Decoder & Sound into an older Spectrum Connie 2-8-0

[Sunshine Express]

I may be able to buy a well cared for Spectrum 2-8-0 which a Club Friend has had for some years.He is changing to all Diesel. My question is do any of our Forum Friends put Silent and or Sound Decoders into these older Spectrum Connies ?. I would be satisfied if it could only be adapted for D C C,should sound be too difficult. Thanks to all,Owen

[Pacific Northern]

The Spectrum 2-8-0 came in three versions, one that was DCC ready another that had DCC on board, and the third that came with sound and dcc installed. Then later it was demoted from the Spectrum line and added to the Standard line.

I would assume the locomotive you are looking at is from the first batch that came DCC ready. This version has the pc board in the tender waiting for an 8 pin decoder. If you want dcc and sound you should mount the speaker in a baffle for the best sound. I would suggest you mount the speaker in the tender facing the bottom of the tender floor. You will have to drill holes into the floor of the tender so that the Speaker send the sound out through the hold in the floor. You could also mount the speaker in a baffle facing upward in the tender, you will need to poke holes in the plastic formed coal in the tender. I would suggest the floor placement, less likely to poke too many holes in the pile of coal.

It may look complicated but it is relatively easy to install the sound decoder.

[Steve Magee]

If its an older Connie, just watch out how the tender body is mounted. On one I had (it was my first sound install using a Soundtraxx DSD150) there was a post from the top of the tender body that reached to the floor where it was secured by a screw through the floor. I ended up cutting it off and using little blocks of quarter inch plastruct glued to the side of the tender body that rested on the floor, then drilled and tapped for a small screw, to secure it.

Also, for floor mounting of speakers, watch out that the diaphragm is NOT in contact with the floor. Use scrap scale lumber or similar cut to shape to allow diaphragm movement. Seal the tender with whatever (I used BluTac), then turn the sound down. The old DSD had 15 step volume control and I had to turn it down to 3 to live with it. Had to install a Lenz Gold for motor control as the DSDs control left a bit to be desired.

I'm in On30 now, and there my Connie has a TCS WOW101 with a 1.57" Hi-Bass speaker, mounted as above. If I was doing the HO Connie I think I would use the same basic combo, just substituting a 1.22" or 1.1" Hi-Bass speaker. Good as the Tsunami is, it doesn't compare with the TCS.

Steve Magee
Newcastle NSW Aust

[richg]

I think this is the one you have. This link is a little old. 2008

You might drill holes in the floor for the speaker.

http://www.garbo.org/MRR/2-8-0con.html

Below is what SoundTraxx recommends.

http://www.soundtraxx.com/choose/step3.php?t=ho&s=Bachmann

More info below about DCC and DCC with SoundTRaxx.

http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/soundtraxx/tsunami.htm

Rich

[richg]

Here is another link for the 2-8-0.

http://www.soundtraxx.com/documents/appnotes/bachmann280.pdf

Everyone, store the link and share. If you read the forums, you are not a lone wolf. You are part  of a huge community.

SoundTraxx has a lot of good info.

Even how to connect a smoke generator to a Tsunami.

Rich

[ebtnut]

Rich:  Thanks for that link.  I just picked up an original Connie still in the cellophane at a train show for $50 and that info will be very useful when I get ready to get it to DCC.