Increase Volume of Big Hauler

[chieffan]

Is there any way to get louder sound out of the older Big Haulers?  Even with hearing aids when the engine get 4' past me I don't hear it any more.  Is there an amplifier that can be installed in the tender and connected to the sound board and a larger speaker to get some SOUND out of these engines ? ?  Thanks much for all you guy and your great ideas and problem solvers.

[Joe Zullo]

Try a new battery in the tender and/or the hearing aids. 

[Joe Satnik]

cf,

http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips1/big_hauler_tips.html#sound

You may have a newer version of the board, but these tips should still apply. 

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

[chieffan]

Have tried different brands of NEW batteries in the tender.  I don't need advise on how to control my hearing aids, at least not from this site.

[chieffan]

Thanks for that link Joe.  I have a print out of that article in my file but I did not see where it increased the volume, just the quality and chuff from 2 to 4.  Will do those this winter and see what happens.  Have a good day.   

[Loco Bill Canelos]

Chieffan,

I am not a electronics guy, but I am thinking that to increase the sound volume you probably need to some how get a more powerful amplifier to install in the circuit.   The speaker in the loco is suitable for a higher amp level.  I have installed aftermarket sound systems using the speaker.

As far as that goes my aftermarket sound systems do have a much higher sound  volume than the stock system, and you would get the bell and whistle as well.   If you have a local Garden railroad club you might be able to visit and check out the actual sounds of the various brands of sound systems.  Some systems start around $80, but I have no idea how high you can crank them up volume wise.

Best of luck finding a solution.

Bill

[chieffan]

Thanks Loco Bill for that information.  I wondered just how much one could apply to the stock speaker before it blew.  I wonder if an additional amplifier connected between the present speaker and the board would work ? ?

This is a used Big Hauler so the board may be the problem also.  Will do some checking with other, if I can find them in this "remote" area of the country.  Have a good day.

[Joe Satnik]

Dear All,

To my ears the stock BH chuff system's lack of bass is more of a problem than lack of overall volume. (Poor EQ.)  

A larger speaker, or the same size speaker with a heavier magnet, may increase the efficiency and bass, thus the perceived loudness.

Hmm, I wonder if anyone has ever taken lab measurements of the tender and its speaker, with the intent of making a tuned-port bass box out of the two....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_reflex

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik



   

[chieffan]

   You got me thinking there Joe.  I can usually hear the base tones real good but if they are not there ? ? ?  I have a heavy speaker magnet from a high quality speaker that came with an audio system we bought at an auction.  Mouse made the speaker box his home and chewed through both cones.  I may try putting that magnet on the back of the original magnet and see what happens.   Sure can't hurt anything and if it works - a cheep fix.

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

Try putting a baffle around the speaker to help with the sound, use something like the cardboard core from a roll of tape (or roll your own out of thinner cardboard than on a roll of tape).  I know this worked on an O scale engine I have.  A bit of hot glue to hold it in place and you're good to go!

BobD.

[chieffan]

I haven't been inside the tender as yet so don't know how the speaker is set up.  When I did HO sound installs  I always built an enclosure around the back of the speaker to get the sound out the front.  also run the speaker up through the coal load a lot of times to get the sound going up rather than down.  On diesels I would run the sound out through the cooling fan.  Will have to dig into the tender and see what gives.  Thanks for the reminder.

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

I opened my Annie I recently bought and it doesn't have a baffle, I'll probably put one in it once I get back working on it.

Bob D.

[NarrowMinded]

I didn't read all the posts so excuse this if its a repeat.

To get more sound you can open up the slots in front of the speaker under the tender.

Nm-Jeff

[chieffan]

I am also thinking of mounting the speaker under the coal load with a ton of holes drilled through the load.  this would put the sound up - where our ears are.  Not down where it is absorbed in the ballast, ground etc. before we get a chance to hear it.  Might get into that in the morning if something else don't get in my way 

[NarrowMinded]

I have done the holes in the coal load on on30 and it made the sound cleaner.