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Need help with sound that has cut out on a TAS retrofit

PRRMiddleDivisionPRRMiddleDivisionOGR Forum Member

I wanted to see if anyone can help with a frustrating problem. When Train America Studios was still around, I had them replace a ProtoSound 1 system in an MTH F-3 unit with a TAS TMCC control and sound system. It worked fine at the time, but has been on the shelf for a few years. We just put it back on the layout, and unfortunately, the sound is not working.  I opened up the engine and took a look. The boards were together really tight, and I didn’t want to pull them apart for fear of breaking something, but I did squeeze them together firmly to make sure nothing was loose. No luck.

I tried kicking up the sound using function 1 on my Cab-1, but that did not help. Did not try an engine reset.

I then unscrewed the board from the frame to take a closer look. I tipped the board backwards about 45 degrees, and the sound kicked on for a few seconds, then stopped, never to be heard again. I checked carefully for loose connections, especially where the speaker wires were attached. Tried moving and twisting the board around to all sorts of positions, but still no sound. After a half hour or so of this I finally gave up. Engine runs fine otherwise, and all other functions work perfectly.

Anyone have any suggestions or ideas? If I can’t get it to work, does anyone know of anyone who can diagnosis/fix issues with TAS boards? I did see Mike Regan at York, and plan on shooting this message to him at Train Werx as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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Mike CTMike CTOGR Forum Member

1.  Of the 3 or 4 lose of sound issues I had, all were the speaker, most the small speaker in SW models.   Plug a spare speaker into the mother board and see what happens. 

2. Some of those engines also had an on board sound pot that controlled the volume.  Second point of trouble shooting.

3.  Most Lionel sound system speakers were/are 8 ohm.  Some of the older Proto1 stuff had 16 ohm speakers. Also check that the  speaker is 8 ohms. 

4. Two sound boards.    Sound power board would be the next check.   Replace with an existing good board, spare, or from another loco.

5. Sound specific board.

6. Ah shoot at this point, possible mother board problem.

Last edited by Mike CT
G GGGOGR Forum Member

Which system matters.  Was it TMCC and RS4 or TMCC and Retain PS-1.  Tipping over does sound like a loose connection of some sort, either wires or speakers as mentioned.  Or can be cold solder joint/Cap on board set.  Problem is the obsolete and unsupported system.  Have on the bench with TMCC/PS-1 and no sounds.  G

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