LokSound and LL Erie-Built

[keeper]

Hi there,

I'm thinking about to use a LokSound decoder for my LL Erie-Built but I'm having a bit of a headache what sound file would work best as there is nothing available.
Maybe an Alco file?

On a side note, what do you think about the speaker which comes with the decoder?
Due to it's size, I have never used it but it seems that the Erie-Built has enough room - for milling - for such a big speaker.

Thomas

[RBrodzinsky]

Use sound project S0532. Here is a video of an install I did for @Cajonpassfan

[keeper]

Excellent, thank you!

[Cajonpassfan]

Rick did a great job on installing the sound decoder and my13x18 speaker with a large enclosure in the B unit. But, since two powered Erie’s have a lot of power, to save on costs I decided to turn the trailing A into a dummy (riding on a LL PA dummy frame) and put another, larger speaker in it, see photos. Together, they produce even better, richer sound that emanates from two locations. Best sounding engines on the layout...
OttO K.

[keeper]

Now t h a t is a speaker!!!

[keeper]

I only have one CNW Erie Built.
In real life one of those ran together with an E6 which I have as well from LL.

Now you gave me some thoughts...
In regard of quite a good sound I could throw out the motor from the E6 and install a big speaker in it. Maybe the speaker from the Erie or as in your set up a second speaker.

Hmmm.....

I need to test the pulling power of the Erie on my grades.

Thomas

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, Thomas, to tell you the truth, I wasn’t all that impressed with the big speaker at first....it seemed to me that given its size, it should sound way better than the 13 x 18mm Grand, and on the bench, it doesn’t seem to. But inside a shell, coupled to another sound equipped unit, yea, there’s a definite improvement in sound quality and depth, at least to my untrained ears. Oh, and I should note before anyone else tries this, I did have to stretch the dummy LL PA frame a bit to fit the Erie-built shell. It’s the white styrene band  that shows in the photo.
As to their pulling power, the Erie’s are like bricks...
BTW, didn’t the LL E6’s come with dummy units? You could use one of those without sacrificing a powered loco...
Good luck, Otto

[peteski]

As I see it, in the miniature speaker world the size of the speaker is not a direct indication of either its loudness, or sound quality.  Those conventional (read "old") design speakers  seem to have very stiff cone suspension.  So they are inefficient. It takes a lot of power to move the speaker cone.  All the "sugar-cube" speakers have very softly-suspended diaphragm (flat cone), and they have strong magnets.  That makes them efficient.  Of course the size and tightness of the enclosure also plays important role in the overall quality and volume of the sound.

[keeper]

BTW, didn’t the LL E6’s come with dummy units? You could use one of those without sacrificing a powered loco...

I have an E8 which is not working anymore, so in a way I have a dummy...
I believe the E6, E7 and E8 did share the same mechs.

As to the speaker question, how about using two big 'sugar-cubes', one in the Erie and one in the E6?

Thomas

[Cajonpassfan]

Sure, why not; two sugar cubes are sweeter than one
Otto

[peteski]

Sure, why not; two sugar cubes are sweeter than one
Otto

LOL!  Thanks for the chuckle!

Thomas, remember that whenever you connect multiple speakers to the decoder not to get under the minimum impedance rating of 4 ohms.

[keeper]

Thomas, remember that whenever you connect multiple speakers to the decoder not to get under the minimum impedance rating of 4 ohms.

Yeah, that brings me to the question how to wire two speakers.
I don't know the correct English terms for it, but directly translated from German it would either be 'in a row' or 'parallel'.

Thomas

[RBrodzinsky]

Yes, you will want to wire in parallel.  Two 8-ohm speakers, in parallel, will yield 4-ohms of resistance, which is what the LokSound decoders are designed for.

[nickelplate759]

Yeah, that brings me to the question how to wire two speakers.
I don't know the correct English terms for it, but directly translated from German it would either be 'in a row' or 'parallel'.

Thomas

For English (or at least American English) wiring,
"in a row" is called "in series", "in parallel" is called "in parallel"

[peteski]

For English (or at least American English) wiring,
"in a row" is called "in series", "in parallel" is called "in parallel"

Series connection is sometimes colloquially called "daisy chain".  Not sure why "daisies", and not tulips or roses. Or forget-me-nots.