csvt2004

Hi Roy, Yes I have done exactly that. But my point is that I shouldn't have had to do so. Regards Richard

I have looked into fitting a Zimo 21 pin sound decoder. The zimo documentation suggests that speaker connections will be on the manufacturers circuit board. I think that I have found the connection in the picture. But none of this gets a mention in the instructions. I think the expression is "you are on your own".

Ah that is very interesting. Where are the C1 and C2 capacitors? Are they surface mount jobs on the pcb? Richard

Just received my wagons and they are superb. Just a bit puzzled with the flashing light, unless I have mis-understood how the wagons are worked. When the train gets to its destination and the locomotive runs round, then you will have a tail lamp behind the loco which should not be there and no tail lamp at the far end. Maybe its just me. Richard

This is one of my sound fitted ones. Speaker is encased with blu-tac. If you can repair the socket to plug as you suggested then an installation like this should still work. Richard

OK. if you get a small length of wire, you could "strap out" the black wire side of the circuit and that would prove your theory. Touch from the black side of the pick ups to the black side of the motor. If it bursts into life then looks like a high resistance plug/socket. Richard

In your picture the DCC blanking plug is missing. Have you tried it with that in ? Richard

eh? I should read the OP again. No decoder is attached. Richard

Try powering the motor directly on its terminals. A battery can be handy for that. If the motor works then I suspect its the wheels. There was a batch early on that had poor wheels and replacement sets were available. I replaced the wheels on a couple of mine and have had no trouble since. Richard

Apparently Lytham St Annes is also the name of a regiment. RAF I think. Richard

Well it would be a dead heat between the legomanbiffo and digitrains. The digitrains one is on Zimo and they are easier to fit a stay alive capacitor. I can lift my Zimo fitted 50 off the track and it keeps going for 10-15 seconds.

Actually I have never tried a TTS decoder. Perhaps I ought to. I have 4 class 50's, sound decoders are one each from South West Digital, Howes of Oxford, Legomanbiffo and Digitrains.

Thanks for the replies johnd and cravensdmufan. I have just tried the speed step 1 and then F1 and it works a treat. Thank you. I would not mind the delay so much except that I have 3 other 50's with sound and they don't have the delay.

Hi, I am rather hoping that someone can shed some light onto a problem for me. I have a Hornby class 50 fitted with an ESU sound decoder Version 255. I have had the loco for some time, at least 10 years. When you press F1 the sound starts and the loco idles. Open the throttle to any setting and the loco just sits there for about 50 seconds and then it sets off. Once this event is out of the way it behaves normally for the rest of the operating session. Turn the power off and then back on for another session and you have to go through the 50 second wait again. Its a bit annoying. Is there anything I can do to alter this waiting time? Just to add for clarity, it has always done this from day 1. Richard

Is it at the frogs where your locos stall? Is it possible to connect the feed wires to the DCC80 the wrong way round? The ones that are working are obviously connected correctly, but have you tried swapping the feed wires on the others?

I have gone through my notes from spotting 1972 to 1974, when I lived lineside between Keighley and Skipton. I recorded 1S68 a total of 168 times, every weekend and during the school hols. Of the 168, there were 5 class 40's, 5 class 47's, 10 class 46 and 148 class 45. The class 45 were nearly all Holbeck loco's, one Cricklewood and two from Toton. The 46 were all Gateshead bar one, D185 which I have down as 82A!

That's interesting. On the same day I have also noted this set 43062 42043 40014 42042 40505 41030 41029 42097 43029.

15/04/78 Paddington to Swindon. (07:45 to Weston super mare) 43008 41010 41009 40004 42013 42014 42087 42012 43009. At Swindon 43034 42041 42020 42039 42096 40013 41028 41027 43007. 43063 41003 41004 40001 42005 42084 42003 42004 43XXX. 43003 41051 41052 40503 42075 40025 42076 42077 43042. 43051 42088 42015 42017 42016 40005 41012 41011 43018. Richard

Got some notes at Paddington 05/11/77. I was there from 13:45 until 15:00. 43045 41045 41046 40022 42105 42066 42067 42068 43044. I marked that set as 253022. 43034 42110 42109 40029 42108 40505 41071 41059 43038. Noted as 253017. 43053 41053 41054 40517 42078 40026 42079 42080 43052. Noted as 253026. 43039 41007 41008 40506 42011 40003 42010 42009 43006. Noted as 253003/19. 43036 42055 42054 42056 42101 40018 41038 41037 43037. Noted as 253018. 43047 41019 41020 40507 42027 40009 42028 42029 43003. Noted as 253001/23. Regards Richard

Hi Mike, you have inspired me to purchase a Raspberry Pi. I also got the Sams book. I think its going to take some digesting. Managed to get it to boot up though so some progress! Richard.

Excellent. Is there a real bell or are the sounds done "electronically"?

Have you seen the Mike Wild article in Novembers Hornby Magazine? He used a Lenz Gold Maxi for motors fan and lights and then piggy-backed a cheap sound decoder on top. It was for a Heljan class 40.

I have fitted a Zimo MX645R to one of my class 20's. I have used both motors and it works fine. The current draw seems to flicker about from 0.6A to 1.0 Amp. It only potters about in a shunting yard but it has never exceeded the 1.2 amp rating of the decoder.

I think the likes of Rapid Electronics etc, use the term "Enclosure".

I have just seen a 4-car class 331 unit on a Skipton-Leeds service and noticed a white light on the roof near the pantograph. Does anyone know what the light is for?