Applicability to older period equipment

Are the features/sounds in the decoder useful for older period equipment, say pre-transition period steam operations?
 

Powered trucks for Soundcar

I've recently retro fitted sound in an Atlas 50' box car.  I added powered trucks by using a different method, using sets of Kadee centering springs so that both trucks are powered from each rail.  

See these links for a picture, as I'm not sure how to attach them to this post.

https://flic.kr/p/owovfb

https://flic.kr/p/oxna2G

​While this increases rolling resistance of the car, I've also added additional weights to the car, it now has a total weight of 6.98 ounces. (200 grams), and performs just fine.

Koos

​

Informative

I was considering building a new sound car with this new decoder. Article answered a lot of questions I had.

Ike

Current Keeper

Bruce

Have you tried to install this unit in a Diesel :Locomotive.

Jerry Hampton

Koos - Kadee Springs

Koos - that is exactly how the demo unit at the National Train Show was set up by SoundTraxx. 

Kadee spring power pick up

Well that's great Jeff! I would have said I'd re-invented the wheel , but I haven't. I got the tip from someone else who directed me to an article on adding more power pick ups for a locomotive tender, done in this way.

All the best!

Koos

Sounds like a caboose

I just finished installing mine in a caboose when I found the article. I am having to program it with my throttle. The decoder pro at the club has not been updated yet for this decoder. So far I like what I hear. Hopefully we can have a update soon, and I will like it all the more! Keep sending the good info!!!!

Alan

Comments!

Applicability to older period equipment

Yes, they have a choice of bells and whistles - pun intended. Also, the wheel clack is based on 39 foot rail sections.

Current Keeper

Firstly, it is CurrentKeeper (no space). No, not yet. That said, the Keep-Alive in our club's RS-27 (featured in my column last year) has died. I'm planning to replace it with a CurrentKeeper. The best guess is that the K-A died due component failure. The HO setting on our Digitrax equipment may be too close to the maximum voltage limit on the K-A. We'll see.

Kadee spring power pick up

I've seen those and hoped that it would be part of this "after word". The ability to have a dialog about the articles is one of the things that sets MRH and other electronic media apart from the print world. Thanks to all for sharing.

Current Keeper

Bruce

Thanks for the reply. I look forward to your installation. I want to put one in an Athearn Genesis GP9

Jerry Hampton

Streamlined Backshop has axle wipers of various designs

These may be adaptable for your use:

http://store.sbs4dcc.com/search.aspx?find=axle+wiper

The Wand

In the article you talk about waving the wand over a series of cars to turn on/off, Where is the wand? I got one at the St Louis RPM Meet and looking to try one on my FWWR Switching Layout: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/13986.

I think its a neat addition to operations but trying to figure out how to make it work.

Wayne

Pickups : availability and $$$

Dear SoundCar curious,

I couldn't help myself, and had to do the maths:

- Kadee #634 centring springs (suit #5 couplers) : US$2.97 / doz (enough to all-wheel-pickup on 3x cars)
http://www.kadee.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=419

- SBS HO-F4W-ATH x3 (to cover the same 3-cars-worth of all-wheel-pickup qty) : US$15
http://store.sbs4dcc.com/sbs4dcchoscaleho-f4w-athflatwheelwiper.aspx

Both costs are exc-shipping,
and both options will require the modeller to do some bending/forming of the pickup before installation.

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS the #634 option is also not truck/axle-spacing specific, which means it's easier to adapt the Soundcar (or any onboard electronic pickup mission) to other scales/gauges...

Truck pickups

http://www.55n3.org/cars/tender_wipers/

Rich

Never having used Kadee #634s

and I haven't checked the websites for comparative information so it may prove a wash on other issues; any ideas on the relative durability of the two?  I would assume composition, thickness and hardness of the metals used might have an impact on their relative durability.  I posted the link to SBS4DCC mainly because of the variety of types they offer should that matter to anyone; and because they advertise in MRH.

In-the-Field testing

Dear Mike,

I can't speak for the SBS options, but the Kadee option has been in continuous use on "Brooklyn:3AM" and "Chicago Fork" (HO version), and on my recent On30 outing "Toorong" for an "in the field" operational testing period exceeding 5 years. Yet to see appreciable wear on either the springs or the wheels they are rubbing against, and no need for "Keep alives" on TCS FLx accessory decoders being fed by such pickups...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

​PS previous to using Kadee #634s, I used the phosphor bronze springs out of dead audio cassettes,
same animal, over 20 years of operational service under the tender of a Mantua Mallet without skipping a beat...

Her is a short video of mine in a caboose.

kadee springs work fine

So far I can report that the kadee springs work fine. The wheel base of the 50' box car mine is in, is large enough not to suffer from pick up issues. I'm happy with it this way.

Thinking of another candidate car to do the same with in the near future

Koos