this possibility. Discharge yourself to an electrical ground (outlet cover screw) before removing this device from
its anti-static bag. Please read instruction sheet completely before attempting to install and operate this
product. Save the anti-static bag for possible reuse of storing or shipping the sound unit!
OVERVIEW: This device is an electronic, self contained, sound system for installation in model
electric locomotives that are designed to operate with conventional DC track power, digital (DCC)
or other types of command control systems including radio with either track or battery power, also
as a stationary sound unit. Because of its dimensions (2.7" x 0.9" x approx. 0.5" high) the sound
system may be limited to installations in some powered units making the need for use of a
"dummy" unit or a trailing car. An alternative installation under the layout is also possible including
the use of our TRAK-DT devices to switch the sound through multiple speakers so as to follow
the movement of the train. A drawing for this application is in our Model Railroaders Wiring Guide.
An on/off switch (not included) must be used to power the sound unit on and off in some
applications. The audio amplifier can produce one watt of power which is in excess of what most
small speakers can handle. The speaker impedance must be 8 ohms or higher. Sound volume is
adjustable. Refer to our catalog for available speakers. If space permits, the optional oval
speakers (Items 662, 664, 665), which are higher wattage speakers, are the best choice.
Sounds produced include user controlled horn, bell f orce cooling fans and main sounds on/off
(leaves the main sounds off while allowing for horn and bell operation). Non-user co ntrollable
sounds brake release and electric cooling fans sound. These automatically operate. The cooling
fans can be manually controlled.
This sound system, when used with conventional DC track power, requires the use of our
LocoMatic™ Controller (Item 755) to operate the horn, bell, force co oling fans, and main sounds
on/off. DCC and other command control operators can use remote functions on their systems to
activate the same functions. For stationary installations, these functions can be accessed by
switches. Radio control with fixed track power or on board batteries would be similar to DCC
installations and large gauge (where you ride the locomotive) would be similar to a stationary
installation.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS: The sound system consists of a printed circuit board, a
speaker, five 2-pin connectors with wires and two 3-pin connectors with wires. A CHOKE (item 70
or 703 depending on motor power requirements), no t included, is required for DC track power
installations.
Refer to the drawing on page 2 to familiarize yourself with the connectors and controls on the
sound board. Then refer to the specific instruction sheets for the type of installation you intend to
make. Before proceeding with the installation read the balance of the instructions carefully so you
will be completely familiar with what is required and what sounds you should hear.
The circuit board should be mounted so that at minimum, the volume control is accessible either
through the frame or via a hatch or a hole in the locomotive body shell. Be certain that the
components on the circuit board do not come in contact with any metal objects as such contact
can destroy the sound system. The speaker should be mounted as per available space bearing in
mind that sound reproduction is enhanced when a speaker is properly enclosed and baffled.
If a DC locomotive is not moving, there is no track power, therefore to have sound it is necessary
to have a separate power supply for the sound system. For in locomotive use, this separate
supply is a battery. We suggest the use of one 9 volt or 6 AA or 6 AAA batteries in series to
maximize volume potential and battery life. Rechargeable batteries can be used. When
connecting the battery (DC) power leads be absolutely certain that w ires connect to the proper
DC input leads.
This device can be damaged by static discharge. Please exercise care during installation to avoid
DCv3 rev8
If any connections are not done properly, especially the power connections, you will damage the
sound system. This type of damage is not covered under any warranty. The sound system is
thoroughly tested and inspected before packing to insure proper fu nction. There is a minimum
charge of $35.00 plus s/h for repair.
SOUND INFORMATION:
Cooling Fans (Electric): sounds range from idle (silent - no fans operate when not running) to
full fan rpm. With no power to the track / motor the sound system will produce no sounds. As a
throttle is advanced to put the locomotive in motion, a brake release will sound (see below) and
the electric fans will accelerate to full rpm. With our LocoMatic™ Controller (#755), activating the
ALT and F3 buttons simultaneously (and then releasing) will direct the sound system to ramp the
fans to full RPM regardless of track / motor voltage. Activating both buttons again will release the
sound system to return to the correct fan setting. This feature allows the simulation of more
cooling when sitting after a heavy load run or "pumping air" in a standing train. This full fan RPM
feature is available to other users either by a switch or with a remote function. The cooling fans,
air pops, and brake release sounds can be turned off without turning off the sound system. This
way you can still activate the Horn and Bell. With our LocoMatic™ Controller, use ALT F4 as a
push on, push off. For other receivers or stationary, a function or single pole switch will suffice.
BRAKE RELEASE: sound is produced when the throttle is advanced from the idle position. This
brake release should always precede locomotive movement. For DC operators, this requires
approximatly 1.5 to 2 volts of input voltage to sense a running mode for the brake release to
sound.
HORN: sound is controlled by the HORN button on the LocoMatic™ Controller, by a momentary
push button or by remote function, dependent upon the type of installation. The HORN will sound
as long you are holding the control on. This will allow you to actually play the sound as on a real
locomotive. DCC and similar systems will have a sound delay equivalent to system response
time.
BELL: sound is controlled by the BELL button on the LocoMatic™ Controller, by a toggle switch
or by remote function, dependent upon the type of installation. The sound system includes a
routine which ignores intermittent BELL requests, resulting in a delay when activating or
deactivating the BELL. With the LocoMatic™ Controller you depress and release the BELL button
to turn on the BELL and then again depress and release the button to turn the BELL off. Toggle
switch or remote function control does not require the PUSH ON - PUSH OFF sequence.
SPEAKER MOUNTING: The speaker generally should be mounted so that the sound can
actually "get out" of the locomotive. A hole in the floor or fuel tank is acceptable but open grills or
a doorway may be a better choice as the sound can exit upward rather than down toward the
track. In some cases, particularly with plastic body shells, just mounting the speaker against the
shell will be adequate as the vibrations of the shell can enhance the sound. Enclosing the
speaker in a chamber will also enhance sound reproduction. A very simple enclosure can be
made with a tube. The longer the tube the better the speaker will reproduce low frequency sound
which is inherent in electric cooling fanss. It is usually best to seal the end of the tube, so there
are no air passages to the rear of the speaker, thus creating a sound chamber. By carefully
sealing all openings it may be possible to use the entire body shell as a sound chamber. A simple
wall behind the speaker may be all that is possible or perhaps all that is needed.
Speakers can be attached with double sided tape, with glue or with "hot melt". Enclosures can be
made with plastic, wood, card stock or even metal. Film cans or medicine bottles make excellent
sound chamber enclosures for small diameter speakers. Attachment with "hot melt" is
advantageous as the "hot melt" can be used as a gap filler when creating an enclosure.
A second speaker, wired in series with the main speaker, can also enhance sound quality and will
1
permit a higher volume without damage to the individual speakers. A tube with a speaker at each
end or a speaker in a doorway at each end of a body shell is an excellent approach. A four
speaker approach will yield the highest volume while still maintaining the 8 ohm minimum
requirement. Drawings for this are included in the speaker instructions.
Speaker enclosure is an art and experimentation is definitely in order for your installation so a s to
gain the maximum benefit of the superb sound quality available in this sound system.
GENERAL OPERATING INFORMATION:
VOLUME ADJUSTMENT: should be set as desired for your application. Please remember that
the amplifier can produce more power than a small speaker can handle and that the sound will be
louder if the speaker is properly enclosed and baffled. If you are using batteries, the louder the
volume the shorter the battery life.
NOTCH ADJUSTMENT: full clockwise for standard 12 volts to the track / motor. Rotate the
control CCW for all other operators using higher motor voltages. This control will have no real
effect in this system but must be set correctly for higher motor voltages.
Common Horn signals
SOUND
short .............................. apply brakes, stop
3-short ........................... back up movement
4-short ........................... call for signals
short, long ..................... inspect train line for leak or brakes sticking
2-long, short .................. approaching meet or wait point
2-long, short, long ......... approaching grade crossings
continuous long ............. approaching stations or junctions
successive shorts .......... alarm for something on track
INDICATION
Volume Control
Notch Control
Speaker Output
Motor Select (J5)
1 - force Cooling
Fans (red)
2 - motor sound
OFF (gray)
NOTE: The speaker impedance should be kept near or above 8
ohms, therefore four 8 ohm speakers in a series/parallel
configuration is acceptable since it yields 8 ohms total
impedance. If you care to use two 8 ohm speakers you must
place them in SERIES.
Remote Input (J4)
1 - Horn (red)
2 - Bell (gray)
See pg10 for use with
Electric Sound systems .
This system features an optically coupled motor
input sensor. This means that any connection to
J3 pins 1, 2, and 3, do not electrically connect
to any other power to the board!
J3 connections:
1 - track RF input (RED)
2 - Motor 1 (BLACK)
3 - Motor 2 (WHITE)
J1 connections:
1 - DCC rail 1 ....... also AC input 1 ......... (RED)
2 - DCC rail 2 ....... also AC input 2 ......... (GRAY)
J2 connections:
1 - DC power "+" (RED)
2 - DC power "–" (GRAY)
When connecting DC power to the sound unit be absoloutly
sure that the "+" and "–" are connect correctly! If not, you
will either burn out the sound unit or the supply feeding it.
This is not covered under warranty!
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION SHEETS
PAGE
3, 4, 10 Conventional DC
5, 9, 10 Stationary Sound
6 DCC receiver
7 OTHER receiver
8 with DC Controller
8, 9, 10 aux. Amplifier
10 Manual Speed Control
Remote Volume Control
INSTALLATION TYPE
Dual Conventional DC
Systems
246 W. Main St.
Leola, PA 17540
(717) 661-7041
www.dallee.com
2
DC track power installation using standard batteries & DALLEE controller #755
speaker
Gray
Optional main
sounds switch
ON / OFF
(shown sound "ON")
Battery Holders
#579 - single 9 volt (shown)
#652 - holds 6 AA
#654 - holds 2 AA
#578 - 9 volt battery snap
connector
Battery power - must not exceed 24 volts DC.
Use one 9 volt battery or a string of 6 AA or
AAA batteries (24 volt DC maximum input). Life
depends on volume setting and speaker
impedance. Typical operation of most sound
systems for one good 9 volt batteries is about 8
hours, AA or larger is well beyond 50 hours!
Lighted car / other engines used in consist preperation. You will know if this is necessary
by placing the locomotive / lighted cars on the track and then attempting to blow the
HORN or operate the BELL. If they do not operate with the other items on the track
then you need to do the following. We suggest doing this to all lighted cars or
engines used in the same consist since it lets the signal stay at it's maximum level.
for additional chokes order:
Item 702 for up to 1.5 ampere load
Item 703 for up to 5.0 ampere load
Right Rail
pickup
either rail may be
used. Right / Left
only used for
reference.
CHOKE PACK
looks like coil of wire with a
Formerly right
rail pickup
CHOKE
lead on each end
LOAD
Lighting load, other locomotive in
consist, or other type circuitry
drawing off of track power. As
shown one lead needs to be
disconnected from the rail and a
"CHOKE" needs to be placed in
series with the load. In most cases
the 1.5 ampere (#702) will handle
the load.
Left Rail
Pickup
3
speaker
DC track power installation #2 with DALLEE controller #755.
With rechargeable or standard battery.
When track voltage exceeds battery voltage, the sound system will
operate from track voltage instead of battery voltage.
Red
Black
White
wires with a " " ARE a
connection!
wires crossing over
(without a " ")
DO NOT CONNECT!
Red
+
Gray
–
Gray
Optional main
sounds switch
ON / OFF
(shown sound "ON")
Battery Holders
#579 - single 9 volt (shown)
#652 - holds 6 AA
#654 - holds 2 AA
#578 - 9 volt battery snap
connector
Battery power - must not exceed 24 volts DC.
Use one 9 volt battery or a string of 6 AA or
AAA batteries (24 volt DC maximum input). Life
depends on volume setting and speaker
impedance. Typical operation of most sound
systems for one good 9 volt batteries is about 8
hours, AA or larger is well beyond 50 hours!
524 SPST switch.
Switch shown in the OFF
position. Drawn as a spst.
This diagram allows for the use of rechargeable batteries. When
track voltage exceeds battery voltage, the sound system will operate
from track voltage and the battery will start to charge (when in the
forward direction). If you need to charge the battery fully without the
sound system on, place the locomotive on the track (with the motor
not powered if present) and leave full track voltage on for 14 hours.
The batteries will charge whenever the locomotive track power is
set for the forward condition regardless of the sound system being
on or off. They will not charge when the polarity on the track is set
in reverse. When running in reverse, the sound system will only
operate from the battery. A bridge rectifier could be used instead of
a single diode alleviating this potential problem.