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$40 XL Sound Decoder in Kato U30C -- Part 1 ---
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I
thought for sure I wouldn't want sound decoders on the layout. Then
after installing a number of non-sound decoders I saw a post about
the inexpensive XL sound decoders. OK for $40 I'll give one a try.
Most of their decoders are 'drop-in' decoders but they do have one
that you can hard wire in. Since this older Kato U30C won't take a
'drop-in' decoder I went with the hard wired decoder. It wasn't an
easy install but I learned a lot and I could do it quicker if I had
to do it again.
Do
I like having sound in a loco?. It has become more addictive than I
thought it would. Enough so that I now have two ESU sound decoders
that I'll install. I wouldn't go with another XL at this point. One
reason I wouldn't install another is I'm having some erratic behavior
when the loco is running and it will stop at times when I toggle one
of the sound functions. Not sure yet if it is a decoder problem or
track power problem.
The
second reason being that the sound files available with it are
somewhat generic in nature. The one in the U30 isn't from a U30. With
ESU they have a ton on actual sound files. I'm kind of addicted also
to U.P.'s U50's which are a dual diesel loco. Since you can preview
the ESU sound files on line I listened to one of the U50 sound files
and got hooked by hearing one diesel start up and then the second
start up. I haven't installed it yet or the other one (not sure what
I'm going to put it in at this point). I'll see if I get tired of the
whole thing or not but it has caught my attention which I never
thought it would a couple years ago when I first became aware of
sound in an N scale loco.
Hopefully
the following pictures will be enough explanation but if not email
me.
.
.
When
I can I like using the jewelry's saw to cut out parts of the frame. I
do like my other saw I have better than the one above that you can
find more about ( HERE
). You can tension the blade tighter on the other one since in
addition to the adjustment on the top of the frame there is one also
at the front of the saw past the end of the blade.
.
.
.
I
did most of the other milling that you will see except for where the
speaker sits with flex shaft Dremel type tool. More about it ( HERE
) and I like it a lot.
If
you do this be gentle on filing the sides down. You just need a tiny
bit and don't want to get into the traces on the board.
.
…...........
Part 2 on the next page.
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