I'm starting to get the taste for sound and battery conversions now. So now I'm looking at converting one of my logging "fleet" - the Bachmann Fn3 Spectrum 2-6-6-2.
OK, I think I am going for a Phoenix P8, they do a nice Unita Mallet sound for it and there is one available from stock from a retailer of my acquaintance. Phoenix say on their site the P8 was designed for battery/rc use but how and why they do not elaborate. There is also mention of the dreaded (to me) DCC acronym. I take it as the P8 is intended for battery/rc use we are not looking at any problems with PWM output from the ESC causing issues with the sound card. I already have a Fosworks Omni 2 transmitter so I'm thinking of binding one of their receivers to that and plugging in the ESC. Then it's a split battery pack installed in the side tanks to power it all,
I've found a thread on another forum with links to other installations on the same loco. Though great for the general principles they do not really give me the specific information to give me the confidence to proceed by myself. I've had a cursory look at the Bachmann loco's diagrams but they do not give a by numbers installation guide, just some mumbo jumbo about plug and play boards and likewise Phoenix talk a lot about using DCC/rc gear that adheres to NMRA standards. Not really confidence inspiring to a numpty like me. So to start the ball rolling -
What sounds and sequences can I access in a simple rc environment using, say, Fosworks non DCC ESC and receiver and existing Omni2 equipment or must I have DCC and how does that work in a battery r/c environment ? My only experience till now is an old Soundtraxx Sierra card with its set of voltage activated sequences and a couple of sounds activated by pico switches.
Looking at the Bachmann diagrams there seems to be a board with both 18v power inputs, 6v chuff triggers and a speaker output. Can these be simply attached to the ESC for motor control and as the chuff triggers and sound output on the sound card ?
I take it once you have installed your kit all you have to do is flick the switch over to battery on the board on top of the boiler to switch out the track pick ups and rely on the batteries and ESC. I also have an extra board with lots of pins but I know not what it has to do in the great scheme of things but I suspect DCC has something to do with it.
As usual you advice and sympathies would be most welcome. Max
OK, I think I am going for a Phoenix P8, they do a nice Unita Mallet sound for it and there is one available from stock from a retailer of my acquaintance. Phoenix say on their site the P8 was designed for battery/rc use but how and why they do not elaborate. There is also mention of the dreaded (to me) DCC acronym. I take it as the P8 is intended for battery/rc use we are not looking at any problems with PWM output from the ESC causing issues with the sound card. I already have a Fosworks Omni 2 transmitter so I'm thinking of binding one of their receivers to that and plugging in the ESC. Then it's a split battery pack installed in the side tanks to power it all,
I've found a thread on another forum with links to other installations on the same loco. Though great for the general principles they do not really give me the specific information to give me the confidence to proceed by myself. I've had a cursory look at the Bachmann loco's diagrams but they do not give a by numbers installation guide, just some mumbo jumbo about plug and play boards and likewise Phoenix talk a lot about using DCC/rc gear that adheres to NMRA standards. Not really confidence inspiring to a numpty like me. So to start the ball rolling -
What sounds and sequences can I access in a simple rc environment using, say, Fosworks non DCC ESC and receiver and existing Omni2 equipment or must I have DCC and how does that work in a battery r/c environment ? My only experience till now is an old Soundtraxx Sierra card with its set of voltage activated sequences and a couple of sounds activated by pico switches.
Looking at the Bachmann diagrams there seems to be a board with both 18v power inputs, 6v chuff triggers and a speaker output. Can these be simply attached to the ESC for motor control and as the chuff triggers and sound output on the sound card ?
I take it once you have installed your kit all you have to do is flick the switch over to battery on the board on top of the boiler to switch out the track pick ups and rely on the batteries and ESC. I also have an extra board with lots of pins but I know not what it has to do in the great scheme of things but I suspect DCC has something to do with it.
As usual you advice and sympathies would be most welcome. Max
