of dual more sound decoders who run their sound locos with DC power pack do this?
There is a lot involved in trying to do all this. How about an automatic sound of the engineer blowing his nose when the coal cinders get into his nose?
We are just boys playing with toys. You can only simulate so much.
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.
You would have to have
http://www.digitrax.com/prd_statdec_tf4.php installed in every train
http://www.digitrax.com/prd_statdec_rx4.php with one sensor at the end of each tunnel.
And somedecently smart custom computer software to handle it all.
Algorithm:
1) Poll Transponder sensors at tunnel ends
2) If train crosses transponder sensor (tunnel end) get train number
3) If train NOT on list of trains in tunnel, program on main CV to reduce volume. (based on decoder mfg). If train is already in tunnel list then it is leaving, so increase volume by program on main
4) If train entering tunnel add it to list of trains in tunnel. Add to list which sensor it entered at.
5) Goto 1
It's not quite this simple however. You might start to enter the tunnel and then decide to back out through the same way. Then the above algorithm won't work. The train would remain silent because it never hit the exit transponder receiver.
HOWEVER if you used 4 transponders receivers/track, you could solve this problem with some additional logic. See the sample track diagram below:
TR1 TR2 TR3 TR4
====| ==== ==== ====| ==== <---Track
^ ^
Tunnel End Tunnel End
If the trains crosses TR2, or TR3, mute the sound. If it crosses TR1 or TR4, then unmute the sound.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
I have three tunnels. One is more than 8 feet long. I can hardly hear the trains when they are in the tunnels.
It would be cheaper and much easier to just line the tunnels with sound deadening material.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
How about a reed switch in series with the speaker and magnets at the tunnel entrance/exit?
larsend How about a reed switch in series with the speaker and magnets at the tunnel entrance/exit?
That could work. Just remember you did it to a particualr loco because when it suddenly has no sound you don't think the decoder is smoked. There are latching reed switches, so that a magnet aligned one way will open the contacts and one aligned the other way will close them. Or you cna boas the switch with a magnet mounted near the switch. Use a normally open reed switch, and a small magnet such that it isn;t strong enought o close the contacts. A second magnet aligned such as to add magnetic force can close the contacts, and the small magnet will hodl them closed. A magnet aligned to subtract magnetic force will make the contacts open.
You could just hit F8 when the engine entered the tunnel I suppose. However IIRC trains in a tunnel are supposed to ring their bell in the tunnel, in case anyone is inside. I suspect the problem may be a model tunnel that is unlined so the entire hill is resonating to the sound of the engine. If it really bothers you, you might as well bite the bullet and tear out the scenery and re-do it with tunnel liners to deaden the sound and perhaps something under the tracks too.