Sound systems

Sure, it can be used with virtually any conventional locomotive, it's pretty much stand-alone for diesels.  Obviously it works great for TMCC command engines as well.

Yes.

If you would care to elaborate on your locos and how you plan to install them we can elaborate  our answers. For instance:

-Are your Williams locos equipped with can motors, or old style open frame, postwar type of motors?

-are you planning to run the locos conventionally?

-are you planning to put TMCC or Cruise Commanders in the locos, too?

Thank you for the quick response.

                                                                        JS

I built Baldwin CNJ double ender using  williams  can motors w/ electronic reversing unit. It will be run conventional, no plans for TMCC. I installed a ERR. In neutral everything works, once the loco starts moving, the horn and bell will not sound. As far as I know I did not smoke test the unit when it was installed.

@Junction shop posted:

once the loco starts moving, the horn and bell will not sound.

That's odd, I've never seen that one before.  How is the power wired to it, and what kind of transformer are you using?

I'd try it on a different transformer and/or a different layout and see if that changes.

Hello John,

                  See photo #2  I picked up the hot wire coming from the roller pick-up, and the ground going to the motor. I tried grounding to frame, did not help. My test track is a 1033 w/ activation buttons, horn/bell.

     The layout has ZW's W/ activation button, same results

JS

Certainly an odd outcome, don't know what to make of that without seeing it.

I have installed control systems with DCC based sound libraries in quite a few Williams engines. The results have been just wonderful. Although a larger speaker will generally yield better sound output, the speakers factory installed in the Williams engines are quite good.

Can it be something in the board itself. I have been asked to send the board back for testing. Is possible that something I did during the installation that would only disable part of the functions.  I am a nuts and bolt person, not a electronics person.

JS

It could be something in the board, but my sense is the DC offset is not sufficient when you're running to trigger the horn/bell functions.  Obviously, without seeing it and testing it, I can't say.

Hello John,

                  Thanks for your input. Lets see what the seller does, repair or replace.

                                                                                           Best regards,

                                                                                                                              JS

Does the increase in voltage ramp up the diesel RPM's on the ERR.

          JS

Yes, for conventional operation, the diesel prime mover RPM is determined by track voltage.

John,

          Thanks for your help.

                                                       JS