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LGB 2001 Hand Car with DCC?

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#5 ·
Just stuck a small Zimo HO unit in a very small space, it was a MX642, but I think the newer version is a 644...


In the picture below, see how the top back of the seat is hollow? That's where the decoder is
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The space under the seat holds all the wires and connectors and a small capacitor: (all behind the blue tape)

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Managed to tuck 4 small 1" speakers in the roof where they can't be seen:
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So what I am saying, there's almost nothing too small to get a decoder and sound into!

Greg
 
#8 ·
Posted By Axel Tillmann on 27 Nov 2011 06:35 AM
We converted several of these handcars to DCC and DCC w. integrated custom sound, granted there is not much room for huge speakers, but it is very fun.
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I would certainly like to see a picture of one with integrated custom sound, a video will be nice.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Wow. Ok, so it is possible. I didn't think it was possible, and now you're saying there is even room for a decoder that also has sound and for speakers as well. But now I'm scratching my head. What in the world "sound" comes from a hand cart - is it a guy grunting loudly on each pump? And dare I even ask where the smoke unit goes? :)

Seriously, anyone got any sound samples or a youtube video of one? Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Axel-

I'm in Colorado, but I have a brother in Acton, MA. I'd love to swing by for training (no pun intended). I'm sure I can pick it up fast - I have a degree in Computer Science and I've designed some small electronics of my own in the past.

Jeff
 
#14 ·
I placed a zimo HO dcc decoder in the barrel on the 2001 handcar. I glued the barrel next to the motor box and ran the wires between the 2, plus I placed 2 leds for forward lights. I used a resistor between the led lights wired in series with heat shrink and placed this on the front of the handcar on the bottom of the frame.

This was a non sound version, but for sound you would need a squeak in place of the chuff sound!!! Bicycle bell sound needed also. plus the working on the rr song.
 
#15 ·
Image


Dan: how did route the wires from the barrel to track power?

Chata: the most unobstrusive way to install a decoder in a hand car is to place the decoder on top of the track contact board inside the engine block and use double side tape to keep in place. You can use an LGB 55022 or an Massoth M decoder (clip the wings). I prefer the Massoth.
First, desorder the motor leads from the track contact board (red and black wires), and them solder them on the decoder's motor pads, in lieu of the yellow and green (do not be shortened them there is just enough wire to reach the motor terminals). Next you need to shorten significantly the track leads on the decoder( white and brown) and then solder them on the track contact board using the same pads where the motor leads were connnected. When you fnish putting everything back together, the car would look exactly as did before the conversion, and the conversion is reversible. Adding lights is optional, I know nothing about smoke, and sound is not possible without trashing the car.

Mohammed
 
#16 ·
Why didn't I think about it
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How clever - Massoth to the rescue (let's all chime in "Massoth, Massoth above all... Above all in the world")

Just for completion purposes, this is two of the alternatives from ZIMO, this or similar one is used in our installations and yes that one has also sound in there. They range from 28x10.5x4 down to 20x11x4 (all cm)
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And this is the little non-sound brother:
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Actually Mohamed, you can actually explain to us one thing:

What is it called on your website "Massoth-SUSI" as one of the features? If my aging memory serves me correct then SUSI was developed by DIETZ and never by Massoth,
 
#17 ·
Is that a Massoth sound decoder, or just an ordinary HO motor only decoder?

By the way, I have to tell the truth, the best small speakers I found (the 1" ones I used for example) were the Visatron speakers....

Greg
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Axel- The smallest (non-sound) you're showing there is the MX631? That's 20.5 x 15.5 x 4mm. Smaller still would be the MX621 at 12 x 8.5 x 2.2mm... but perhaps you didn't show that because it's unusable for G-Scale as it's only 0.8A/1.5A peak/continunous power? Vs 1.2/2.5A for the MX631.
 
#20 ·
Axel:

My post is a response to the question posed by Chata which was " Has anyone had any success converting the hand cart to DCC - or is it generally too small? ", and what I suggested to him is a clean, professional installation.
I do not have to explain anything to you. As you posted above you " have already converted several of these handcars to DCC and DCC w. integrated custom sound" , mostly likely by " placing a zimo HO dcc decoder in the barrel on the 2001 handcar" as your technician Dan posted. It is still not clear how he got track power back to the barrel, can you explain?

P.S. Thank you for bringing attention to Massoth, catchy tune.
 
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Axel Tillmann
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