Skip to main content

Two of my old flyer engines, which were upgraded to DCC, have blown the speakers.

I have the 4 amp Tsunami type DCC unit with sound in each engine.  Our DCC expert informed me that the speakers that we commonly purchase are rated 1 amp and he states the largest that will fit in a flyer tender (290 and K5) are the 2 amp version.

As a temporary measure, he turned down the sound and hopes that will preserve the speakers until they can be replaced.

Can anyone chime in with suggestions?

Francine

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Something seems fishy as speakers aren't rated in current (Amps).  They are rated in power (Watts) and impedance (Ohms).  Speakers are generally blown by turning them up too loud and not driving them with enough power.  Can you post the exact decoders you are using so we can know what their power and impedance ratings are.

The 4 amps has to do with the drive motors, not the sound in any way.  Looking at Tsunami's web site all their sound decoders are rated at 1 Watt at 8 ohm.  So you just need to find a 1 watt 8 ohm speaker that is the size as the speaker you are replacing or smaller.  Here is one place to look for official SoundTraxx speakers.  But you could get any brand of speaker as long as they are 1 Watt and 8 ohm.

You need to contact Digitrax regarding this problem and what speaker ratings you can use. One or two watt speakers shouldn’ just blow because the motors require higher amperage. As Sinclair mentioned above, the 4 amp rating refers to the motor drive circuit, not the audio circuit, which is a separate thing. The rating of the speaker is called out in Watts and ohms, but the same wattage rating will be available in different dimensional sizes (usually diameter in inches or mm for a round speaker) as well, and the space available in your tender will determine what dimensional size of speaker you can fit in that space. Also, the installation will sound best if the speaker is in it’s own enclosure, rather than being just stuck in side the tender shell.

Bill in FtL

Last edited by Bill Nielsen

Tsunami (obsolete) = 1A (motor), 1W (sound power), 8ohm (optimal sound load) - the original Tsunami, often referred to as "the" Tsunami decoder

TSU-2200 = 2A, 2W, 8ohm - this is of the Tsunami2 product line that obsoleted the Tsunami, but actually the Econami decoders that came after the Tsunami but before the Tsunami2 line pretty much put the original Tsunami to bed, and are also well worth considering (e.g. ECO-200)

Tsumami 4400 = 4A, 3W, 8ohm -- note this decoder is physically larger than the 2200 which serves most nearly every S gauge requirement  

There are a considerable number of S engines, including some with smoke and sound, with original Tsunami decoders still in them running around - and well at that.  Pretty hearty little units despite their low ratings by modern standards for S purposes.  The practice of one decoder for motor, and another for sounds is also outdated by new more capable decoders since the days of that workaround.

Soundtraxx has a very informative web site, their documentation (even for discontinued products) is robust, and their people are very helpful.   Oh, and their products work great as well.   Assuming you match specific decoder capabilities to your application and needs.  

PS  I have no affiliation with Soundtraxx.  Just success with their decoders, documentation, and staff.  

Last edited by Sgaugian

Francine  I think you still have the wrong idea about the specs! The 4 amp rating or any amp rating only deals with the motor control circuit. The sound output is NOT connected to that rating in any way. Would you connect the speaker to the motor circuit. I think not, you would connect the speaker to the sound output which is rated in WATTS. For model trains 1 -2 watts is the normal size.  Your reference to 36 watts would need an amplifier and heat sink the size of the tender or larger.

Here is a website that is here in the UK that supplied the older board Francine has and also lists a replacement for it.

http://www.digitrains.co.uk/ec...-eco-400-diesel.aspx

The description of the board is a bit misleading and they could have made it a bit more clear.

If you look at the spec information, it is the audio bit on the left hand side that is the bit that tells us what you need for speaker requirements and a bit further down it actually gives a couple of examples to choose from.

The following is taken from the Soundtraxx website page that describes the 4 amp sound decoder speaker requirements:

”The Tsunami2 line is equipped with powerful new amplifiers; therefore, it is important to choose a capable speaker to use with these decoders. Below you will find a list of speakers that are compatible with the TSU-4400:

P.N. Description - 810129 23mm Square Mega Bass Speaker

P.N. Description - 810131 28mm Square Mega Bass Speaker”

The ECO-400 has 3W of audio output, not 36 (typo no doubt).  It was discontinued in July 2017.  The TSU-4400 is now recommended instead.   One thing you'll notice is that the TSU-4400 has 400mA capacity per function whereas the ECO-400 had 100.  100mA in S is typically fine.  Most function elements draw about half that.  In the larger scales they might draw more.  4A is more than enough in S as well.  2A meets most needs even twin motor.  It helps to stall amperage test each engine before decoder selection and installation so you have that knowledge to use as part of the conversion process.  

TSU-4400 info from Soundtraxx web site - as Bill already shared but you can compare to ECO-400.

Specifications
Dimensions:69 x 30.5 x 14mmMax. Motor Stall Current:4A
Max. Function Current:400mA (each output)Function Outputs:6
Audio Amplifier:3 Watts, 8-Ohm LoadDCC Track Voltage:7.5V – 26V



Speakers

The Tsunami2 line is equipped with powerful new amplifiers; therefore, it is important to choose a capable speaker to use with these decoders. Below you will find a list of speakers that are compatible with the TSU-4400.

P.N.DescriptionP.N.Description
81012923mm Square Mega Bass Speaker81013128mm Square Mega Bass Speaker

 

ECO-400 info from Soundtraxx web site.  

 

Note: As of July 12th, 2017 we have discontinued the ECO-400 product family. Please refer to the Tsunami2 TSU-4400 for a 4-amp Digital Sound Decoder for the larger scales (S, O & G). We will continue to provide technical support for this product.

 

Specifications
Dimensions:69 x 30.5 x 14mmMax. Motor Stall Current:4A
Max. Function Current:100mA (each output)Function Outputs:6
Audio Amplifier:3 Watts, 8-Ohm LoadDCC Track Voltage:7.5V – 26V

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×