I could use some advice from someone who has retrofitted a Heisler with a decoder. This loco takes an 8 pin NMRA plug and I had this decoder which I had replaced in another loco.
Digitrax SDXH166D Decoder 16bit 6 series 652667200233 | eBay
I replaced the harness on the left with an 8 pin harness and plugged it into the Heisler. I did a lot of work with the CVs to get the sound settings to my liking and got the loco moving with the shell off. When I tried to replace the shell I discovered there simply is not enough room in the cab for the decoder, speaker, and capacitor. There is barely enough room for the decoder.
I'm wondering if anyone has put a sound decoder in a Heisler and if so what decoder did you use? How big a speaker did it take? Rivarossi now sells Heislers with factory sound decoders but I don't know if they had to reconfigure the insides to get everything to fit. These are selling in the $300-400 range and I'm not about to shell out that much when I have one that just needs the right decoder.
If necessary I can live without sound. This decoder. seems like it would work:
Digitrax Inc. HO DCC Decoder Prem S6 1.2"Wires 6FN 8-Pin 1.5A DGTDH166PS Power 652667060417 | eBay
TCS has the following installation guide and they used an M1P-1 decoder:
| Train Control Systems (tcsdcc.com)
I also located an N scale decoder configured like the one I tried to install. Can N scale decoders be used in an HO loco. I also wonder if its 8 pin NMRA plug is the same size as those made for HO. I'm thinking if it can fit in an N scale loco I should be able to get it to fit in an HO Heisler.
John,
If you decide to go w/o sound with your Heisler I would pick the TCS M1P decoder. I think you'll be delighted with the better motor control - especially at very slow speeds. TCS is my go-to for motor-only installations.
And, yes, you can use N- or Z-scale decoders for a HO installation. What you have to be mindful of is the continuous/peak motor current rating. HO decoders are generally rated at 1.0/2.0A. Smaller decoders can be 0.75/1.5A. Not a huge deal if you locomotive doesn't draw a lot of current while operative - e.g. 0.25A.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
See if the speaker that goes in the arch of the cab roof will fit. (I don't remember who makes it, but Ed will...)
I'd put extended wire on the capacitor so it can be 'remoted' and use something like silicone caulk to put it in the boiler somewhere if there is room
Streamlined Backshop is the site that sells the cab roof speakers:
https://store.sbs4dcc.com/sugarcubespeakers.aspx
If you scroll down the page you'll see the various sizes.
Overmod See if the speaker that goes in the arch of the cab roof will fit. (I don't remember who makes it, but Ed will...) I'd put extended wire on the capacitor so it can be 'remoted' and use something like silicone caulk to put it in the boiler somewhere if there is room
I checked to see if the capacitor will fit in the boiler but it has a tight clearance also. The capacitor fits in the empty shell but the shell goes on top of a metal weight that also holds the wires to the front headlight and the boiler won't go down all the way with the capacitor in it.
tstage Streamlined Backshop is the site that sells the cab roof speakers: https://store.sbs4dcc.com/sugarcubespeakers.aspx If you scroll down the page you'll see the various sizes. Tom
It's going to be a tight fit even with the roof speaker and that's if I can find a suitable sized decoder. I'm thinking the N scale decoder might be my only option if I want sound.
I got another idea for sound. The Heisler will operate on a switchback with only about 10 feet from end to end. I'd read that retired steamers were occasionally repurposed as stationary boilers. I've got a couple out of commission steamers with sound. I could put one on a track hidden under the scenery and use it as a stationary sound generator. It might be a better option than trying to force fit a sound decoder in the tiny cab.
I'd be curious as to whether Rivarossi retooled their Heislers to allow space for their factory decoders and speakers.
I did one using an Econami with an Iphone 5 speaker under the cab roof. I took out the window glass in the rear of the cab for better sound porting. I hard wired it to save space and did not use a keep alive capacitor. The decoder fit in the coal bunker behind the cab.
Mark Vinski
This is an update on this decoder installation. I had mistakenly ordered a Digitrax SDN136PS decoder for another loco which has an attached speaker and capacitor, not realizing this was an N scale decoder. I intended to return it for refund from Amazon. Meanwhile I ordered the M1P-1 non-sound decoder which is the one TCS used in their online installation tutorial. When I received it, I was suprised to see it is roughly the same size as the N scale Digitrax decoder I intended to send back. It is labeled as an N/HO decoder. I figured since the smaller decoder would work in the Heisler, why not go with the one that has sound, so I decided to install the Digitrax decoder.
The installation went fairly smoothly and with a little effort, I was able to fit the decoder, speaker and capacitor in the locomotive cab although the wires are visible through the windows. I can live with that. I am disappointed by the sound. I set the CVs for maximum volume and still the sound is anemic. The whistle is barely audible. Is this typical for N scale decoders and speakers.
The included speaker is oval shape and about the width of a dime. I'm considering cutting the wires to it and hooking up a sugar cube speaker, assuming I can get it to fit in the cab. Is the sound volume more a product of the decoder or the speaker. I'm wondering if it would be worth the effort to replace the speaker.
Meanwhile, I have a spare TCS M1P-1 decoder if the need arises.
Is the Digitrax speaker installed into a baffle or enclosure? If it isn't then that's why you are not getting much volume from your speaker.
tstage John, Is the Digitrax speaker installed into a baffle or enclosure? If it isn't then that's why you are not getting much volume from your speaker. Tom
This is a slightly different model but it looks just like the one I installed.
Amazon.com: Digitrax DGTSDXN136PS N 16 Bit Sound Decoder, Motor/6-Functions 1A : Arts, Crafts & Sewing
It appears to me the baffle is part of the speaker. The instructions don't specify a separate baffle and the photos in the instruction manual show the speaker installed in the tender of a traditional steam loco by itself with no additional baffle. The oval speaker is 10 x 18mm. It was a tight fit without a separate baffle and finding a suitable baffle is not going to be easy.