Is there a sound decoder that installs easily into an N-scale Life-Like Proto2000 USRA 2-8-8-2 Mallet? I bought mine without DCC; I see they are available with DCC w/sound, was wondering what this decoder is, and is it easy to retrofit.
Has anyone done it? Maybe got pictures?
Soundtraxx makes a good decoder for that engine.
The Tsunami 750 seems like the logical choice. Any idea about the LokSound Micro?
What would you suggest, then? Am brand new to this, have no bias at all.
I have the one with sound factory installed after pulling the tender shell of to check the spreakers for funny noises, I am glad I bought the sound equiped version.
Everything is cramed in there, and it does not look lt is one I would want to do from scratch.
Truck.
I disagree.
The weight that you "displace" can be made up elsewhere. I have have done this with outstanding results in my steam engine.
Yes, I had to get rid of some of the weight inside the tender, but the weight of the decoder made up for some of that lost weight. With the weight of the chunks of lead that I took out to fit the decoder, I added weight using moldable weight. So I have added weight to my tender, including a speaker and capacitor.
Theory disproved.
One key word here. EASY . No not easy and I would not do this unless I had more than one sound decoder install under my belt. The SoundTraxx Tsunami (TSU-750) series decoder would be the way to go. There is lots of room in the tender for the decoder, speaker and cap. Speaker size- you can fit a 14MM X 25MM under the coal load. Tight fit but can be done. You could also use the 10MM X 18M speaker from Digitrax. Gives you a little more room. No need to remove any weight in the tender. you will have to remove the rear light board and install a LED for the rear light. The decoder and speaker will add weight to the tender.
NOW the hard part. You must get into the loco. and run wires from the loco to the tender.You will need 5 wires. 2 for the motor, 2 for the power pickups and 1 for the front headlight . I use a very small small connection between the tender. This will let you remove the tender from the loco and store it in its original box. When done this way you will now have power pick up from the tender and the loco. I also replace the front light bulb with a small surface mount LED. You will need to rework the front light board here too.
Too many things to describe here but I have done several and they run and pull very well.
Yep, it can be done.
I will upload a video tonight if I can David.
All this was done using a Kato-to-Model Power tender conversion using a medium tender length.
This might help you too:
http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/dccconv/ll2882.pdf
I have installed a Tsunami sound decoder into more than one these locomotives and I did not have to remove any of the weight. The tender is large enought for me to get the decoder and speaker into it without removing any weight.
Show me? Do you want a photo of one?
Fair enough. If I remember when I get home, I will do that.
OK,
Send me a PM with your e-mail. I sure don't know how to post a vidio here. nor do Ihave the time to do so.
Post it on Youtube. Take the link from Youtube and post it here. Pretty easy.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy,
I do DCC installs and I don't have the time to open and post videos on u-tube.
I have done several of these and I know done the way I have done them they run very well.
And the sound is about as loud as you need in N scale. Now he wants them to run over insulated switch points. Well they run fine on my layout and I use Peco InsulFrogs for turnouts.
I took video of the 4-6-2 Pacific running over insulated turnouts and with the sound and bell being used, but the video is about 3 minutes long and it would not upload right (aka errors), so I have to try again tonight.
Suffice to say that the engine worked flawlessly.
http://youtu.be/RDqs-FTe3SM
This is the video that I took. My layout is small, and it goes over uninsulated turnouts several times with not loss of sound or motor control...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDqs-FTe3SM&feature=youtu.be
Made clickable:
Thank you. I have problems today.
Sounds fine to me, More than enough volume. Turning it down a bit would probably take the edge off the bell. Clearly negotiates turnouts without resetting. As if the factory people are some how more capable at DCC installation that peopel who take their time and plan it out. ANd considerign the components are typically put in place by a bunch of Chinese factory workers, I dare say my workmanship is probably better.
So, you think it sounds terrible?
Fair enough. I never got into sound with HO scale when I was with HO scale back in the 90's. I have heard a couple of HO scale engines, and to be honest, the sound was a little deeper, but not all THAT noticeable. I cannot comment on the frequencies of N scale versus HO scale.
However, the sound is coming directly from the locomotives themselves, not from some hidden speakers around the layout. I have heard the Surroundtraxx system, and to me, and me only, it sounds horrible. I don't care how many speakers you have around the layout. If the sound is not onboard the locomotive, it's confusing to where the sound is coming from. That's not to say that you have your system set and tuned perfectly to hide these imperfections, but they are imperfections.
We're both making the best of what we have. You have what works for you, I have what works for me. You would rather have quality sound from speakers around the layout, and I would rather have sound that sounds more realistic coming directly from the engine.
Several places.
I saw and heard this system in 2008 while I was attending a SoundTraxx training school.
There was a class of how the system worked and they had a demo layout with several locomotives.
They were have some issues with some things and it took a long time for them to iron them out.
The system worked well, but it was not like having the sound coming from the locomotive.
The last statement is very true.
You are wrong on so many levels it's not even funny. You didn't even help him (you're good at that).
I have a TSU-750 in my N scale Pacific, and it runs flawlessly. It has never stopped or overheated. I have the speaker, capacitor, and decoder in a Kato N scale tender and I think it sounds great. I have added weight to the tender via the A-line moldable weight (plus some other forms of weight), and it weighs less than 0.15 oz than the stock tender.