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Wiring A Dummy Engine For Sound

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  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Wiring A Dummy Engine For Sound
Posted by cudaken on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 4:55 PM

 I have a sound decoder with a motor drive. Can I install it in a dummy engine (will have power pick up) with out connecting it to power engine and have the engine sound go up and down with the throttle settings? 

 I think I can, but just want to check

 Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 5:36 PM

 If you still have the resistor that came in the LT1 Loconet tester that came with your SEB system - that resistor works great as a motor load simulator. I think it's 100 ohms.

If you want to mount one permanently in the loco - set a speed curve, or if using a decoder that supports CV2-6-5, set those. Liek CV2=1, CV6=2, CV5=3, or set the speed table to all 1, so that the voltage applied across the resistor stays low, and it won;t get warm.

Try without the resistor and see if it programs, some do, but usually the load is required because that is how the acknowledgement pulse is generated. Since you don;thave readback on the DB150, it may not matter - it shoudl program 'blind' even without the load of a motor or resistor.

                           --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 8:54 PM

Below is a link on how to use a Tsunami for sound only. Scroll all the way down.

Not sure about other sound decoders but it might apply.

http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/soundtraxx/tsunami.htm

Make sure to store the link in Favorites. This guy has loads of good DCC info.

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.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 9:25 PM

100 ohm, set the speed table. Liek I said. Should work on any sound decoder, although some use all 0's in the speed table to mean a perfectly linear speed table, so to get the desired effect of not much voltage goign through the resistor, you might have to make it all 1 instead of 0.

 Under no circumstances do that and NOT set the speed table - if you're lucky the resistor will just pop,. Assuming 12V to the motor at full throttle, that's almost 1.5 watts. a 1/2 watt resistor will be a very hot fuse. If it doesn;t melt,. it will surely melt the shell.

 FOr the DSD-LC in my dummy F7 B, I just clipped the resistor on while programming, then removed it and insulated the motor wires. It runs fine without a load on the motor wires.  I've since changed the address (because after not having the loco set in my possession for a few years, I forgot what address I set it to - being it's a Stewart without any numbers yet, there was no cab number ot use as the address. DOH! So I just made it something I will remember for now: 1234) without putting the resistor back on, so it will program, but probably not read 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.

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Thursday, May 10, 2012 10:13 AM

 Thanks for the answer's, I think. I will hook the decoder to my PR 3 so we will know what decoder I have.

               Ken

I hate Rust

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