Sound decoder in Life-Like FA-1

[bbussey]

Has anyone installed a sound decoder in the Life-Like FA-1, either ESU or Soundtraxx?  Soundtraxx has no recommendation for the model, although they do recommend the ECO-100 for the PA-1.  ESU doesn't have recommendations on their site, from what I see.

[Mike C]

You might try woodone here at TRW .  He does all my difficult decoder jobs . Also I'd use the new Tsunami 2 decoder , same size as the Eco . , but way better sound due to the reverb feature .

[central.vermont]

Bryan,
ESU does list a file for an ALCO 12cyl 244 prime mover that they use for the RS series. They also state that it could be used for the FA/PA series but do say that there are slight differences. Also it is listed as HO so I'm not sure if you can use it for an N scale decoder or not. I know that there are some  on here that can most likely answer that.

Jon

http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/sounds/loksound-select/loksound-select-usa/?no_cache=1&tx_esudecoderprojects_pi1%5BfilterLoco%5D=2&tx_esudecoderprojects_pi1%5BfilterCountry%5D=all&tx_esudecoderprojects_pi1%5Bsorting%5D=dateD

[reinhardtjh]

Based on the picture at Spookshow.net any intallation is going to take a fair bit of milling.

If you go with an ESU LokSound then the Select Micro would work. It's what @jdcolombo has used in his installations.  The sound file you want is the ALCo 244 here -->http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/search?cat=2&q=244  For the Select Micro the file # is 73801 but whoever loads the file ( you need a LolProgrammer ) such as the dealer can use any of the Select files, the programmer will make any modifications needed.  This sound file has been redone in the "Full Throttle" format which gives you more options for prototypical operation in notching and brakes.s

[jdcolombo]

Second the LokSound.  Better sound, better motor control.

John C.

[bbussey]

John @jdcolombo, have you ever installed one in an FA-1?  What speaker would you recommend?  And what is the non-sound ESU equivalent decoder for the LokSound?

John @reinhardtjh, I'm not concerned about the frame milling.  A few passes on the milling machine will make quick (and precise) work of it.

[jdcolombo]

John @jdcolombo, have you ever installed one in an FA-1?  What speaker would you recommend?  And what is the non-sound ESU equivalent decoder for the LokSound?

John @reinhardtjh, I'm not concerned about the frame milling.  A few passes on the milling machine will make quick (and precise) work of it.

No, I've never done an FA.  I'm in the process of doing a PA-1, but it's the old plastic chassis with the massive lead weights.  In this one, I'm putting the decoder in the back and the speaker (see below) in front, behind the headlight/Mars light, firing up into the cab area.

As for speakers, all I'd say is use a cell-phone type and the biggest one that you can fit comfortably.  In my PA-1, I'm using an 8x12mm from Streamlined Backshop with its "double deep" enclosure (sanded down about 1mm).  An 11x15 would be better if there is someplace to put it; however, it's not going to be THAT much better, and since you're going to have to do a lot of milling of the frame (or weights - if you have one of the old plastic frame designs), I'd probably stick with an 8x12mm, and I'd probably prefer the Streamlined Backshop solution for this particular installation, since the speaker is mounted face-down firing into the enclosure, which means that the enclosure is about 1.5mm smaller in each direction (width and length) than either rolling your own with .030 styrene or using the Soberton 8x12mm inside the Keystone Customs (from Shapeways) enclosure.

The non-sound decoder from ESU is called the LokPilot.  I've gone to using these exclusively in my non-sound installations, because then it's easy to match momentum and speed with the sound decoder (the motor control circuits in the LokSound and LokPilot are identical).   If you don't care much about this kind of simplicity, then the Zimo MX621 is probably the best motor decoder on the market.   But if you're going with LokSound for sound, I'd stick with the LokPilot for any non-sound units that would be in a consist with the LokSound.

John C.

[bbussey]

Excellent, thanks.

[robert3985]

No, I've never done an FA.  I'm in the process of doing a PA-1, but it's the old plastic chassis with the massive lead weights.  In this one, I'm putting the decoder in the back and the speaker (see below) in front, behind the headlight/Mars light, firing up into the cab area.

As for speakers, all I'd say is use a cell-phone type and the biggest one that you can fit comfortably.  In my PA-1, I'm using an 8x12mm from Streamlined Backshop with its "double deep" enclosure (sanded down about 1mm).  An 11x15 would be better if there is someplace to put it; however, it's not going to be THAT much better, and since you're going to have to do a lot of milling of the frame (or weights - if you have one of the old plastic frame designs), I'd probably stick with an 8x12mm, and I'd probably prefer the Streamlined Backshop solution for this particular installation, since the speaker is mounted face-down firing into the enclosure, which means that the enclosure is about 1.5mm smaller in each direction (width and length) than either rolling your own with .030 styrene or using the Soberton 8x12mm inside the Keystone Customs (from Shapeways) enclosure.

The non-sound decoder from ESU is called the LokPilot.  I've gone to using these exclusively in my non-sound installations, because then it's easy to match momentum and speed with the sound decoder (the motor control circuits in the LokSound and LokPilot are identical).   If you don't care much about this kind of simplicity, then the Zimo MX621 is probably the best motor decoder on the market.   But if you're going with LokSound for sound, I'd stick with the LokPilot for any non-sound units that would be in a consist with the LokSound.

John C.

+1

Excellent advice as always...

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore