Damaged Sound on Atlas-O SW

That is a very common problem with a certain production run of the Atlas O SW.

I have the GTW SW1200 and it does the same thing. I run mine with the sound down low anyway so I don't notice it much anymore.

Contact Atlas and see what they're willing to do. (Maybe it's time I sent mine in too!)

- RICH

I have replaced several of the small wafer speakers on my SW units.   TMCC mode the speaker comes on at full volume which may damage the speaker. 

Mike,

I have an Atlas NH SW1200 which went silent on me within the past year.  I tried re-seating the sound board, etc, etc, to no avail so i think it's the speaker.

How do you go about replacing the speaker?  Can you get at it from the bottom, or do you need to replace it from the top?  When I had the shell off, I couldn't see where the speaker was.

Mike,

Thanks.  I'll give it a try.  Sounds like I'll need more than the usual amount of time for the repair.

Sounds like I need a new speaker. Lucky me!

The sound in conventional is very loud and there is no volume control. Probably a coincidence that it failed when I was ringing the bell.

I usually operate in command mode and turn the sound down immediately. So I have never had a speaker at maximum volume for long.

I will check with Bill Seratelli to confirm.

Thank you for quick response and analysis.

Has anyone tried using a diode in series with the speaker to reduce the volume?

replace your speakers 

Not sure this is just a speaker.  Are all sounds distorted to some degree all the time?  If so speaker.  Lack of volume control is interesting, unless there is a short some where on the speaker.  G

GGG,

Have volume control in TMCC mode. Can't hear bell, #2 or #7 messages. But could be due to speaker distortion.

What do you think about using diode in series with speaker to reduce volume in Conventional Mode and protect speaker?

I don't think a diode would work here, as audio is essentially AC current, so you would lose half the wave form.  You would also have open impedance on the output on that half of the wave, which may or may not be an issue depending on what sort of audio amplifier is used to drive the speaker.  You would probably be better off using a potentiometer, though that has it's own host of issues on the high side of an amplifier...

If the locomotive has Lionel RailSounds, there is a provision for a volume control somewhere.  Pins 16, 18, and 20 on the RS4/5 board are the volume control, if it's hard-wired as high, you can cut the trace on the motherboard and wire in a volume control, it's a 10k pot.

If you have the new RailSounds board like the ERR RailSounds Commander, it has a volume pot on the board.

I think you get a better speaker or install or use the volume pot.  G

Timely thread. I just picked up an Atlas SW8 with a dead speaker. It has to be the smallest speaker I have ever seen in an O gauge engine. About the size of a half dollar in diameter and thickness. The speaker measures about 11/4" but the fuel tank could actually accomodate one about 1 3/8". Anyone found a better speaker for these engines?

Pete

Doesn't Lionel have a Flat 8ohm?  MTH Does they have a 45mm dia version at 8 ohms.  Was for PS-1.  G

That would be good George, but 1 3/8" is 35mm.

Then it won't work.  I have seen the oval in plastic at 8 ohms.  That is a 40mm x 28mm if you can handle the extra length or cut the plastic.  Not sure if it was an actual MTH part # though.   Or look at the MTH HO speakers.  G

I have a bunch of oddball sized speakers that I've accumulated over time.  Since I'm kinda' into upgrading small stuff with sound and command, I have my share of small speakers of various sizes.

For this issue, I'd look at the spot for the speaker and see if it can be hacked to fit an existing speaker.  If not, I'd go on a quest for the right sized speaker.