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ESU Lok Sound - LOUD!

4377 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Brian Considine
Hi All

I did my first Sound Decoder Install today (wired NMRA correct)


In a Fleischmann V100 BR212 (haven't taken pictures as yet)
I picked this loco as I had done many DCC installs on this model , and there is a lot of room in the rear section
I put a small 2mm high rectangular box , with a cross brace, on the chassis to mount the 20mm x 40mm Loksound speaker on and to keep any wires , from the bogie it is positioned over , touching the speaker
and there is just enough room (barely ) for the sound decoder to sit on top , all went to plan and tested fine on the program Track . I have been using a Borrowed Lenz LVZ100 and Li-USB computer interface with JMRI Decoder Pro

When I put it on the Test Track I gave the poor dog a heart attack These things are LOUD
Default setting is full volume (64) I have brought it down to ( 14 ) for the Main sound Horn and Bell at ( 40 )

I am impressed with the motor control though , They had a suggested setting for the Earlier Fleischmann Motors
and it runs very well at extremely slow speed

I can see why Richard said the Lokprogrammer makes things easier , there are so many things you can adjust!
you are risking insanity to try it just with a hand controller

Regards Zmil
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Like , err, can you really take a photograph of the sound, man????


Actually, if you could do a short video I would be very interested in seeing and hearing it. Reminds me, I must get Neil over to do some more videos of my own sound-fitted locos. Pity we live so far away from you.
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My locos are run on high benchwork close to the operating position. I have the main volume turned down to 10 on a couple, 15 on another.
Hi All

Yes A video probably would be the best way to show the sound ,I Dont have a video camera but I may be able to record something another way.

Doug , I agree they are very loud (and I used to be in a Hard Rock band !)

so I pleased to hear that is was not just me that turned it down that far

Regards Zmil
2
Hi All

Did some recording of the Loco on my bench but was not very successful ( background noise and audio hum )

but here are some pictures of the install



Showing the little mount for the speaker that I constructed. The speakers mounting brackets slide into a slot in the mount above the rear light and held with a screw at the other end. Snug fit but the body can be easily removed for service and so can the speaker be removed if anything goes wrong with the wiring etc.



I have left the extra function wires (isolated and on top of the decoder for now) for possible use at a latter time

Regards Zmil
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Hi All

Just Trying a new Image hosting link



Regards Zmil
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well that worked so there will be no stopping me know!!
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10
Rather than starting a new thread I thought I would add to this one

My next install is in one of my favourite Diesels the v200 or BR221 as I have converted this model loco 6 times previously I was confident I would get it done without frying anything.
Firstly having tried a few different sized ESU speakers , I found that the 20mm x 400mm would just fit between the two poles(for want of a better description) that hold the body on to the chassis I did trim the tabs of the end of the speaker mount to make it fit though
The internal detail had to be trimmed away as well , a razor saw did that job with ease.



I also cut a slot in the bulkhead to hold the Decoder in place , plus created a small locating hole in the other bulkhead with a soldering iron without going right through the bulkhead. The ESU decoder has small bit sticking out at the end.So now the two poles in the body can slip down between the decoder and speaker .



I left the blue wire that brings the +ve pickup from the track (near side of picture) linking the two bogies and added a black wire from the front bogie to the body of the motor for the -ve pickup. The Motor bogie in this model does not have a dedicated -ve power pickup like the later models , though I have created one in converting this model before. I did not do it this time . There is a small amount of power transferred between the axles and the motor body.



I had to lengthen the Orange and Grey wires by a bit
. Wiring in Place the speaker next. I mounted the speaker on 6 little self adhesive tabs (came with the DCC Concepts Flicker Free kit)



Later I moved the middle tabs to be inline with the interior details so they blend in nicely



Speaker mounting is always a problem , I have been lucky that the locos I have done have room , over the non powered bogie facing down for one , in the centre facing down next to 4 open grills (each side) for the other. The speakers is just above the 4 grills and the grills extend past the ends of the speaker there is only a window between



There is normally some panels that can be seen through the grills , but only from the angle that I photographed so they should not really be missed.I also improved on the lighting a bit (partly using Richards advise) the LED's are placed in the original lampholders the ends filed flat as per normal and a dob of Tamiya flat white put on the end , it still allows a bit of light to through , but reflects more down for the other 2 lights.

Loco stopped - lights dimmed (rule 17)



and crawling forward (and out of focus)



The ESU decoders really surprise me in motor control , the Loco I converted a BoBo BR221 (a bit like the warship diesel) is 35 years old , bought second hand as a poor runner . it had so much dust caked on the power pickups that I though it would give endless trouble(glad it was dust and not WD40 or electralube residue). But I cleaned it out with a small screwdriver and when I tried it it ran OK so I did not do anymore to the wheels or pickups and installed the decoder , put it on the Programming track changed a few settings . These motors are very difficult to get running smoothly at slow speed with out lots of adjusting with the TCS decoders but it absolutely crawls along with the ESU. Only picking up on one bogie as well! I suppose the loco's all up weight of 570g helps as well. No problems across points and double slips no restarting sound files .

ESU suggest changing too values for the older Fleischmann Motors
CV 54 = about 14 - 18
CV 55 = 20
and that makes for very smooth running
.

Regards

Zmil
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Zmil great work as usual.

I have the Roco V100 which came in DCC ready and I just plugged the loksound into the pins, was easy. However the hard part was to find a place for the speaker and it eventually had to go under the loco, the fuel tank.

Yes, changing CV's 54&55 on all Fleischmann pancake motors is essential. My Br55 is so smooth in running now, I take back of what I said previously about the Fleischmann pancake motors. Esu has tamed it.


Baykal
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Hi Erkut

The only Roco loco I have left is a BR290 , that is much the same . There was barely enough room for a M1 decoder let alone a Loksound . I will have to investigate the room underneath though.

Regards

Zmil
3
Excellent install Zmil
great choice of loco i'll remember your tips on lighting
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Hello,

I am new to the forum and am looking for information on the DCC conversion that was done on the V2oo 221 by Fleischmann. I have many of these engines and am now transitioning to DCC. I am most interested in the motor isolator plate. I am trying to find a part number but have had no success. Any help would be aprreciated.

Thanx,

jaxx V200
QUOTE (jaxx v200 @ 19 Feb 2009, 22:10) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hello,

I am new to the forum and am looking for information on the DCC conversion that was done on the V2oo 221 by Fleischmann. I have many of these engines and am now transitioning to DCC. I am most interested in the motor isolator plate. I am trying to find a part number but have had no success. Any help would be aprreciated.

Thanx,

jaxx V200

Hi & welcome to MRF.

The part numbers vary according to the actual model - we stock most of the insulated backplates - send me the model numbers by PM & we can advise on price/availability.
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