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Weekend Project Part 3 - N-Scale Kato F7s with Sound Completed Journals/Blogs
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Super User 753 posts jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

At the end of July, I showed the results of my first installation of a drop-in Digitrax SDN144K0a into an N-scale Kato F7A . The unit had a modified Aztec frame that accommodated a TTX 16mm speaker.   This is also the same decoder that I had previously installed into an N-scale Kato E8A back in April. 

This short video shows a consist of four F7s (A-B-B-A) with the two "A" units have sound decoders and the "B" units having a non-sound decoder.  Over the weekend, the same sound decoder was installed (much easier than the F7) in two N-scale Kato PA1 units.

My YouTube Channel is - https://www.youtube.com/user/tanzj
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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JSL New member 10 posts
JSL

Nice!

They sound great! I put some loksound micro's into some IM F7's. 

JSL

http://bnsf-nscale.blogspot.co m/
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suprememodelrailroader New member 7 posts
suprememodelrailroader

Sound decoders

The sound decoders sound good. Can you tell me if you have problems with the sound cutting at as it moves over the layout. I have a Digitrax sound decoders in three of my locos.and every now and the the sound cuts out. I have the capacitor wired to the decoder, my track is very clean, non-sound decoders work flawlessly, and the wheels and pickups look clean. Do you have any suggestions? I am modeling in N scale.

Randy
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

Sound in N-scale F7s

Thanks.

Is there info on your blog on how you did the install in the IMRC engines? 
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

Sound Decoders in N-Scale

Are the decoders the same ones that I used, the SDN144K0a?  This part is very important! Have you soldered the motor tabs to the decoder? If not, then I would believe that is the problem - inconsistent contact between the motor tabs and the decoder board.   The first install that I did had the sound cutting in and out because the motor tabs were not making good contact to the decoder until they were soldered. When I do an install , I now pull the factory installed hold down and put it in the extra parts box.

Also, when running the 4 engines together, with two of them having sound,  I can still hear both of them when they are 18 feet + from me (not shown in the video). According to their instructions, Digitrax sound decoders will turn off unless they receive a command from a non-Digitrax system.  I use an NCE Power Pro 5 amp system so if I take them to step "0", the sound decoders will wind down and turn off.  I learned to keep them at "1" in a station so then they will keep idling.

Hope this helps.
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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RalphO New member 2 posts
RalphO

Acceleration/deceleration

My son just sent me one of these decoder so we can see how we like it for some Kato PA's we have (still need to download the PA sound file) and ours was stalling also ( dirty track) but once I set acceleration and deceleration cv's to 0 the stalling went away even with the dirty track.

RalphO
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

N-Scale Kato PA Units with Sound

I will be posting a new blog item to show the PA units with the same decoder.
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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