SoundTraxx USA Trains GP30 Installation Guide
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New Dimensions in Digital Sound Technolo
USA Trains GP30
Sierra Sound System Installation Notes
Overview
This application note describes how to install your Sierra sound
system in the USA Trains GP30. Please read through the entire
document to become comfortable with the steps involved
before beginning the installation. No major mechanical
modifications are required and the entire process can be
completed in a few hours.
Tools You Will Need
■ #2 Phillips Screw Driver
■ Wire cutters
■ Wire strippers
■ 25W Solder Iron
■ Rosin core solder
■ 1/4” Drill Bit
■ Electric Hand Drill or equivalent
■ Superlock Fastener Radio Shack #64-2360
■ 2 Sided Foam Tape Radio Shack #64-2343
INSTALLATION GUIDE
Installation
1. Locomotive Disassembly
Use a foam pad or thick towel to support the long hood portion of
the diesel and turn it upside down. Be careful of the horns,
whistles, or other details that may be on top of the locomotive.
2. Remove the four screws that hold the fuel tank (Figure 1) to the
bottom of the frame. Remove the fuel tank.
3. Remove fourteen screws that hold the cab and body shell to the
frame. There are screws under the trucks. Remove the side frames
to move the wheel assemblies out of the way and access the
remaining screws (Figure 2). Remove the screws that hold the cab
to the frame.
4. Remove the body shell and cab.
5. Cut two 0.30”x1.00” strips of double-sided foam tape. Place one
strip along the bottom and the other along one side of the battery.
Snugly press the battery against the floor and post as shown in
Figure 3. Be sure to allow clearance for the body shell.
6. There is an unused plug on the USA PC board labeled “SPEAK1”.
Solder a red wire directly to the right plug post and a green wire to
the left. The right and left posts connect to the locomotive’s right
and left track pickups respectively. Secure each with heat shrink
tubing (Figure 4).
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
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7. Installing the Switches
Mark and drill a 1/4” hole in the front end of
the fuel tank, approximately 1/3 from the top of
the tank, near the center. (Figure 5). It may be
easier to wire the switch before mounting it
(Steps 10 or 11). If your layout has very tight
radius turns you may have to find alternate
mounting locations for some of the switches.
8. If you have purchased the Battery Charging Kit
(P.N. 810076), mark and drill a 1/4” hole in the
front end of the fuel tank roughly 0.59” below
the Power Switch and 0.88” from the furthest
edge of the fuel tank . See Figure 5.
Figure 6
Wire the Charging Jack and power switch as
shown in Figure 7. Insulate the soldered
connections with shrink tubing or electrical
tape to prevent accidental shorts.
BLACK
B
RED
- +
6V Battery
Battery
Charging Jack
To Right
Track Pickup
A
BLACK
RED
C
Sierra Battery
Connector Plug
Power Switch
9. If you are installing the optional Remote
Volume Control Switch (P.N. 810073), mark and
drill a 1/4" hole in the rear end of the fuel tank,
near the center. See Figure 5.
1.39"
0.51"
Drill 1/4" hole
for Power Switch
Drill 1/4" hole for
Charging Jack
1.39"
Drill 1/4" hole
for Remote
Volume Control
Switch
0.88"
Figure 5
End View of
Fuel Tank
(front end)
End View of
Fuel Tank
(rear end)
10. Installing both the Power Switch and
Battery Charging Jack
(Skip to Step 11 if you are not installing the
Battery Charging Kit.)
Half of the power switch is used to disable the
battery power and the other half disconnects
one of the track pick ups.
0.59"
0.85"
To Terminal 7 on
To Righ
Track Picku
To Sierr
Terminal 7
Not U
Figure 7
Sierra board
To red wire
Charging Jack Terminal
To red wir
of Sierra's gree
battery plu
N
Not use
n Cut the battery wire harness in half and strip
the insulation from the ends of each wire. Twist
the battery negative (-) black wire and the
Sierra Battery Connector Plug negative (-) black
wire together. Insert into the hole in the
Charging Jack’s A Terminal and solder.
n Connect the positive (+) red wire from the
battery to the Charging Jack’s B terminal.
n Solder a 4” piece of red wire from the Charging
Jack’s terminal C to the power switch terminal
#4.
n Solder the Sierra Battery Connector Plug’s
positive (+) red wire to the power switch
terminal #5.
n Install the charging jack in the hole you drilled
in Step 8. The threaded shank of the battery
charging jack may not be long enough to go
through the thick plastic of the fuel tank and
have room for the nut. We suggest using epoxy
to glue the jack in place. Be careful to not get
any glue inside the jack’s opening or barrel.
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