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Adding DCC Sound to a GP30 Diesel
Allan writes:
“I have a GP30 Diesel that is a few years old but has DCC onboard. I thought about converting it to DCC sound. Looking at the engine I’m not convinced adding a speaker is feasible without a complete disassemble and removal of parts from the frame halves? Has anyone attempted this before?”
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9 Responses to Adding DCC Sound to a GP30 Diesel
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It depends on the brand. Bachmann is what I have, and it’s DCC onboard. So if that’s the one, yes, you can change it. There is some alteration required. But a search on Bachmann’s website should find an exploded diagram. I have their GP9 and have a .pdf file on how to install a Tsunami 2. So if your GP30 is Bachmann, and is similar to the GP9 in construction, it might be the same procedure.
Yes Bachmann Morgan.
If installation in the loco is difficult, The entire sound system can go in a trailing car with electrical pickup from the wheels (or by wires from the loco). If track powered, this may require fitting replacement metal wheels and pickups to the car.
thx Frank
This PDF shows how to install a sound decoder in a Bachmann GP9. Now I honestly don’t know if a GP9 and a GP30 are the same, but the pdf is simple enough that you might be able to use it to install in his GP30.
https://soundtraxx.com/content/Reference/Documentation/Application-Notes/bachmann_gp9.pdf
helful morgan I’ll try it
Allan,
There are very few locomotives that can’t have sound installed. However, the difficulty to do it is not equal for all locomotives. The first thing you have to do is make sure the motor is electrically isolated from the frame. After that you should look to the decoder manufacturer to see what they recommend as their product to do the conversion. A search on YouTube for a video showing an install may give you a step by step as to how to carry out the install.
I have installed sound decoders and speakers in Proto 2000 GP7 & GP9’s. They require removal of a portion of the frame to get everything to fit. Other manufacturers have more space to allow the install without cutting the frame.
If this is your first install and you have to remove a portion of the frame you may be better off to have someone else who is more experienced do the first one. You can copy their work for subsequent installs.
Good luck!
Hervey is right. But if your Bachmann is anywhere close to what mine are, the installation of a decoder can’t be too difficult. Honestly, I have not tried it. But I have opened the non-sound/plain DCC engine and with that Soundtraxx pdf I posted above, think I could do it myself. The trick is the soldering. You have to be able to solder very tiny spots. In that pdf, I didn’t like the size of the speaker. I’d be more likely to find one that fits better.
As mentioned in another thread. It would be nice to know, Allan, if you were successful. Have you done more to that GP30? Update us – for the curious.