using Electric RR TMCC compatible components
Full TMCC control with Sounds including Synchronized Chuffing. © 2005 Carl Tuveson
AF
Docksider
TMCC
and
Sound
Conversion
using
Electric
RR
TMCC
compatible
components
Full
TMCC
control
with
Sounds
including
Synchronized
Chuffing.
©
2005
Carl
Tuveson
| The new AF/Lionel Docksider presented a challenge to convert to TMCC with sound and still leave the chuffing smoke unit in place. A bit of head scratching went into the layout of the boards to make them fit without modifying the chassis. Note also the replacement of the blue/white Led headlights with Bright Golden/White LEDs. |
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
| Here
is
the
Chassis
as
it
comes
from
the
factory.
I
preserved
all
of
the
pieces
for
reversal
of
the
conversion
if
it
did
not
work
out. |
It
all
fits
with
not
much room
to
spare.
Note
the
Green
Antenna
wire |
 |
The
Receiver
Board's
output/input
connectors
are
removed
and
the
board
wired
directly
with
pigtails
to
conserve
space.
The
motor
rectifier
diodes
are
also
soldered
directly
to
the
board. The Program/Run switch and Sound Control Signal out are also wired directly to the back of the Receiver since the P1 pins 1 and 2 were removed to make the sound board fit. The onboard antenna and pin are removed and an external one is soldered back on. |
| I
made
a
Directional
Headlight
board
that
used
the
same
type
connectors
as
the
original
and
reused
the
original
headlight
wiring
The
Headlight
board
is
screwed
to
one
of
chassis
mounting
posts
that
the
original
reverse
unit
used
using
a
flathead
screw
and
countersunk
hole
to
clear
the
receiver
board. The Y1 filter on the receiver was moved to the back side of the board for clearance for the sound board. |
 |
 |
Pins
1
and
2
of
the
P1
connector
on
the
receiver
were
removed
to
also
make
room
for
the
sound
board.
A
heat
sink
was
added
made
from
.032"
aluminum
stock
and
screwed
to
the
triacs
and
the
chassis
to
serve
as
the
mount
for
the
receiver
board.
The
chassis
must
stay
isolated
from
track
voltages
as
the
triacs
are
tied
to
AC
hot
and
will
short
through
the
heatsink
to
the
chassis.
|
 |
 |
| The
chuff
sensor
reed
switch
can
be
seen
glued
in
place
in
the
bracket
in
this
picture.
I
used
a
piece
of
card
stock
glued
between
the
bracket
and
the
switch
to
insulate
it. |
The
chuff
sensor
3/16"
magnet
is
glued
to
the
smoke
piston
connecting
rod's
connecting
pin. |
 |
 |
| These
are
the
Sound
components.
The
Sound
board
is
mounted
with
double
sided
foam
tape
to
a
bracket
that
is
screwed
to
the
other
mounting
post
.
The
speaker
panel
is
made
from
three
8
ohm
micro
speakers
CA
glued
together
side
by
side.
They
are
wired
in
series. |
The
speaker
paned
is
foam
taped
to
the
side
of
the
smoke
unit. The sounds include synchronized 4 cadence chuffs, air pump, steam blow-down, coupler clanks. whistle and bell.
|
 |
Looks
a
bit
odd
without
the
body.
One
could
mount
two
speakers
to
each
side
of
the
smoke
unit
instead
of
using
the
one
panel
of
three.
The Smoke unit heater element is replaced with a 27 ohm heater from Lionel's basic smoke unit to be compatible with the TMCC voltages. |
| The Sound board and Receiver board are snuggled together as close as possible. I had to remove just a tiny amount of plastic in the body to clear the top of the front of the sound board. |  |
 |
Not
much
room
to
spare.
It
made
a
nice
installation
though.
The
Receiver
is
programmed
with
the
Cab-1
to
be
a
"type
4"
Steam
loco
with
Railsounds,
so
the
smoke
and
directional
headlight
work
correctly. |
| The smoke unit performs nicely as you can see in this photo. It puffs and chuffs at a crawl now. |  |
|
|
This
TMCC
Compatible
conversion
uses
the
Electric
RR
Co's
Mini
Commander
and
Sound
Commander
boards.
These
are
the
only
TMCC
compatible
systems
that
will
fit. This Mini Commander uses a custom version of firmware to allow Engine functionality. Firmware for engines is not sold as a product so Contact Electric RR for details and conditions to obtain it. For
more
information
see The
Electric
Railroad
Company |
| Parts
used
in
the
conversion: Smoke Element 27 ohm Lionel 600-8141-055 Non Polarized Caps 4.7 uf 50v Mouser NPRL50V4.7 Headlight connector : Mouser 2 pin Housing 455-1000-ND Terminal 455-1042-1-ND |
Speakers: 8 ohm Jameco 307854 Headlight LED Minatronic YeloGlow LED Walthers 475-1231010 Reed Switch: Jameco 171871CJ Magnet: Radio Shack 64-1895 |
| © 2005 Carl Tuveson | |
