Decoder Temperature

[Jim]

Hi,

I run the sound in my decoders at no more than 50 on cv63.

 

I get a little worried abuot the temperature of the decoders sitting inside the body shell.

 

My engines are all standard Bachmann models reblown with Howes with no extra speakers.

 

Someone else mentioned that they have an engine idling away while they work on the bench, I do the same, I leave an engine idling to add a bit of atmosphere in a session, which could be hours.

 

Am I worrying for no reason or do we have to consider running the sound for long periods at a time?

 

Thanks,

Jim

[Oldddudders]

Hi,

I run the sound in my decoders at no more than 50 on cv63.

 

I get a little worried abuot the temperature of the decoders sitting inside the body shell.

 

My engines are all standard Bachmann models reblown with Howes with no extra speakers.

 

Someone else mentioned that they have an engine idling away while they work on the bench, I do the same, I leave an engine idling to add a bit of atmosphere in a session, which could be hours.

 

Am I worrying for no reason or do we have to consider running the sound for long periods at a time?

 

Thanks,

Jim

Individual makes of sound decoder are bound to vary in their ability to sink heat, but I have had HO sound for nearly 10 years, from multiple manufacturers, and the only decoder to go bad on me was in running, where a Loksound gradually faded away to silence, never to be resurrected. If my layout is on, whether I'm running trains or not, then 8 or 10 locos, steam and diesel, will be humming, simmering, air-pumping, oiling round, letting off steam, and all the other incidental sounds the market offers for locos at rest. My bet is that the sound systems place a lot less heat-stress on the decoder than pulling a train does via the motor control section.

[Lady_Ava_Hay]

Hi,

I run the sound in my decoders at no more than 50 on cv63.

 

I get a little worried abuot the temperature of the decoders sitting inside the body shell.

 

My engines are all standard Bachmann models reblown with Howes with no extra speakers.

 

Someone else mentioned that they have an engine idling away while they work on the bench, I do the same, I leave an engine idling to add a bit of atmosphere in a session, which could be hours.

 

Am I worrying for no reason or do we have to consider running the sound for long periods at a time?

 

Thanks,

Jim

 

My ESU sound equipped Q1 spent most of the two days of Warley running round a roundy roundy without problems. I actually checked the temperature from time to time and,if I ran it faster for an hour, it got hotter but never more than baby hot.

 

I believe that CT SL74's (I still have a couple) can reach 94 degrees C. So instant coffee but no good for tea then.:icon_eek:

[Dagworth]

My bet is that the sound systems place a lot less heat-stress on the decoder than pulling a train does via the motor control section.

 

I'm afraid that's somewhat wide of the mark. In the control section of a decoder the output transistors are either fully on of off, varible voltage being acheived by varying the length of the pulses while they are on. In either condition the transistors aren't reducing the voltage and having to lose the excess as heat.

In an audio amplifier the transistors are biased to a partially on state and the audio signal then determines whether they switch on more or less, either way they are reducing the voltage from maximum to that reaching the speakers, the rest of the power is disipated in the transistors and the only way they can get rid of it is as heat.

 

Class D switching audio amplifiers would be the ideal as they work in a similar manner to the motor control side and so should not need to shed power as heat.

 

Andi

[Etched Pixels]

Class D switching audio amplifiers would be the ideal as they work in a similar manner to the motor control side and so should not need to shed power as heat.

 

Andi

 

The CT SL75 styles itself as havng a "digital amp" and from the difference with heat production from the SL74 (the SL75 basically runs cold) I suspect it does now have a class D output stage. It's also far louder than any comparable size decoder - so it would be nice to see the other small decoders catch up.

[Piemanlarger]

only the hlejan 47 i used to have

 

 

ever really got hot, but it was still fine through several shows.

 

I dont think there is a need to worry. My locos are all twin speakers which produces more heat apparently too, but as i said i have had locos on for several hours at shows.

[magic_monkey09]

ive noticed decoders getting quite hot aswell. I ran my Bachmann class 37 without the body on before and when i picked it up after it almost burnt my hand. i havn't modified it with bigger speakers or anything its a standard Bachmann RTR sound loco. ive left it running for hours on its own before by going out and forgetting to turn the power switch off in the loft but it still runs fine at the mo. i dont suspect there is a problem.

[Carnforth]

Mornin'

According to the spec. sheet for the Zimo MX range, they have an operating temp. range from -20 to 100c, fair range there then!! unless I've read it wrong and I confess I have no practical experience with Zimo products

Steve

[Lady_Ava_Hay]

Mornin'

According to the spec. sheet for the Zimo MX range, they have an operating temp. range from -20 to 100c, fair range there then!! unless I've read it wrong and I confess I have no practical experience with Zimo products

Steve

 

That is the ambient temperature range. So Loksound will work in subarctic to Death Valley.

 

Decoders are designed to get hot. Some even have a thermal cut out so if they get too hot they cut off. Happened to me once; a Lenz standard Gold in my MN running at full tilt for an hour or so. That is when I learnt to make sure that there is an air gap all around the decoder. I had buried the decoder in Blu Tack.