Using a small scale sound decoder alongside a G scale motor decoder

[beavercreek]

I have some lokpilot XL V3 decoders to install into my locos.
I was wondering if I could use some Loksound (not XL) decoders or even other makes of smaller scale sound decoders to add sound to the Lokpilots.

The non XL versions of the Loksound decoder or the other makers small scale sound decoders (such as Digitrax) are much cheaper and the sounds available are pretty extensive for US locos.

The sound decoder would not be driving anything else besides a speaker.

Is this a good idea?
How would the sound decoder know how hard the loco was working, speed, braking etc?

I know about the makes that can connect through SUSI but I have the V3 lokpilots that do not have this system.....

 

[Gizzy]

I reckon it's feasible Mike?

Any current draw form the sound decoder will be down to the speaker and not the motor, so as long as you aren't trying to drive a 'Brixton Briefcase', it should work.

Obviously, the motor draw on the V3 Lokpilots will be much more, especially given your gradients....

 

[Deleted member 1986]

The non XL versions of the Loksound decoder or the other makers small scale sound decoders (such as Digitrax) are much cheaper and the sounds available are pretty extensive for US locos.

How would the sound decoder know how hard the loco was working, speed, braking etc?

Many of the small decoders have a maximum operating track voltage of around 16v, the LokSound micro V4.0 for instance has a max operating voltage of 21v.

Track voltage may/or may not pose a problem, diode string springs to mind to lower the voltage, a few volts drop around your system may be tolerable.

Mobile & Sound Decoder are assigned the same address, configure the appropriate CV's and speed will match sound.

The following CV's of the LokPilot V3.0, CV 253, CV 148 and CV 151 are of partucular interest.


V3 lokpilots 1.1 A continuous load ?

 

[beavercreek]

Many of the small decoders have a maximum operating track voltage of around 16v, the LokSound micro V4.0 has a max operating voltage of 21v, which may/or may not pose a problem, diode string springs to mind to lower the voltage, a few volts drop around your system may be tolerable.

Mobile & Sound Decoder are assigned the same address, configure the appropriate CV's and speed will match sound.

V3 lokpilots 1.1 A continuous load ?

Sorry, omitted the XL........Lokpilot XL motor/light decoder.

Although the CVs maybe the same in both the LOkpilot and the sound decoder...unless they are the same make, will not the 'performance' and feedback be different so the sound may not match the operation?

 

[Deleted member 1986]

Although the CVs maybe the same in both the LOkpilot and the sound decoder...unless they are the same make, will not the 'performance' and feedback be different so the sound may not match the operation?

Unfortunately that may well happen in some cases, a certain amount of "tinkering & tweaking" with CV's will usually iron out the "quirks, foibles and idiosyncrasies", one of the joys of DCC! :

 

[ntpntpntp]

Without driving the motor itself and monitoring the BEMF, or having a SUSI connection to the motor decoder, the sound decoder is not going to be able to read the load and apply load-dependent effects such as hard-chuff for acceleration and back-off for coasting etc. Braking squeal sounds may also rely on BEMF sensing to some extent, although this may be simulated simply by watching for a fast enough rate of change of speed steps (slow down) at lower speeds (a slow deceleration to a stop doesn't trigger the squeal on the sound decoders I have).

As has been said, you'd have to rely on careful CV adjustment to get the chuffs to start and stop with actual loco movement, unless you've got a chuff trigger that the sound decoder can read.

Must admit I like the LokPilot V3 XLs I've used - I've been very pleased with their smooth control of the motor once the BEMF settings are adjusted to match.

 

[beavercreek]

As has been said, you'd have to rely on careful CV adjustment to get the chuffs to start and stop with actual loco movement, unless you've got a chuff trigger that the sound decoder can read.

Must admit I like the LokPilot V3 XLs I've used - I've been very pleased with their smooth control of the motor once the BEMF settings are adjusted to match.

I have also found them good.
I got a 'job lot' of the V3s for a very knock down price when the V4 came in, so I am trying to match some of them up with sound.
I have matched 2 with older Phoenix 2K2 sound cards which do all of their own stuff any way as they are DCC/DC for the sound.

I have also used some of the V3 in my 'helper' pieces of 'motorised' rolling stock. I have managed to get the CVs to match the 'helper' motor block performance to DCC-ed Bachmann 'Annies' and also to Aristo C16s