Sound for Shay

[Eman627]

Hello, I am contemplating, whether or not to purchase the Bachmann Tsunami factory sound equipped 3 truck shay, or to purchase a non-sound shay and upgrade it to a full Tsunami or a Loksound Select geared steam decoder. Any help, advice, recommendations, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

[richg]

Buy it with factory on board Tsunami. Painless method.
You can compare the factory specs with the full SoundTraxx version very easily by looking at and comparing the manuals.
I have Tsunami I installed myself and factory on board Tsunami and have no issues.

If you want the chuff simonized with the cylinders, buy the Micro Tsunami and speaker, plus a cam for the chuff. Probably use a micro switch since it sounds like you have done installs. The Micro has a sync wire. I have never tried a three cylinder loco.
The on board doe not have a sync wire/cam as far as I know. But I could be wrong on that issue.

Rich

[Pacific Northern]

I would urge you to just buy the Shay with the Tsunami (lite) decoder. What do you find lacking that you would want the full featured Tsunami sound card over the Bachmann version.

When you check the price of the Tsunami decoder and the cost of the Shay separately you will find it noticeably more expensive than buying the Shay with sound.

It is also my understanding that at some point not too long ago that the Tsunami found in the Bachmann sound equipped engines is the full featured Tsunami.

[Eman627]

Very well, and what would the chuff rate be set at(CV116)? I do not wish to use the chuff cam option for the full Tsunami decoder. I tried the Soundtraxx chuff rate equation(115.9 X Speed / Driver diameter X gear ratio), but it seems too slow. The reason that I would want the full Tsunami is that it supports more CVs, namely, equalizer and reverb. The factory decoder does not support these CVs. I ch eked the factory CV list and they are not there. Links: http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM%20pages/Bachmann/HO%203%20Truck%20Shay.pdf
http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/tsutechreference.pdf
http://www.esu.eu/uploads/tx_esudownloads/51980_734xx_LokSound_Select_ESULLC_EN_UsersManual_Edition_II_Aug_2010_eBook_01.pdf
The reason I like the Loksound is that it has many more whistle choices than Tsunami.
Again, any help or suggestions appreciated.

[richg]

Ok, now that we have all the required data, go to Litchfield Station and ask them with what you know already. They have helped me with install suggestions.

http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/home.php

The do answer email. I know the Micro Tsunami 750 is suggested by SoundTraxx so it can handle the motor current.
The LokSound Micro can only handle 500 ma. The standard Lok can handle 1 amp which I am sure you know. No idea about the newer LokSound decoders.

Below is a usefull link ffrom the original owner of Litchfiled Station in case you have not seen this link here before.

http://www.mrdccu.com/

I have done a Google search for bachmann shay loksound decoder and found quite a lot of useful info for this loco with the LokSound decoder. Go and do the search and see what is available.

I do know there is a new line and upgraded sound files for the LokSound decoders as I belong to a LokSound Yahoo Group. They have gone fom v3.5 to v4.0.

Rich

[Eman627]

I have heard of and been to those websites and they seem knowledgeable, but the decoder I would intend to use is the Loksound SELECT decoder, not a 3.5, 4.0, or micro.
Link to the Loksound Select manual: http://www.esu.eu/uploads/tx_esudownloads/51980_734xx_LokSound_Select_ESULLC_EN_UsersManual_Edition_II_Aug_2010_eBook_01.pdf