Fitting Sound to Hornby Turbomotive

[zr2498]

This project includes fitting a sound decoder, upgraded speaker, rewiring for DCC control of firebox flicker, and a stay alive.

 

Here is the kit:

 

 

The speaker upgrade idea was courtesy of Roads and Rails - thanks Richard.

The sound file is from Wheeltappers. I waited to hear a number of versions before selecting this one.

 

I wanted to be able to link the firebox flicker to coal shovelling (AUX 1), rather than being permanently on. This required some rewiring at the firebox PCB.

First disconnect the track feed from the PCB, insulate the connected pairs of wires that are removed from WR+ and WR-, and then solder new wires for decoder AUX 1 output (blue +ve, green Aux 1).

 

 

 

 

Decoder connections:

a) Aux 1 (blue and green)

b) Speaker 2 X brown

c) 3 wire stay alive (black, white and red)

 

 

Parts installed and wires secured ( a couple of views)

 

 

 

After the decoder and speaker are installed, the loco body is crammed full, so there is no place for a stay alive, especially a 3-wire for an ESU decoder.

It was installed in the tender, so needed an extra cable connection between loco and tender. As 3 wires needed, a 4 pin micro connector was used.

 

First a 2mm diameter hole was drilled in the tender

 

 

On fitting the tender body, I had misjudged the position, and a channel was made to route the cables. A hole could not be made further into the tender as that would foul the wheels.

 

 

Wires routed and connected to the stay alive

 

 

Install edand wires secured

 

 

A view of the loco / tender coupling and connections

 

 

Works fine and great sound, but I did have to turn the volume down (CV 63 now at 125)