Two big thumbs up P2K 0-8-0 and Soundtraxx

[DigitalGriffin]

This past weekend I installed a Soundtraxx DCC board into my 0-8-0 P2K. I was a little nervous as this was my first DCC conversion. About 5 hours after I got started, I was ready to test her out.

I put it on my break-in track and set it to 16/128. It took right off, sound and all. At first, it stuttered and lost power a little here and there on the track. However, after 2 hours break in, I could get this little loco to run on 1/128 speed setting with no drop outs on the track forward and back! At 2/128 speed setting it ran very evenly/smoothly even on R-18s.

In my opinion, it's going to be a fun little low-speed switcher for my yard. It looks great, sounds good, and operates the best out of all my engines.

My only concern is that between speed 1/128 and 0/128 (stop), there's a slight pause (about 1/2 second) between moving and idle sounds where it's dead silence. There's also a very slight buzz from the motor at low speeds. I'm guessing this is a PWM issue.

So P2K and Soundtraxx get a big two thumbs up from me!

~Now all I have to do is think of a name for her... [:D]
~D

[simon1966]

Your first DCC conversion attempt, a Soundtraxx installation into a Steamer!!! Wow!! good on you. I started with a basic 1 function decoder in an Athearn! If you take up jogging, what will you do? Start with the NY Marathon[:D][:D]

[NZRMac]

Well done it's a great feeling to convert something and it runs nice first time!!

You do have to use the right loco in the first place, I put a soundtraxx decoder in a Bachmann 2-6-0 Standard model.
It's not too flash at slow speeds, keeps pauseing, and if you've got CV's 3-4 set for delay start stop it's a real pain.

Ken.

[rrinker]

What Simon said... WOW! I have pretty much electronics experience and even I didn't start off with a SOUND install for my first one. Way to go!
Yes, the buzzing is a PWM issue, the Soundtraxx motor decoders do not have 'silent running' features. That why you see al ot of peopel with some other motor decoder PLUS the Soundtraxx sound-only decoder installed (good thing they have that decoder lock feature...)

--Randy