Large Scale Central

K-27 and Phoenix sound with Track Power?

Electronics Power and Sound
#21

As promised here in my progress report
I’ve had some time do some further research into my track power, DC
sound system in a K-27. This included Phoenix Sound System’s recently published
manual on installation in a K-27. I have also been folowing some posts the Bachman forum and exchanging email with John Wearver at Phoenix.

There are basically 3 ways to get Phoenix Sound on board a K-27 with track
power(DC). Since I use DC, I need the 2K2 and all of it’s associated
“stuff”.

  1. The simplest is way is the voltage mode… while this is the easiest
    way, it use’s the track voltage to simulate the chuff signal, is not quite prototypical, and requires reconfiguration of the 2K2,which is fairly simple to accomplish. Bell and whistle coud be be activated by
    reed switches on the tender.

  2. Next step up in realism is to use a reed switch and 2 magnets on the tender axle
    to get chuff, and reed switches mounted on the tender to get bell and
    whistle. I could also use 4 magnets, but this would entail getting into the
    loco and either using Bachmann’s wire to get from the loco to the tender or
    stringing my own.

  3. The third option is to use the Optical Chuff from the loco and either
    modify the “dummy” PC board or send it to phoenix to be modified and have the
    2K2 attached to the dummy PC board. This would result in a “plug and play”
    situation. Unfortunately, this also requires me to turn off the smoke unit.
    There are also some other unwanted “features” that come with the optical
    signal such as double chuffing at higher speeds, and since the optical signal is not generated until
    3 volts is applied to the track the K-27 drifts before the chuff kicks in.

Since I’m not very concerned with having truly “protypical” sound and want
to keep my smoke, I am leaning toward voltage mode with the bell and
whistle activated by reed switches mounted on the tender. If I’m unhappy
with this, I can always install the reed switch and 2 axle magnets. I’m
also going to purchase the computer interface software so I can tweak the
sound. Since this is very similar to my other “Big Sound” installations, I
am comfortable with this.

I would appreciate any comments and/or suggestions regarding my approach.

Dean

#22

Deano,
Looks like 17 to 1. (17 non answers and 1 direct answer to your post). Gave you time to fine the answer yourself.
The simple answer is Yes!
Since you are already hooking up reed switches for sound, go ahead and do it for the chuff. Voltage control is ok but triggered chuff is better.
Good move on getting the computer interface.

I am guessing that maybe your question is more related to whether you need the chuff trigger from the K-27 due to an unusual chuff sequence.

Del, in my case you are exactly right. I installed an accessory board for my TE so I could remotely blow the whistle, which I never did. Your SST module with reed switches and track magnets is the perfect set up for roundy round type of running, which is what I do.