Loksound install in kato C30-7

[Steveruger45]

Hi Guys,
I just finished installing a loksound micro select in a Kato C30-7.
The frame needed mods at back to make room for the decoder and underneath it I installed four 100uF x 20v poly tantalum keep alive caps, mounted on a cut down old kato gp38-2 D.C. Light board and behind that the 0805 smd led and resistor for the rear light.  Up front a minor frame mod was needed to install a 12 x 8mm speaker, face up, in a roll-your-own enclosure which is extended at front to also house the fwd light and resistor.  I also made a cut out in one side of the frame for the lower motor wire to clear on its route to the top and a groove and hole in the top of the frame halves for wire clearance/routing..
All was done using a hacksaw and file.  Albeit a tight squeeze, no shell mods were needed at all.
The lights and resistors were soldered onto the scraps of the old kato gp38-2 D.C. Light board after cutting trace spaces.  Insulation of soldered contacts were insulated with liquid tape where needed. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[tehachapifan]

Nice install!

[AKNscale]

Looks good, how's it sound?

[Steveruger45]

Thanks.
It sounds really good.
IMHO putting speaker in the cab area and face up sounds, to me at least, fuller and less muffled when limited to a 12 x 8mm speaker.

Next project will be in an old kato sd45.  Am planning similar style install.

Those poly tantalum 100uF x 20v caps give much more flexibility on placement within the model. They are only 2mm high.

BTW I did burn-in test them as a group before install on 12volts for 2 hrs and no failures.  As these are only 20v caps I did not want to put 18 volts on them, too close to rated voltage, plus these are quality caps not cheapo ones.

[jdcolombo]

Excellent work.  The cap installation is ingenius.  I'm going to have to try some of those poly caps myself.

John C. 

[woodone]

Thanks.
It sounds really good.
IMHO putting speaker in the cab area and face up sounds, to me at least, fuller and less muffled when limited to a 12 x 8mm speaker.

Next project will be in an old kato sd45.  Am planning similar style install.

Those poly tantalum 100uF x 20v caps give much more flexibility on placement within the model. They are only 2mm high.

BTW I did burn-in test them as a group before install on 12volts for 2 hrs and no failures.  As these are only 20v caps I did not want to put 18 volts on them, too close to rated voltage, plus these are quality caps not cheapo ones.

Can you give us the vender information on the Caps?

[Steveruger45]

The poly tantalum caps are mentioned in another thread " fun with Chinese caps"
I got mine from digikey.  Part P19854CT-ND,  description- "Cap Tant poly 100uF20v 2917.  They are about $1.50 each when ordering 10 or more.  Made by Panasonic.

There are some 16v variants of these too but I just like to have as much factor of safety on rated voltage as I can.
Peteski posted a handy reference list on voltage applied vs rated voltage recommendations in said mentioned other post.  Regular tantalum caps you need to only apply around 50% of the rated voltage.  On these poly tantalum you can apply around 80% of rated voltage.  IMO then 16v poly tantalum caps is cutting it just a little too close for my comfort level.

[Steveruger45]

Excellent work.  The cap installation is ingenius.  I'm going to have to try some of those poly caps myself.

John C. 

Thanks John. 
It was your sound install threads that got me inspired on this whole sound in n scale thing together with the others done by AKNscale and Tehachapifan in particular.

Steve