speaker
+V
Using your model as a sound box
An ideal installation entails sealing the SFX
speaker face down flat into the base of a loco,
tender or wagon body and drilling holes in front
of the speaker for the sound to come out
underneath, the body then acting as a sound
box to boost volume & make a richer sound.
(one of the main purposes of the sound tube or
enclosure is to prevent the sound waves
coming from the front of the speaker effectively
cancelling out or distorting opposing sounds
waves from the back of the speaker).
Increasing the volume of the SFX amplifier
We designed the SFX to be as small as
possible so that it could be fitted in most
models, but the tiny coincell battery limits the
amplifier volume and battery life available.
SFX+ capsules are supplied with the volume
preset to a medium setting as a reasonable
compromise between volume and battery life.
However SFX+ does have a facility to adjust
the amplifier volume and make it louder, though
with a corresponding reduction in battery life.
As supplied, the SFX+ has a small link wire
plugged into the volume socket (shown right).
Unplugging this link wire with fine nose pair of
pliers will increase the volume by around 35%.
Document Ref D779751/3 E&OE © David Palmer DCP 2015
SFX20
+
Diesel Locomotive Sound Capsule
Pack contents: SFX+ sound capsule, Flexible sound tube, CR2032 battery, instructions.
Introduction
SFX is a self contained sound capsule for model trains and requires no connections because it is battery powered and uses a
motion sensor to detect whether it is stationary or moving and a microprocessor to play appropriate real train sounds! An on-off switch is not
required because it turns itself on automatically as soon as it moves, then switches off after it has been still for a while to preserve the battery.
SFX20 Classic Diesel Loco Sounds
(note that others are available for Steam, Coaches, Electric, DMU, Shunting - see Train-Tech brochure)
These are the sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX20. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us from Class 31
locomotives No D5631 (31207) on the North Norfolk Railway (www.nnr.co.uk) and No 31235 on the Mid Norfolk Railway (www.mnr.org.uk)
•
Stationary – Engine Tickover sound and occasional compressor cutting in and out
• Any movement triggers the sound of air release and if motion continues a single horn sounds followed by gradual speed up
• After speed up engine power is maintained until you hear the turbo whine down and gentle coasting before power applied again
• The two tone horn sounds after the loco travels continuously for a while
• When motion stops it returns to stationary sounds.
• If there is no motion for over a minute the SFX automatically goes to sleep and waits for slight movement to wake it up.
Test driving your SFX Sound capsule....
Getting the best from your SFX will depend on how & where you install it, so before you permanently fit it inside a model we recommend
you just try placing it in something like an open wagon first, either being pulled by a loco or just pushed along with your fingers.
1
Ease the flexible sound tube
over the speaker – a finger can
help shape the tube if it is flat
2
Fit battery into the holder
with
+
side out -
slide under
gold metal clip side FIRST
This is the Motion Sensor – always locate this
away from the speaker as it is very sensitive!
PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING YOUR SFX
+
3
Place the SFX into an open wagon or similar, tucking the
motion sensor away from the speaker, then put it on a track
and leave it to settle... you should then hear its Resting sound
A minute after it last moves the SFX should sleep until it detects
movement again. (if it does not try changing the orientation of
the motion sensor or move it further away from the speaker)
Driving to the sound....
You will be able to hear all of the sounds described at the top of this page and many will be best experienced by ‘driving to the sound’.
The SFX only knows whether it is stationary or moving, not how fast it is going, but it’s on board microcomputer constantly monitors
motion and time to only increase sounds at a realistic rate (in other words real trains cannot go from 0–60 in 1 second unlike your
models can!). However you can effectively make your SFX reproduce the sounds you want by modifying the way you drive your train.
For example if you have some slow shunting to do and you do not want your train to sound too fast, then drive for a few seconds, stop
a moment then start moving again – the SFX will slow down and you can recommence shunting with the slower sounds.
The secret of getting the best from your SFX is practice and experiment – but whatever you do have fun with real sound!
Getting the best and loudest sound….
The best quality and loudness of sound from
your SFX fitted train will be governed mainly by
an effective speaker location. You can simply
drop your SFX into a locomotive or other stock
like a tender, coach or vented cattle wagon
and run it with the sound tube as shown
above, but like any sound system the quality of
sound will greatly depend on how the speaker
is mounted just as much as amplifier volume.
Making best use of the sound tube
We include a sound tube with each SFX to
enable you to quickly and easily try it, although
this can be used as part of a more permanent
installation. The tube can be bent or cut down
with scissors to fit into spaces, though longer
tubes usually sound richer & louder. But you
can try making better sound tubes using card,
plastic or bottle tops to fit in your model – you
will be surprised what a little experimentation
with different materials can achieve – look at
what a difference the tube makes to the SFX
speaker volume and richness when you fit it!
The best location for SFX will probably be
dictated by the optimum speaker position, but
do allow for relatively easy access to change
the battery from time to time.
volume socket
Tech-Tip
If you wish to set the volume in between the
medium and maximum levels you can plug in a
small fixed resistor of between 0 and 22 k
ΩΩ
or
use a variable or preset resistor as a volume
control, available from electronics suppliers.
Keep wires short and do not allow either of the
volume sockets to make connection with
anything else! (NB 7.5k
ΩΩ
is apprx mid volume)
Location of volume socket on SFX Plus
Although it may be tempting to increase the
volume just by removing this link, remember
that it will significantly reduce battery life and is
not a substitute for a good enclosure for the
speaker to give your train a richer higher quality
sound. (If you need longer battery life & have
space for larger batteries please see overleaf).
wire link
(supplied fitted)
