Just bought a Lionel 6-39198 PRR 2545 car, used- and the sound is very loud. I tried turning the potentiometer down- no effect. I expect that the pot is non functional. I bought (and just received it) from Trainz, and sending it back is one option. However- if replacing the the pot is easy and cheap- I might.
How hard is it to change? What pot number and source should I use?
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If I remember correctly, the volume pot on these early 2000s StationSounds cars was soldered directly to the motherboard. So to replace it, you'd need the proper pot along with some reasonable soldering skills. A complete replacement motherboard would possibly also be an option, but they're no longer available from Lionel.
And because of the way these cars are assembled with the aluminum body channel, they're not the easiest to get into... not terribly difficult, but not easy either.
I'm thinking your easiest and cheapest option is to return the item.
TRW
Or maybe put some duct tape over the speaker holes. Presumably the holes are on the underside so the tape will not be visible.
EDIT: the tape idea was mentioned if you like the car and would keep it otherwise.
Electrical doofus here... maybe this is ridiculous... would it be possible to add a potentiometer inline on one of the speaker leads?
@Mallard4468 posted:Electrical doofus here... maybe this is ridiculous... would it be possible to add a potentiometer inline on one of the speaker leads?
No, but you could just desolder the pot from the motherboard and skywire one into the PCB and put it anywhere you could reach it. It's also possible to find a pin compatible replacement and do it the right way.
If there is a cold or broken solder joint where the potentiometer connects to the the audio circuit ground on the PCB, this could prevent it from lowering the volume.
@SteveH posted:If there is a cold or broken solder joint where the potentiometer connects to the the audio circuit ground on the PCB, this could prevent it from lowering the volume.
Probably not. A bad (open) connection with the volume control usually results in no sound.
Full sound typically means something is shorted somewhere. I'm guessing a damaged pot, but without having it sitting in front of me, it's tough to know for sure.
TRW
Jameco has the pot you need if it's just a bad pot. That seems the most likely.
I don't know John, couldn't you find a cheaper one?
@PaperTRW posted:Probably not. A bad (open) connection with the volume control usually results in no sound.
Full sound typically means something is shorted somewhere. I'm guessing a damaged pot, but without having it sitting in front of me, it's tough to know for sure.
TRW
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Jameco has the pot you need if it's just a bad pot. That seems the most likely.
Good to learn this from the experts. I guess the audio amplifier volume control circuit is more sophisticated than the rudimentary ones I considered. Thanks guys for the enlightenment. 
@Bill Sherry posted:I don't know John, couldn't you find a cheaper one?
I looked, but the high priced one was all I could find. 
@Bill Sherry posted:I don't know John, couldn't you find a cheaper one?
If you sign up for their emails, you can get 10% off. Cha-ching! 
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