Sound Bites

[wm3798]

I'm working for a guy who wants me to install sound in a couple of HO locomotives.  The first one I'm tackling is a Bachmann Spectrum K-4.  It already has a DH121 decoder, and it has the handy 8 pin plug.

The sound decoder is a SFX064D, and it looks like an octopus doing battle with a squid.

Since the helpful folks at Digitrax wouldn't know the English Language if it hit them over the head, the instructions are a baffling maze of mumbo jumbo that a mere mortal like me is having a hard time wrapping my mind around.

While I'm sure it's helpful to some to understand "WHY" the wires go where they do, I just want to know WHERE!  They don't provide a simple diagram that says Connect the Orange Wire to the Orange Wire, or the Orange Wire to the Green Wire, or whatever.

Has anyone done this installation that can walk me through it?  I'm going to google it, but it's always helpful to hear from someone who's been there done that...

Thanks,
Lee

[wcfn100]

I have not done an install but my understanding is that is just a fuction decoder so all you need to do is connect the black and red (from the side without the speaker )to track power just like the motor decoder.  From there, I think you can use either the functions on the motor decoder or the sound decoder (or both) for the lighting.


Jason

[wm3798]

So other than track power, what gets hooked up?

[wcfn100]

Nothing, unless you need lighting.  All the other wires on the 'track' side are function wires.  On the 'speaker' side, you can use the white wire with a cam for the chuff.

If nothing else, you should be able to test the red/black hookup and see if you get sound.


Jason

[wm3798]

Okay... I see that in the diagram, but what cam where?  Or is that something that has to be added?  I guess what confuses me is the diagram says Green F-1 Violet F-2 etc., then it has the chart that says F-1 Bell, F-2 horn/whistle...  So there's no correlation between the two?  I leave the wires dangling and F-1 and F-2 will work? 

They've got to stop engineers from writing things that normal humans have to read...

Lee

[wcfn100]

The cam has to be added.  It says you need 6volts or can use the DCC track power but I don;t know if there is a DC vs AC problem of if you can short it out.  I would assume it would say something if there was a danger.

As for the fuctions, unless you can remap them, when you hit F2 for the horn you will also be activating the Violet (or whatever) function.  At least that's what I get from the 'manual' (haha).

So what it looks like is the only loose wires you need are the red/black on the track side and the white on the speaker side if you want a cam.  You can use the F0 forward/reverse on either the motor  or sound decoders.


Jason

[wm3798]

Got it... It's a simple two wire connection.  I can now fearlessly proceed to the next one.

Thanks,
Lee