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Post by tjdreams on Dec 25, 2016 19:42:04 GMT -5
As some of you know I have bin working on putting a Sound decoders in some of my Z scale Loco's and Cars. Until now It's bin in dummy Locos or sleeper Box cars.
Well Today for Christmas I bring you My Powered E8A with sound.
David
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Post by markm on Dec 26, 2016 10:47:47 GMT -5
Cool. I'd like to see what you had to do on the inside to make it all work. Last week my train store showed me a an SW1500 in N scale that seems to use the entire shell as a speaker. Could be an interesting solution for Z scale sound.
Mark
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ZFRANK
Fireman
If you can't get it.....build it yourself....
Posts: 91
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Post by ZFRANK on Dec 26, 2016 17:15:31 GMT -5
That is realy cool David! Thank you for sharing. I'll guess eventually the speakers remain the problem in Z scale.
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Post by tjdreams on Dec 26, 2016 19:24:46 GMT -5
Cool. I'd like to see what you had to do on the inside to make it all work. Last week my train store showed me a an SW1500 in N scale that seems to use the entire shell as a speaker. Could be an interesting solution for Z scale sound. Mark Squeezing everything in was not easy. The first step was to completely dis assemble the Locomotive. The light pipes were removed, modified, LED's & resistors added then re installed into the body. A baffle and partial speaker enclosure were then fabricated out of a combination of plywood and styrene sheet. After hours of test fitting and sanding/filing to insure proper fit, the partial enclosure was sealed to the body. So yes Mark the body itself is part of the speaker enclosure. While using the body itself has the advantage of saving space it also has the dis advantage of simply touching it changes the tone it produces. Even the slightest difference in pressure on the sides from where it fits on the chassis will change the tone the speaker produces. Next i fabricated a Sacrificial jig and shims to hold the frame halves together for milling. After milling the front top and Rear together each frame half is individual milled and fine tuned for proper fitment of the new and modified components. This is a slow process taking only a little off at a time then test fitting dozens of times for each side to insure proper fitment. The body was also clearance d to help make room for the decoder and speaker baffle. Next was the modification of the motor contacts and one of the bearings. After everything was reassembled and test fitted (with out the decoder) it was again dis assembled each frame half was drilled and tapped to accept a screw and ringlet for power pickup to the decoder. Lastly everything is thoroughly cleaned, drive line assembled & lightly lubed, the speaker is put in place, and everything is wired up. The Final step was to choose the sound files and upload them to the decoder. While this was the easiest step it was also the most time consuming. As once uploaded and the sound played on the actual loco the files had to be modified and twerked again and again and again over and over then re-uploaded each and every time to get the desired sound effect. As i noted above the slightest difference in pressure on the Body, the amount of open space in the body, or even the addition of a single piece of Kapton Tape will effect the sound Quality. The one in the Video is my 2nd one and i am currently working on a 3rd. David
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Post by Commodore on Dec 27, 2016 10:49:46 GMT -5
Thank you David:
You are my new hero!
That is quite an accomplishment...
I cannot believe that someone actually undertook that heroic task. Wow!
If you need more test engines, I will be glad to send you some.
If not, and you decide to make and sell a few....
Please know that I want to be first on the list to purchase one!!!!
Thank you again.
...you made my day.
Rory
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Post by tjdreams on Jan 1, 2017 22:57:41 GMT -5
So what sound decoder did you use? Greg The Decoder is a ESU Loksound Micro.
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Post by tjdreams on Mar 12, 2017 22:36:47 GMT -5
Getting A little more Sound out of my Z scale
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Post by zoinks007 on Mar 13, 2017 9:26:36 GMT -5
I love it. I'll have to look into that decoder...
Did you find you needed something the size of the E8/E9, or might your technique also fit (given time and testing) into a smaller shell, like a GP unit?
I'm amazed by the tonal quality and volume you're getting. Nicely done.
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Post by zoinks007 on Mar 13, 2017 11:52:52 GMT -5
I've ordered one of those decoders and am gonna try to fit it into a GP-30. Hoping to not lose the GP-30, but this is really cool. Speaker...did you use something like this? www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=CMR-150632-2-SPSeems like a reasonable size and has a good output.
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Post by tjdreams on Mar 13, 2017 18:20:58 GMT -5
I've ordered one of those decoders and am gonna try to fit it into a GP-30. Hoping to not lose the GP-30, but this is really cool. Speaker...did you use something like this? www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=CMR-150632-2-SPSeems like a reasonable size and has a good output. Using parts that are currently available today Their is not enough room for a sound chamber, speaker and Sound decoder in a powered GP30. In addition to fabricating a few parts, Putting sound in a powered E8/9 also requires some precise milling of both chassis halve's and the Shell to make room for everything. The speaker i used was a knoles wildcat. Unfortunately they are Obsolete and no longer available anywhere. The speaker you listed is a 32 ohm speaker. It is not compatible with all decoders. It is possible to add sound to at least one more of AZL's Locomotives maybe a few more. In-fact i did a little testing of a different model at a Train Show this past weekend. But I will let the owner of that Loco decide when / where to Reveal it to the General public / Forum. David
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Post by zoinks007 on Mar 13, 2017 20:48:25 GMT -5
32 ohms...seemed high, but I don't have specs on that decoder (yet). And I figured it would be tight in the GP-30...still worth the purchase of the decoder to size and see. What are the figures for the Wildcat? (Found it, 16X9X3mm, 8 ohms)
One thing I'm wondering is the ESU Loksound Micro decoder seems to also drive lights and the motor, so if so there is only the one decoder. That's good news at least. I'll know when I get mine in.
Anyway, not trying to beat a dead horse, but am really excited about what you accomplished.
As for that other loco, one has to wonder about the Mikado. I've not cracked the tender open, but I'd be curious to see what's in there and if there is room. I know the motor is in there, so maybe not. Have to look.
(Time passed...)
OK, reading a review on a train store site, I understand why the Wildcat was such a good choice, and why you need the airtight enclosure. (It's just how the speaker works.)
How does this look as a replacement?
www.alibaba.com/product-detail/16-9mm-1W-8ohm-Micro-Dynamic_60499938287.html I know *nothing* about "Alibaba", and could just get ripped off. But maybe not. Curious to see if you feel the specs are good (what's there, anyway). At 2 cents apiece, and assuming no identity issues (big IF), hard to beat the price.
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Post by zoinks007 on Mar 13, 2017 21:03:04 GMT -5
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Post by tjdreams on Mar 13, 2017 22:45:53 GMT -5
The first speaker you listed for 0.02 cents is probably junk. Typical when they don't list the specks its because they are so bad that if you knew what they were you wouldn't buy it. + min order is 100 pieces.
I've all ready tried the other speaker and many many others. But still haven't found one that works as well in this application as the Obsolete knoles speaker did. ESU Decoders do not come with instructions you have to go to their website and Download the them.
David
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Post by zoinks007 on Apr 9, 2017 15:58:50 GMT -5
Still interested, so what would your opinion be of this (currently available) speaker? Same size and impedance... www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/cui-inc/CDS-16098A/102-3540-ND/5355535Thinking about picking up a couple to play with... While I get the Knowles speaker may be superior, we're kind of left looking for alternatives that work today. So I'm hopeful...
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Post by tjdreams on Apr 9, 2017 16:18:24 GMT -5
It might work, Only way to find out is to buy it and try it
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