I am looking at getting an American Models train with sound. I will be powering it with a ZW and wanted to know the cheapest way to control the sounds.
Thanks,
Mike
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Assuming you plan to use a standard postwar ZW there are several things to consider. With the electronics in the AM engine an outboard circuit protection device is recommended between the ZW and track. Dallee makes a plug and play device for $25 at Portlines or you can build your own following instructions others have posted here on the Forum. Without this it only takes a couple of derailments or running into an open switch to damage the electronics. The built in ZW breaker only protects the transformer, not the engine electronics.
Next, never put more than 18V on the track with an AM engine, the ZW will exceed this so do not move the throttle to full voltage. The cheapest new sound controller I know of is the Dallee unit for $95 at Portlines. I am sure both of these items can be found for less on auction sites. There are also instructions in posts on this site to build your own if you are ok with electronics projects.
For conventional running I bought some MRC Dualpower O27 power units and solved everything. They put 8A on each of two outputs, do not exceed 18V, have the sound activation built in as well as the instantaneous circuit protection. They also have momentum, braking, reversing and all stop controls on the remotes. They are frequently available at auction for $100 or less.
Bell and whistle (or horn) can be controlled by the bell and whistle buttons on any current transformer. A postwar transformer like a will need a separate bell button wired in. Which sound plays with the whistle controller is dependent on which way the locomotive is facing on the track. If the whistle sounds when you press the whistle button,and you then physically turn the locomotive around, the bell will sound instead.
Now, American Models sound is VERY basic. It is (or copied from) the old Ott sound system. Diesel revving sound will eventually increase with track voltage, there is no external method for controlling volume and you have to remove the shell the adjust the volume pot. Nor is there an on/off switch.
Steam sounds are even more basic. The chuffing sound comes from the smoke piston at 2 chuffs per revolution. The only other sound other than bell and whistle is a random chuffing that's supposed to replicate the air compressor.
I've run AM AC sound locomotives successfully with a postwar KW, MTH Z100 and MTH Z4000.
Rusty
Does anyone have a link for the diy sound controlls? I would be interested in building them.
I have the protection on the zw with voltage supressors and magnetic breakers.
Search "basic pushbutton questions", one thread will come up. Open it and halfway down Dale H posted a link to the instructions. Use the search criteria "must contain all words."
