--- In [email protected], JAMES SLEETH <aztecfan@...> wrote:
>
> I have 15 DC powered engines and am building a new layout. I though I would
> treat myself to a few new Lionel engines. You know they are going to scale
> with wheels etc.
>
> I knew these where AC engines. So I go to Mikes to see if I could buy one
> system to run sound. Yes Mikes will run Lionel sound but not DC sound either.
>
> So if Mike turns all SHS engines to AC power we are going back wards. RIGHT?
>
>
> I have been playing with S gauge for 60 years. I have seen who makes what for
> all these years.
>
> All I got was excuses and no information on any system that will run AC and
> DC sound.
>
> I spent 2 weeks looking at all the HO DC systems and I know what I will by to
> run DC.
>
> I am building a layout with RR concepts system. It only works on DC, so no I
> am not so dumb as to know that I can just hook up a AC trans form and all
> will be fine.
>
>
> So I will now order a few American Model engines and add DC sound.
>
> The only answer I got was to buy the new Lionel's, take out the AC sound
> units and sell them on E-bay and then buy DC sound units and install them.
>
> So can you guys make S scale grow by telling some one new who wants to get
> into S scale that he needs to do that to run new Lionel engines? NO!
>
>
> What a mess. The answer is not to go back and forth talking about this, but
> asking Lionel and Mike to offer DC powered engines.
>
Am I missing something here?
Who makes a strictly DC sound unit nowadays?
I'm aware of dual mode DCC decoders that will run on straight DC, and you can
blow the whistle or ring the bell IF you throw the reverse switch fast enough,
but no strictly DC sound units.
Well, there is the Locomatic system, I suppose, but I don't see a lot of folks
using it. I've tried it, and frankly, I wasn't impressed.
I looked at the Dalee site, but they don't seem to real clear on a DC-only
sound concept.
I also know of aftermarket controllers that access and control the sound
features of the DCC dual-mode sound decoder.
MTH will likely keep the 8-pin plug, so removing their DCS/DCC module sould be
a piece of cake. Lionel is working on their system being oprerable on
AC/DC/DCC/TMCC in their locomotives.
The only thing is, Lionel's in development and not on the market yet and MTH
has yet to produce a piece of S.
I added DCC to my railroad some years ago. It was as simple as replacing the
two wires of one of my throttles with the two wires of the DCC system on a
terminal block. I left my block toggles in place.
Probably 10%-15% of my roster is DCC (and only one has sound,) when I want to
run DCC, I can select it by the flip of the block toggles. No muss, no fuss.
I don't expect to make any further changes for MTH or Lionel locomotives.
To just lump the digitial command control signal with a generic "AC" lable is
incorrect. It's like saying the PC sitting on the desk or the latest
i-whatever uses Holerith code.
There is a world of difference between the sinosoidal AC waveform and the
square wave used by digital command systems.
Try to run a DCC decoder equipped locomotive on straight AC and interesting
things will happen, along with learning how to replace a decoder.
The model railroad world has changed, some things for the better, some for the
worse. We all have to roll with the punches.
Rich G(ajnak)
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