Looking at removing the Bachmann decoders and replacing them with Loksound select or V4/V5 ?
Has anyone here attempted this and if so was there much involved ?
going for more functionality and better sound quality
to the Forum Your initial posts have to pass moderation, hence the delay.
Tony's trains has some pictures of the conversion
They had to fabricate speaker enclosures.
If the loco doesn't have leds, you might want to switch to 3mm 3V warm white led's and some 1000 ohm resistors. I see a resistor in the conversion picture.
You will need soldering skills, rosin core solder, they DCC stores sell a pack of DCC sized wires in the appropriate colors, some tiny heat shrink tubing.
I do not know if loksound 4 has been replaced by 5, but someone here will.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I would use the Lok Sound SElect Direct. Just remove the decoder and replace. The RS3 has a speaker in the fuel tank. It should be an 8 ohm one. I don't know if this will work with the Lok Sound, or has to be replaced with a 4 ohm speaker. Joe
Good morning
Thanks for your help with this
I'll post a follow up progress report in the near future
Cheers
The Loksound Select/V.4 decoders can use either 4- or 8-ohm speakers but 8-ohm is preferable. Only the old V2.0 decoders required the higher 100-ohm speakers. If the Bachmann RS-3 comes with an 8-ohm speaker then you're good to go - i.e. unless you want to upgrade the speaker.
That said, the Select/V.4 decoders have been discontinued and replaced by the Loksound 5. You might still be able to find some Select/V.4s for sale online but I think it will be challenging to hunt them down.
If you don't have a LokProgrammer or don't plan to get one then you'll need to have the vendor install the correct sound file for the locomotive(s) you want to install sound into. The other plus to Loksound decoders are their excellent motor-control. That - to me - is more important than sound.
I agree with Henry on replacing the LEDs. Warm-white or yeloglo look great. And, with the Loksound decoders, you shouldn't need to install resistors, as they are built into the decoder board. You just need to be sure to solder your LED wires to the correct solder pad.
FWIW...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
In the online parts diagram, the current Bachmann RS3 has LEDs. They do have a polarity that you must observe, or they won't light.
I just double-checked the Loksound 5 instruction manual this evening. According to Section 6.10.2 (pg. 35), you will need to add resistors to any LEDs you install.
thanks for your reply and help
would you recommend an 8 pin or 21 pin sound decoder/s ?
im pretty new to this field of electronics
however do have a friend of a friend who (when he is about) is quite knowledgeable but would like to have a go myself as he is not always about and he also has the Loksound downloder software
Alco,
According to one of the vendor websites your Bachmann RS-3 comes with an 8-pin socket. With that being the case, I would go with an 8-pin Loksound decoder. Will you be programming/installing anything more than the front & rear LED headlights?
Alco_Pophe also has the Loksound downloder software
The software is free, but you can't download a sound project into the decoder unless you have the programmer itself, so be sure to buy the decoder with the correct sound.
Just to be clear (not always easy for me), I too have a Bachman RS3 and not impressed with the Soundtrax Value decoder. Is the installation from Bachman a decoder plugged into a board? Can I just get a 8 pin decoder and unplug the Soudtrax and plug in something else? I’ve never hard wired a decoder so this would work for me if possible
Tophias,
Here's the feature list that Bachmann posts on their website for their RS3s:
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but the 2nd feature (unlined added by me) would seem to imply that the Soundtraxx Value decoder can be unplugged and replaced with an 8-pin decoder of choice - sound or non-sound.
That's the information for the DCC motor-only version. The Sound Value version, on the features list, says nothing about an 8 pin plug.
These all almost certainly have a simple board to connect the track pickups, lights, and motor terminals - meaning it is eay to just take that all out and install a board repalcement decoder or a motherboard type of arrangment and plug in a 21 pin decoder. Or just hard wire a decoder to the wires.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerThat's the information for the DCC motor-only version. The Sound Value version, on the features list, says nothing about an 8 pin plug.
Thanks for pointing that out, Randy.
Looks like this might be the right time to finally try a decoder installation project. Anyone have suggestions regarding easiest decoder to try - ESU, TCS WOW, Tsunami2? I have locos running all three and I like all three
tstage Alco, According to one of the vendor websites your Bachmann RS3 comes with an 8-pin socket. With that being the case, I would go with an 8-pin Loksound decoder. Will you be programming/installing anything more than the front & rear LED headlights? Tom
According to one of the vendor websites your Bachmann RS3 comes with an 8-pin socket. With that being the case, I would go with an 8-pin Loksound decoder. Will you be programming/installing anything more than the front & rear LED headlights?
They're all equal in that regard, really. All else being equal, the brand of the decoder isn't going to make a difference int he level of difficulty.
So you ordered the two Bowser RS-3s DC/DCC-ready?
Alco_PopIve ordered 2 Bowser RS3's that will have added extras in the future, as for the Bachmann, it will be my "test mule"
You are a more patient man than I who canceled my order a year ago. Supposedly they will be here in January.
The DCC Loksound version is $70 more than a DC version from a NY mail order firm. That's cheaper than I can buy a decoder and speaker. Who knows I may still end up with one, after I see some real pictures. Currently they are using pics of the prototypes for their different road names.
They are Executive Line models - to they will have all the grabs and lift rings and all that. I expect etched windshield wipers like their other Executive Line models as well. Maybe an new sound project, since Loksound is right there and they are close to the D-L railroad which still uses all sorts of old Alcos in revenue service.
I just wish they were doing Reading. Then I'd buy some.
Yea, if they offered an NYC version I would probably get one...
Maybe next run. Or I can always get an undec and paint it. Not like I don't have 6 Atlas Undecs to paint...
Yea, I already have two decorated Atlas RS-3s so I don't really need another one. I do have an undecorated RS-1 and S-2 that needs painting & detailing. Those are waiting in line behind the Stewart FTA-Bs that I need to finish detailing...
tstage So you ordered the two Bowser RS-3s DC/DCC-ready?
yes , I have ordered 2 Bowser DCC ( Delaware and Hudson)
BigDaddyYou are a more patient man than I who canceled my order a year ago. Supposedly they will be here in January
i seen that the ball started rolling with the RS3's years ago and they are now almost scheduled for delivery
ive only been back into the hobby 12 months fom a 30 year absence
also Bowser's original price has been dropped by $60 over at factory direct trains and cheaper still at Trainworld, however Im in Australia and get slugged hefty postage but delivery is usually within a week
Phil
rrinkerOr just hard wire a decoder to the wires.
Im taking the RS3 to a friend in my local hobby shop and may do exactly as you suggest.Hardwire a V5 Loksound Direct .
I return home from work on Thursday and should have an answer by Friday on the direction I will take for this project
Alco_Popyes , I have ordered 2 Bowser DCC ( Delaware and Hudson)
Post pictures when you get them!
BigDaddyPost pictures when you get them!
will do Henry
Lee English (Bowser) was on the latest What's Neat. My impression was he was very pessimistic about "engine" production in China, but he did not specifically mention the RS 3. He said he "should be back in the engine business early next year"
Maybe that's when they will arrive from China. See what you think at 30:50, alhough you should listen to what he has to say earlier in the vid about 3D
BigDaddyMaybe that's when they will arrive from China. See what you think at 30:50, alhough you should listen to what he has to say earlier in the vid about 3D
Thanks for the update Henry
My Bachmann RS3 is undergoing the decoder swap now.
It will be ready in the New Year
Unfortunately im back to work for 2 weeks and wont pick it up until the 15th
Meanwhile Bowser's revised delivery of their RS3s is now 28th March 2020