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?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
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
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.
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.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
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...
Good morning
Thanks for your help with this
I'll post a follow up progress report in the near future
Cheers
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
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.
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