Jump to content

Bachman Thomas W/DCC ??? (#91421)


Unclepeterr
 Share

Recommended Posts

Can this item sound be activated by a trackside

button? I am working with Special Needs populations;

a 4 " button wired to reach a wheelchair lap works, a 

small button on a small handheld not so. Could a non

DCC sound unit (DC electrically) be installed in Thomas

for trackside activation?

Appreciatively, Unclepeterr 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

For the pre-installed DCC, reading in the manual it does have whistle.  https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/44958_TTTSoundModuleInstruction.pdf

 

Because this is DCC I unfortunately cant help with good ideas on triggering the whistle.  I will forward to someone that knows DCC and try and get some input.  

 

I can install DCS in them but adds to the overall price.  For what you are wanting the most cost effective solution would be to buy it with DCC and be able to trigger the whistle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
22 hours ago, Unclepeterr said:

Can this item sound be activated by a trackside

button? I am working with Special Needs populations;

a 4 " button wired to reach a wheelchair lap works, a 

small button on a small handheld not so. Could a non

DCC sound unit (DC electrically) be installed in Thomas

for trackside activation?

Appreciatively, Unclepeterr 

 

Hi Peter,

 

The short answer is that this is going to be more complex than you'd like.

 

For one train, you may want to consider a DC Thomas, and putting in a sound system with support for trigger switches, and then wire up some sort of wireless trigger controller. I've heard of people using something like this from Ram Products with Phoenix sound, although I haven't used it myself. http://www.ramrcandramtrack.com/page2.html#CONT2

Keep in mind one downside is that it's hard to find a whistle that sounds like Thomas' trademark whistle. I have a Thomas with QSI sound and a high pitched European whistle that's pretty close, but this was before Bachmann made a DCC sound system for Thomas. I know from personal experience that some kids with special needs can be especially sensitive to having things "right",

 

As for a DCC trigger, it's definitely possible, but how it works would depend greatly on your DCC system. The DCC signal on the rails is an NMRA standard, but the layout control bus (throttles to control station) is not standard at all. What I use is a kit-built system from MERG, which uses a CAN bus (just like your car) for the layout control bus. My CAN bus is hooked to a computer, which reads and writes the CAN frames. I use custom software that I've been building to run trains from my phone (https://github.com/benshell/RunTrains), and I've been building this app with plans for more automation and guest interactivity in the future. In fact, one thing I want to do is exactly what you've suggested: I want to be able to hand sound trigger remotes to kids, and let them control the sounds as they like without affecting speed. One of the challenges I faced with my software is that typical DCC systems are built to only allow one operator to run a train, until they hand off the session, or the session can be stolen. But that doesn't work if you want one controller to trigger sounds and other to set the speed.  Or with my current setup, all throttles can run all trains at the same time. The actual "throttle", from the perspective of the DCC system, is the server software on the computer. Keep in mind that the computer doesn't need to be too powerful; in fact a $35 Raspberry Pi would be plenty, and getting one of these setup as a mobile DCC system is a near-future goal.

 

I'd be happy to talk about this further, but it does get quite technical.

 

Do you have a DCC system already? How comfortable are you with electronics?

 

Ben

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Ray and Ben, I apologise  for not responding sooner. I had typed out 

a long response but inadvertently erased it. Ben, I am a competent

solderer,electronics not so much.  I have used the old MTH  Commander

unit and find them perfect for the groups I  display for.  Bigger color coded

buttons means less chance of viewers getting frustrated  when they want to 

activate the whistle or horn. 

!. Would a DC current based system activate the whistle

on another DC engine ,regardless if it is HO or G Scale? 

I am referring to MTH# 50-1033. The engine whistle of

course would have to be an older,simpler, non DCC version.

2. Thomas modifications? I was very impressed with Ray's

work  especially the smoke/chuffing synchronization.

Would it be possible to keep the winking eyes by moving the

smoke generation to another spot (cab or ??) using surgical

tubing? 

3. Are the #92401 Thomas couplers compatible with other

G scale ones? If not can they we switched out?

4. Bachmann Operating Crossing Gates:

Description states: "Product is only compatible with

Bachmann Steel Alloy Track".  If the rail joiners connect,

what is the issue? I bought some Bachmann steel track

and found it difficult to do a through cleaning of. I think I will go with 

brass. Does some else make a operating crossing?

Attached is a photo from a summer camp for

kids with long term illnesses called "Side-by-Side" i

volunteer with. Here is the you tube  from the

Washington State Games they posted. Note

extra large buttons on both media extend out to wheelchair

lap.

 

Thank gentlemen for your patience, Unclepete

,

 

 

 

IMG_0485 (3).jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I will respond to what I can answer:

 

The DCS Remote Commander (50-1033) will only trigger Whistle, Bell, Speed control etc on an engine equipped with MTH DCS Protosound 2 or 3.  It will not do that on an engine that is DCC only or DC analog.

 

My installs of the PS3 in the Thomas engines do now retain the eye movements.

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
  • Create New...