A while ago I made a series of posts about QSI and Dallee sound and reverser cards, with reference to 12v operation among other things. I’ve had a loco back from Chuck at Only 3 Rail for a little while now, so here’s some thoughts on the matter.
From various comments made by Chuck and others, it seems that the Dallee cards are descended, more or less, from the same development programme as the QSI cards fitted to BIL locos (among others) in the early 2000s. I’m particularly thinking of the units fitted to the On30 C-16 locos, which ran on 12v DC or DCC (ie, 19v AC) because (a) I own one so I’m familiar with it (b) they were specifically advertised with this as a feature, which suggests they were unusual.
The main feature is that on DC, they run as follows;
- apply about 3v, they run through a “start-up sequence” of steam, pump and dynamo sounds
- hold this voltage, they don’t move, but continue a “holding” sound sequence
- flick the reverse button on the controller, bell. Momentarily interrupt power using the button, horn (or the other way about, depending on which rail is positive)
- increase voltage to about 5v and it moves. Bell and horn can be controlled while moving, the same way.
- decrease power to about 3v and it stops, running a “holding” sound sequence
- shut off power and it goes through a “shut off steam sounds” sequence.
Apply DCC and it runs as you would expect. It’s a simple, reliable system. DCC mode includes some sounds (brake squeal, for one) which don’t appear; it also provides electronic volume control, although both are affected by the volume control on the tender. Direction is controlled from the handset. There is no electronic uncoupler on either mode (the loco has Kaydee couplers as standard, though). There are none of the “clang, bleep and ding” shenanigans associated with PS1, which seems to be contemporary if I have the dates right.
Chuck replaced the troublesome PS1 system with a Dallee (I think; I stand to be corrected, if not). Operation on 20v AC is much as described above, with bell and whistle controlled from the usual buttons on a Rail King or Lionel KW controller. So far, so good. Chuck also fitted a reverser on/off switch, which wasn’t previously fitted.
So, I tried it on 12v DC (this is a British thing...). The result is that the loco performs as the BIL 2-8-0, with the “chuff” running constantly and the bell and whistle controlled by the reverse button on the controller. Reverser cycles by operating the reverser button on the controller to interrupt power. I’m rather pleased with all this, because it means this loco can be rostered for “club running days” duty. Whether it would run on my DCC supply, I don’t know but I doubt it; anyway it doesn’t have enough power for O Gauge locos.
