I would use something more substantional than tape to insulate the pins on the rear of the socket. A piece of styrene or business card perhaps. I blew a decoder when the pins penetrated Kapton tape.
The esu 58820 doesnt have steam sounds. plus that is a ribbon wire on that which isnt easy to solder to or hard wire into a loco. Tonys trains also has a steam loco wiring harness.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Double face tape. is usually used and electrical tape on the bottom of the board.
nixtrainz, soundtraxx and tcs has motherboard types. They have pads for keep alives.
The sound is based on the locomotive being used. 0-6-0 0-8-0
Shane
SHane
Alyth,
Thanks for the response. I have a question regarding the 8 pin circuit board that you provided the link to. How does one anchor or mount a board like that in a metal tender such that it does not short out? I actually found some of those on ebay and in looking at them, the metal pins attached to the socket protrude from the other side of the board.
I see the advantage of using a board like this, but I have never used one before and the first question that jumps out is how one mounts it in a metal tender so it's elecrically isolated?
I'm thinking of using this decoder for adding DCC to an old Mantua switcher, and had some questions.
https://tonystrains.com/product/esu-58820-loksound-v5-dcc-micro-8-pin-sound-decoder-steam
1. If I want to "free wire" this decoder, do I just cut off the 8 pin plug, or is there a separate "free wire" version? I didnt see one.
2. What is a good keep-alive component to go with this?
3. What would be a reasonable sound file to use for a small 0-6-0 yard switcher? Doesnt have to be absolutely prototype, just "in the ballpark"? S0790?
Thanks!