what speakers (by OHM) to use?

[glakedylan]

I recently became the owner of several no longer working laptop computers
salvaging for useable parts I found that the speakers were of a size that could work in N Scale for locomotive sound
they are 88 [make that "8"] OHM however, and I have no idea of what OHM decoders call for.

are these of any use or is 8 OHM not a useful speaker for such sound installs?

any information will be most appreciated!

thanks....

[jdcolombo]

8-ohm speakers are what nearly every sound decoder uses today.  There are some older decoders that called for 100-ohm, but 8-ohm will work fine with Soundtraxx, ESU LokSound, TCS WOW, etc.

John C.

[glakedylan]

thank you, John, for your reply.
very appreciated!
Gary

[reinhardtjh]

You might examine the markings very closely.  Sometimes the ohm symbol "Ω" looks like an "8". Maybe the computer speakers are also 8Ω and not 88?  88 ohms is an odd value.  Slim chance, but maybe.

Not that they would hurt anything if they were 88 Ω.  The higher impedance just means the decoder amp won't be able to drive them to it's fullest extent and they won't be as loud as if you had an 8Ω speaker.  What you want to be careful of is using a lower impedance speaker then what was designed for.  Then it's possible to cause the amp to overload and burn out.

The first generation Digitrax sound decoders ( the HO ones) were designed for 32ohm speakers while the later N scale and the newer "Series 6" decoders use 8 ohm.  ESU's Loksounds will work with either 4 or 8 ohm speakers although they say the new V4.0's were designed for 4ohm.  Earlier ones used 100ohm speakers as (I think) did some Soundtraxx.

[glakedylan]

sorry
the 88 was a typo
it is 8 OHMS

on this new laptop I cannot seem to get the keypad to work in conjunction of my typing pace
I never thought, so many many years ago, in a high school typing class, that I would actually become a speedy typer!
now to find a way to get the computer to catch up with me.

yes, the 8 OHMS speakers are from laptops owned by my wife and I over the years, that have died and been replaced.
that has left me with 8 of these 8 OHM speakers.

sorry, again for the typo and confusion it caused.

sincerely
Gary

[reinhardtjh]

No worries, Gary!  Since they are 8 ohm then they are pretty much perfect for just about all of the current sound decoders on the market.  And if the size works for you, then go for it!

[glakedylan]

thanks, John...they look to be a good size for tender floors or diesel installs
your information is appreciated
Gary