I have been itching to get my hands on some good N Scale SD-9's after seeing a thread posted by "tehachipifan". I found two brand spanking, never run, Atlas./Kato SD-9's and have begun my version of a sound install. These units ran, just like a KATO, very well right out of the box so they should be great basis for the project. The units will be painted in the one and only SP Black Widow scheme with a third in bloody nose scheme. Here is a picture of the first unit before total dis-assembly: Next pcture shows how I cut on the frame to wire it for a decoder. The items you see are ; ESU Loksound Select Micro decoder with 567 sound file, a Knowles Fox speaker with DIY enclosure, A set of two 220uF 16V capacitors along with these I will be adding the SP multi light package and will be putting resistors on the headlights and mars lights: If warranted, I will keep all posted with my progress. I need to get some silver paint for the front and rear of the unit. I am getting quite anxious to get this completed or at least to a point that I can run and check it out. As always, have fun ! Carl
Keep us posted on your progress! I've got two ESU Micro Selects for the same project, so I'm very interested!
Carl, going to be watching this to see how you fit all of this stuff into this guy. LOL BTW do you recall the size of the Fox speaker (length- width). And watch the voltage that you run the loco on, if you use the 16 volt caps! That is real close to the failure volts of track voltage. woodone
Thanks for the interest and I will attempt to keep all posted. Woody, The Fox speaker measures 9mm x 16mm x 3.5mm high as purchased. After adding the enclosure it is 10 x 17 x 6. Here is an image showing how it fits on the frame that I milled somewhat on both ends. Believe it or not the shell fits over all of this. Russ installed his decoder in front and speaker in the rear but I elected to do opposite that. The speaker is in the front and will give me a place to mount LED's for the head end light package. The decoder fit flatter by placing it on the rear end. No big deal wither way as both orientations work fine. Yes, I did have to file and remove some plastic on the inside of shell both front and rear to accommodate the width of the speaker and especially the decoder. I am thinking about getting 20v caps. The next image shows the shell along side to show that I removed the plastic under the cab area to give the decoder sound an easy exit. I will leave out the side window glass on both sides and place crew members in the window. You can see that the shell needs to be slid back a tad to better represent how it will fit, but it shows my thinking. Oops that's dangerous. I am anxious to get it together to test run and the paint job will have to wait. Carl
Carl, I have been using a speaker that is 9 X 16 MM but is a replacement for the Fox. Called a Wildcat! (note I use the water prof one has it has a better dB ratting. 97 dB vers 94 dB and has a higher watt ratting too. this one is ratted at 700mw- to 1 watt.) BTW I have found that you really don't need an exit for sound to get out with these types of speakers. Well at least with the new Econami's. I have had to turn down the volume a bunch. keep the phots coming-- I am just finishing up an install on and Kato SD40. woodone
Here is a picture of my install as of now. All of the decoder wires (red, black, orange, & grey) have been connected. You can see several not connected as yet. They are the speaker wires, capacitors wires ( the negative wire, black and white stripe, has been connected but not the positive blue as yet because it also connects to the lights and two aux wires. I am trying to get it completed this evening. ? ? ? Yes, the shell does fit over this mess but I am waiting 'till I get lights installed before I set the shell on and besides I must get that beautiful Black Widow paint on first. Always have fun ! Carl
It has been a while but the decoder seen in early posts was DOA and I have now received a brand new one. This install has gone well and here is a picture and short vid to show my project. The ESU Loksound Select Micro with an EMD 567 non turbo sound file decoder is mounted on the head end. On the rear is a Knowle's Wildcat speaker in DIY enclosure and in front of the speaker, the black mess, is a DIY keep alive comprised of 3 - 220uF 16v caps. The caps are wired but not connected to decoder as yet and also the other cluster of wires off of the decoder are for lights. I am expecting 0603 size LED's from Jim Hinds (Richmond Controls) this coming week and will complete the light packages. I am not a patient person, so give me some slack please as I was not able to wait to post the image and short video. Yes, I know the shell is not seated properly but I wanted to hear the decoder at least partially covered. It should sound much different when completed. Not too happy with the bell and I think the horn needs to be louder. But I have not played with the CV's as yet. Could be low quality camera also. Always have fun. PS: I have no idea how I got one image posted 3 times but I can not figure out how to erase two of them, so if anybody knows how, please be my guest.
Nice work on the SD-9 Carl. The ESU Lok-Sound files sound great. Well done. Stay cool and have fun with it...... Shades
BCE50, if you removed the two images, thank you. I may not have had the authority to do it and I sure do not know how I did that. Just graceful, I guess. Carl
I have two ESU Microselect decoders with the 567 sound file. I've been too busy (and more than just a little hesitant) to get them installed but I'm getting very excited about doing this. I first made up my mind to do this after John Colombo's posts and videos of his installs. The biggest worry for me has been the possibility of frying a $100 decoder. Oh well, no guts, no glory! Nice job!
I fried the first one I was installing, a few weeks ago. A big gulp and gut check, but went right ahead, got another, and continued. In the middle of my second and third installs, with no decoder issues (so far). Take your time, check, double check and triple check for shorts, and use programming track first. Even then, be careful when first starting to run a loco (see my Kato Mike thread). I literally pulled the plug the from the command station the moment I heard the "shorting" sound. Turned out I had a bad motor in the Mikado which was shorting to the frame at one point in its rotation.
I've got about 1 1/2-2 months left on the job I'm working now. When I get laid off I should be able to squeeze at least one of my installs in. IF it's successful I'll post about it. If not, I'll hang my head and post about it as well. After all, someone may be able to learn from my mistakes!
Hi BB, I know exactly where you are coming from regarding an install. This one is not my first rodeo but I was specially nervous about it. The first decoder I installed was dead on arrival as there was no motor control and the sound lasted approx. 2 minutes. I returned it to where I purchased and was sent a new one as warranty adjustment. I was told that some time during a persons DCC career he/she will receive a defective piece. It just happens. At any rate, I have been putting off the install of the new decoder for fear of doing something wrong. John Colombo told me to just do it and stop worrying. I did it and all is cool. John Colombo is one of the most sharing individuals that I have known. I would owe him a small fortune for all the help he has given me via TRW and private e-mails. I think he gets a kick out of seeing other guys try and succeed with installs. He is a real credit to model railroading and especially for the N scale world. As Rick B. said above just take your time and double, triple and maybe an additional check is in order. If you have to do any milling of the frames be sure you check those areas well. I am making three SP SD-9's in Black Widow scheme, all are Atlas/KATO units that run extremely well analog. I like the sound so well, I may add one more sound unit to one of the other units and I have a LokPIlot V4 micro for the other one. What a consist and add about 50 PFE reefers and cupola caboose with working marker lights. What a train, I can hardly wait for the Fair Show in October. Always have fun, Carl
The first decoder was DOA, huh? Interesting. Never had one of those. Fried one or two though. You may want to invest in a decoder tester prior to installing them.
Nice job! This might be even more impressive than me getting the same decoder, capacitors, and speaker in a Life Like GP20!
This did not happen, at least to this locomotive. I did not mill enough frame above the motor cradle that would have provided more room for wires. I also cut the wires too long so had too much to wrap up. Yes, the image shows some "fix items" such as the cab not seated properly. That's what is neat about photos, they show all the flaws and love to do so. The decoder / speaker will be going into my next SD-9 and will be finished in tiger stripes. Here's a shot of unit now finished.
