Large Scale Central

LGB factory fitted sound

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

I have just purchased a new old stock integrated circuit board, #21552-2, that incorporates diesel sounds and storage capacitors for diesel shutdown sounds, as fitted to all LGB Alco diesels from 1991 - 1998. My intent is to install in a non-sound #2056 ‘Rio Grande’ Alco diesel. The seller (specialises in the sale of LGB products) advised that it was an easy install and required only a speaker and bell/whistle trigger, LGB #65012 (or alternatively reed switches) to operate.

I am unable to download the LGB disassembly diagrams as one needs now to ‘sign-in’ to the Gartenbarten site to get downloads. Is there another site to download the LGB diagrams? I have the download for the later (2002-2003) #25552 green/yellow White Pass Alco and notice that it uses wheel/axle sensors in the drive blocks to trigger the diesel sound. Hopefully, the earlier 1991-98 diesels do not use axle sensors and rely on the amount of voltage to trigger the synching.

Has anyone completed this install, or maybe fooled around with the 1990’s period Alco diesels (White Pass, Sante Fe) with factory sound fitted?

#2

I have the 20560 drawing on file.
pm me

#3

John,
assistance much appreciated. I have been in touch with the circuit board seller and he informs me that the conversion is relatively simple. All LGB Alco diesels manufactured in the 1990’s were apparently the same as regards basic mouldings, regardless of whether factory sound or non-sound models. The later released models (mid-2000’s) have a two-piece circuit board and wheel synchroniser, as well as MTS complications. The factory sound board is a direct install in the earlier models. The only hiccup is the horn/whistle reed switch pack. It is factory fitted to the rear drive truck and is a plug in fit to both the truck and the main circuit board on the factory sound models.

    The seller has #65012 Sound Function triggers with the correct electrical fitting to fit to the sound board.  The normal #65012 sound function trigger has a very small white coloured connector to fit the #6500X series digital sound units and if used would need to be altered to fit the sound board.  The seller removes the outer plastic case from the sound function trigger and fits to the rear drive truck.  The wire is then routed up through the body and connected to the sound board.  All sounds like a relatively easy installation.

    The sound is voltage activated and does not require an axle synching device.
#4

Installation proceeded without a hitch. Without modifying the standard loco, then a 2" speaker was fitted to the aperture. The sound function trigger requires its plastic case to be removed. The standard function trigger board then fits directly into the rear truck housing. The function trigger does need to have the electrical connector removed to enable the wires to pass through the top cover of the drive block. About two hours, taking my time for complete install. Everything is basically ‘bolt-in’ as the sound and non-sound versions, through the 1990’s, are identical.

#5

Yesterday fitted sound to my LGB Genesis. I used the LGB #65003 American diesel sound unit and the #65011 sound storage capacitors. The bell/horn function trigger was fitted to the underside of the battery case just forward of the rear drive truck. My installation was a little different as I used a remote speaker, not the standard speaker that is mounted inside the case. Some years ago, the sound unit ceased to function. I threw it in the garbage bin. Next day I read on a forum that quite often it is simply the speaker that has stopped working. I dug out the sound board from the garbage refuse in the bin and cleaned it. I connected an aftermarket speaker and it worked.

The speaker used was an 8 ohm 1.5 watt model, sized to fit the speaker apperture moulded in the loco chassis. The unit is basically a ‘bolt-in’ fit. I attached the sound board to one of the body frames and the sound storage capacitors to an adjacent frame. The locomotive circuit board is fitted standard with power connectors (pin type) for sound and a 6.5 volt set of pins presumably for smoke (5 volt) unit. One locomotive weight required slight relieving to clear the speaker frame. Very happy with the sound output. Alas, this sound unit is basically useless on analogue power as it really requires MTS (DCC) to get all the sounds available on the chip. Diesel idle and minimal ramp-up sound with starting horn (2 beeps forward, 3 in reverse) and magnet operated bell/horn sound is all I get. Only once in the years that I have had the board did I actually hear the engine startup sound. The storage capacitors are good for about 35 seconds of idle, once power is removed. Very pleased with the sound, although now I see why so many criticise those red lights illuminated in the forward direction.