I got a Forney and I want to install a Phoenix sound system with my Airwire decoder and batteries. This is my only steam loco. Can the Phoenix do the chuff sound from voltage rate? What is the difference between the p11 and the p8/9?
you need the p8 for battery … the p11 for track power it has a battery for the lower voltage to operate…I would use a reed switch for the chuff sound.
What does a reed switch do? Is this something that attaches to the axle with some sort of optical sensor?
A “reed switch” is made of two thin strips of metal (reeds) held a short distance apart. When a magnet passes over them the two strips/reeds are drawn together completing the circuit activating a “chuff”. Typically the magnet is mounted to a wheel or axle and passes over the “chuff/reed” switch. Multiple magnets make different numbers of chuffs per revolution.
They are also used in applications like the LGB track “sensor” to throw switches, activate crossing gates etc (in this case the engine has a magnet attached to the bottom to activate the reed swith in the “sensor”). This can also work the other way when a track mounted magnet activates a reed switch in the engine triggering sounds like a bell or crossing horn.
That’s a lot of stuff to cram into a forney.
I used a trailing car for all my AW, PX, speaker and battery. It works for all my small steam locos.
Thanks guys… I do agree that is alot to stuff into the Forney. I am up for a challenge. All of my locos are diesels with the exception of this one. I want everything to be on board. I don’t know much about this reed switch stuff. I was hoping that the Phoenix board would give chuff sounds acording to voltage? I have my other boards set that way for diesel and it suits me just fine. I’ll have to give it a try…
todd whittier said:Mark V provided an excellent description of how a reed switch worked, but you certainly can use voltage triggering with the Phoenix. Point is, it just won't be in sync with the wheels and the chuffs may not necessarily start when the wheels start moving. Reed switch will sync the chuff with the wheels, although it still may not be in the proper phase. A reed switch is always better than voltage chuff triggering. A cam triggered switch that is in precise phase with the valve gear is even better. Trouble is, most of the cam triggered switches get screwed up by the manufacturer and don't even work at all.
Thanks guys.. I do agree that is alot to stuff into the Forney. I am up for a challenge. All of my locos are diesels with the exception of this one. I want everything to be on board. I don't know much about this reed switch stuff. I was hoping that the Phoenix board would give chuff sounds acording to voltage? I have my other boards set that way for diesel and it suits me just fine. I'll have to give it a try...
Del Tapparo said:Ain't that the truth. I have a Porter that pretty much gives random chuffs using the built in cam switch. Next time it's open it will be converted to magnet & reed switch. For now I live with it, but it can really sound stupid going down the track at 10 scale MPH giving an occasional burst of chuffs.
A cam triggered switch that is in precise phase with the valve gear is even better. Trouble is, most of the cam triggered switches get screwed up by the manufacturer and don't even work at all.
Allow me to give a short tip on those cam (bar and spoon) type switches that are erratic, intermittent, no matter what you do.
From experience:
Remove the driver with the drum and bars. With suitable files, file the sharp edges off the bars, and round off the top. What happens is the sharp edges kick the spoons up, causing double bounces, and bend the silly things out of the way. I have one of those POS engines, drove me nuts…I kept re-setting the spoons, it kept quitting or gone intermittent.
Once I did that “fix”, I have not had to touch it again, and it’s been years.
Poor design and non-existent quality control…and the folks in the trenches get to fix it…and get taken to task for daring to question the designers or the manufacturing portion.
I have installed phoenix sound in 3 forneys to date.
I use the magnets glued to the rear truck axle and add the mogul reed sensors for bell and whistle to the truck. Reed sensor for chuff sits on top of this sensor for the axle magnets.
All the 2k2 and PB11 sound parts sit in the coal bunker (speaker, board, battery, volume switch, and programming jack).
Thanks everyone for the help. I finished it today. Everything is on board, phoenix, airwire and 2100 mah 14.8 lion battery. Getting everything inside was a challenge but got it to work after a few modifications. Special thanks to Jon @ EMW for his insight.