Large Scale Central

Help Installing Dallee sound

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

I’ve got a first run (blue box) Aristocraft (REA) FA1 and I’m attempting to install a Dallee sound board in it. It’s my first install… ever. I bought the Dallee unit at last years ECLSTS… It sat for almost a year and then I realized… Oh no… ECLSTS is next week. How am I going to justify spending more money!!! I figured that once I opened up the unit, everything would just magically make sense. Not so! Naturally, there are some questions. Hoping you guys have some answers. I bet you do.

I’m running on good old fashioned DC, nothing fancy. All sounds triggered with reed switches. The first big question (try to hold your laughter to a minimum)… where do I draw track power from? I’ve got four wires coming from the motor brick- black, white, red, and green. When I look underneath the engine, I can see that black and white wires are attached to the side frames. Black and red wires are attached to wheels. Green wire disappears into the eternal abyss of the motor brick, never to be seen again. I’m assuming that I will splice into two of them, but which two (kind of like disarming a bomb… I’d cut the wrong wires and…)?

My other thought is- there are two small incandescent lights where the fake motor was (I removed the fake motor to make room for a speaker). I’m guessing that they don’t carry enough juice and it would be just too easy to tap off of them (that ‘easy’ thing never happens to me). I’ve included some pictures of my mess. All help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance (ok- you can continue laughing now).

-Kevin.

#2

Black and white wires are track power, tap into either side, they are connected through the circuit board.

If my memory serves me correctly there is no reduction of power on the lights.

You can check it with a volt meter.

Feel free to give me a call 570-417-5413

If you get stuck bring it by the modular and I can run you through it.

Nico

#3

oH YEAH,

TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH!

LOL

#4

Nico. Yeah, I’m a total loser. This thing sat and sat and sat… And then my wife says, “I thought you were going to install sound in that engine.” Then I thought, "Oh no. Nico will probably read this post and say something like, “Took you long enough.” And here we are. Thanks for the info. I’ll see you next Friday… or more likely, I’ll call you with more questions tomorrow. Thanks again.

-Kevin.

#5

I finally installed the Phoenix sound I bought last year a month ago. So I know the feeling.

Feel free to call if you need help.

Nico

#6

Nico- It’s done!!! A year later, but done!!! I couldn’t believe it was so easy. Did it this morning. Sometimes, I think I over complicate things in my mind (what little mind I have left). Tap some power, solder some wires, connect the speaker, bang, done. I really thought there was more to it. Of course I chose not to install the optional battery, so it doesn’t play while it sits idle. That engine never sits idle. Thats why I have all that track in the yard! As a bonus, it actually sounds great (I know its not a Phoenix, but for Dallee, it sounds great). Thanks again for the “emergency Nico number.” I’ll keep it handy because I’ve got to install a Phoenix in my Mikado, next. See you next Friday.

-Kevin.

#7

The original FA is easy to install sound. Aristo did it in the unit under the center of the engine and the 2 pads exposed when removing this piece is track power. There was no need to take this engine apart!! Mine still has the original PH unit and still works but the battery is dead.

#8

Thanks for the info, Dan. I placed the Dallee unit and the reed switches in the fuel tank that you are speaking of. I needed to open the engine up because I placed the speaker in the back of the engine, on the floor underneath the fan (facing upwards). My original thought was to remove the fake engine and place it there, but this seemed better because there is some open grill work on the side of the engine just below the fan. I made a speaker enclosure out of some PVC pipe. With the speaker in this position, I was able to face the sound up and out, rather than facing the speaker down towards the track. I also have easy access to the Dallee unit by opening up the fuel tank. I’m not sure if I’m the first to do it this way (probably not), but it worked out great.

-Kevin.