questions about sound and DCC and decoders

[Kurt]

Hi all,

I am new to all this DCC stuff but just received my NCE POWER CAB and am waiting for my BLI PARAGON2 4-8-4 Northern to arrive. Some foggy questions I need to get answered.

1. I have an older rivarossi Hudson loco. What do I need to change it to PARGON2 SOUND AND DCC POWER? Do I need a sound chip and a decoder?

2. can anyone point me to some good videos of an install of paragon2 and DCC power?


sure is a bit confusing for this 67 yr. old after having been out of model trains for 50 yrs.

thanks in advance

Kurt

 

[Espeefan]

Depends on how old that Hudson is. I am not sure of Paragon sells it's sound system separately. Usually the aftermarket is handled by Soundtraxx, QSI, ESU Loksound and now TCS. Digitraxx also has a low cost sound unit as does MRC but they aren't up to the quality level of the others. Sound and DCC from these companies generally come in one package that does everything.

if the Hudson is old enough to have the old open frame motor you will likely have to replace that as well as add sound and DCC.

Try You Tube for sound and install videos. Lots of modelers put their work up there

 

[Motley]

Don't attempt a sound decoder install unless you are very good at electronics and wiring. Its very difficult if you've never done it before. There are lots of places that do professional DCC decoder installations.

I tried once, and fried a decoder. So now I just send my locos to a professional for DCC sound installs.

 

[Bruette]

Hi Kurt!

When adding a DCC decoder the motor has to be isolated from the frame.

A simple way to add sound is to purchase a QSI Titan decoder and wire it to your track, then connect a speaker or two to it and if you want too you could put it into a building. As it is a decoder, you could make its address the same as a locomotive, then the sounds will react the same as the loco.[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]

 

[GN.2-6-8-0]

The paragon 2 sound decoders are not available as a seperate unit. only available with BLIs locomotives.

 

[Doc]

Rivarossi Hudson 4-6-4 DCC conversion

Greeting Kurt,
I'm currently in the process of converting a Heavy Pacific 4-6-2, # 5087-07, Santa Fe to DCC. I have installed a new rail pickup for the left rail in the Engine and modified the tender so that it picks up power from both rails. My initial decoder is a Digitrax DH123D, motor and lights with no sound as this is my first attempt. It is best to make sure the Hudson is a good runner. Good cleaning lubrication and no binding, Check the stall current of the motor at 12 vdc. In addition the motor MUST be isolated from any connection that would lead it back to the rails. I'm looking at the Hudson and it shows two different motors. The 1969 build looks like a flat motor (Part # P-160-057) and the 1975 thru 1980 is a can motor (Part # P231-009) in either case both motors are frame common. I have separated my motor at the brushes, both the tender black wire and the ground strap and then tested for isolation. In addition I have removed the front light and replaced it with an led. My 4-6-2 bulb was drawing 500ma and that was beyond the decoder rating. Once I have the steamer running with this setup I'm planning to replace the decoder with a SoundTraxx Tsunami TSU-1000 & down firing speaker. I'm hoping that this long winded effort will give me the knowledge to convert some of the rest of my Rivarossi fleet. I have taken pix's of the modifications I have done so far and can post them if they could help you. A Dremel and Exacto knife are a must. For me at 64 I must say it is quite confidence builder. The advise below is fitting.

"Don't attempt a sound decoder install unless you are very good at electronics and wiring. Its very difficult if you've never done it before. There are lots of places that do professional DCC decoder installations."

If your still game and I can help let me know. In addition this Forum has the best of the best and have helped me lots. I just hope I don't let the smoke out.
Doc'

 

[Iron Horseman]

1. I have an older rivarossi Hudson loco. What do I need to change it to PARGON2 SOUND AND DCC POWER? Do I need a sound chip and a decoder?

Yes, but getting the sound decoder is the easy part.

Rivarossi locomotives are not the easiest conversions. The good part is there will be a large tender to mount the speaker or speakers.

In general several steps will be needed.
1. Test the motor to determine how much electric current it consumes. If it consumes more than 1 amp you will need to go through the re-motoring process.
2. To work well on DCC either the loco, or the tender, or both need to be converted to pick up power from both rails.
3. The motor (new or old) has to be isolated from the frame of the loco.
4. At least two additional wires will have to be run between the loco and the tender. Depending on whether you choose to put the decoder in the loco or the tender will determine the use of the wires. If the decoder is in the tender they will be for motor power. If the decoder is in the loco they will be for speaker. There could be additional wires for power, lights, sound synchronization... - once again depending on the over all solution and where the decoder is located.
5. Optionally, the replacement / addition of light bulbs, marker lamps, fire box with those of desired voltage or LEDs.
6. After that the actual decoder installation can begin.