3
4. INSTALLING THE SOUNDCARD IN A TRACK POWERED LOCOMOTIVE OR RAILCAR
The soundcard is suitable for use on analogue DC track powered railways. It is not suitable for use with
DCC.
When the track voltage is below nine volts it is insufficient to power the soundcard. Therefore a nine volt
PP3 battery is used to drive the soundcard and produce sound when the loco is static or moving slowly.
This battery will be automatically recharged whenever the track voltage exceeds nine volts so there should
never be a need to remove the battery for recharging. However, the battery must be a Nickel Metal
Hydride type; Lithium and Nickel Cadmium batteries must not be used.
Because most DC controllers do not have function buttons, an alternative way of triggering the horn, bell
and other sounds needs to be found. The options are:
1.
You can set the whistle to sound automatically three times a minute when the train is running. This
is described in section 6.
2.
You can connect the soundcard whistle trigger to a reed switch which you mount on the bottom of
the loco. Then install magnets in the track where you want the whistle to sound eg. at the
approaches to a level crossing. The whistle will then sound briefly as the loco crosses each magnet.
3.
Use the remote control, supplied with the soundcard, to trigger all the sounds as described in
section 6. However, infra-red remote controls are not designed for long distance use outside. On an
overcast but bright day, the remote with coin batteries will only operate up to one metre away
from the loco. A larger remote control, powered by AA or AAA batteries will probably operate up to
three metres away.
Any combination, or all, of these methods can be used.
Now continue reading at section 6.
