@Jeff_the_Coaster_Guy posted:@Ron045: Question about a ground-up install I'm thinking about. I have a big Premier R2 2-8-8-2 that was originally a PS2 but has no board. I'm thinking that with its size and all the room in the tender and loco shell, this is a perfect opportunity to try a complete Bluerail + Battery install.
I don't run any DCC at all, everything has always been conventional 3-rail. I'd like to install something like the Tsunami "Big Stem" decoder in my R-2 because it's a big steam loco and should include an interesting sound system. But I have a couple questions:
- I see the Tsunami decoders are listed as "incompatible with 3-rail". Since I'm thinking of battery, does that mean I'm still OK (i.e. technically I'm running the equivalent of 2-rail without the AC)?
- If so, does that mean I'm then stuck on battery permanently? If I installed a switch to try to run off of AC power when not using battery, I'd be dead in the water?
- Does the Tsunami decoder work with my existing tach reader in the loco (Ps2 tach reader) to coordinate the smoke, or do I need one of GRJ's Chuffers to do that?
I'm willing to put a couple hundred bucks into this loco since it's big and beautiful and I got it cheap, but I don't want to buy something and be stuck with an unusable gadget.
Jeff
Jeff,
My Atlas AEM 7 with Soundtrax TSU2200 runs on 3 rails AC track power. I believe the BR board is what makes that possible.
Ron
