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71
RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / To plug or to hardwire on new locos
« Last post by fishindogwood on February 10, 2025, 02:58:30 PM »
So I’ve been a lurker member for quite a few years a still don’t have a layout back up but have all the locos, cars and buildings stacked up in the 100’s.  I’m still positively going Railpro as it’s seems to be far superior to the DCC system, except for a bit of lacking in sound file choices potentially.

Question is as I have a dozen Athearn Genesis with 21pin and 9 pin plugs, 6 Atlas Silver series with 8 pin plugs, should I use an adapter plug to wire LM3s into the existing 9 and 8 pin motherboards or do an aftermarket motherboard like the Nix offerings if room, or just do a total hardwire without a motherboard for space savings?  The 4- 21 pin Athearns are seemingly obvious to plug into with the new 21 pin LM3s probably.  Obviously hardwired for a couple Front Range GP9’s.  Also none of my builds will have any beacons or ditch lights, too early.   So my question is what you you all think I should do for the 8 pin Atlas, and the 9 pin Genesis?     Also I am very good at soldering and electrical work so that is not an issue.      Thank you  for any advice!
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Finished RailPro Installation Examples / Re: Athearn U50 Install
« Last post by Mrpicks on February 10, 2025, 01:19:27 PM »
Thanks Epeelark, that’s kinda what was kinda what I thought but wasn’t sure. I’m such a super noob at these installs that I wanted to get the correct info from a Pro.  Dave
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Finished RailPro Installation Examples / Re: Athearn U50 Install
« Last post by Mrpicks on February 10, 2025, 01:14:08 PM »
Thanks Espeelark, that’s kinda what I thought but being a super noob at these installs I thought I would ask for the words of experience.       Dave
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Finished RailPro Installation Examples / Re: Athearn U50 Install
« Last post by Espeelark on February 10, 2025, 11:09:11 AM »
Mrpicks - I didn't install a flashing safety light but you should be able to hook it up to one of the green or purple wires normally used for lighting functions.
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Why can't you take the cover off An LM?
« Last post by William Brillinger on February 09, 2025, 08:07:12 AM »
You can take it off, you just void the warranty.

Keeping the cover on reduces the risk of shorts by foreign objects touching the LM's internal board.
I'd say its a general "tamper protection" clause to avoid false warranty claims.
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Why can't you take the cover off An LM?
« Last post by KB02 on February 09, 2025, 07:56:01 AM »
Just thinking about some of the installs I've done and some of the lack of room issues I've faced in the past when converting locos from DC to DCC or RailPro. The LM3's state not to take off the cover from the module but, spoiler alert, I did take the cover off one. They're really not any different in size than a standard, old DCC decoder. If properly covered with Kapton tape (or other) to prevent shorting, any reason connected to its functionality that I shouldn't take covers off?

I've got three BB Athearn Locos with LM3's in them. They fit very tightly within the shell. Just taking off the outer plastic cover make a big difference.
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Finished RailPro Installation Examples / Re: U50 sound update
« Last post by Mrpicks on February 05, 2025, 06:57:09 PM »
Espeelark, If I may ask you a question. I purchased the orange flashing safety light [ LED ] from Evans Lighting but have no idea how to wire it properly. Tried to use your build pics but not sure how you did it. Flashing LED is already wired with resistor etc. and I know it works but as to how to wire it in the loco, i'm at a loss. Also I disconnected one of the speakers in the U50 and it made a huge difference in the volume.    Dave
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Finished RailPro Installation Examples / Re: Athearn U50 Install
« Last post by Mrpicks on February 05, 2025, 08:52:56 AM »
Trying to figure out how I became so old, kinda snuck up on me,lol. You inspired me to try to make revisions to my existing Locomotives and am now knee deep in a BLI Cab Forward that is in 5000 pieces. I'll keep you posted.
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Speaker Volume
« Last post by Mrpicks on February 05, 2025, 08:47:55 AM »
Thanks guys for the assistance, I will check the notching issue as you mentioned and will try the speakers in parallel in lieu of series. I'll let you know my findings.
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Speaker Volume
« Last post by Espeelark on February 04, 2025, 05:26:27 PM »
Mrpicks - in my recent U50 install, I used a pair of speakers (U50R and U50F) from Scale Sound Systems. I inquired with them about wiring them in series or parallel and they advised the following.
Quote
Speakers wired in series result in a higher total impedance which draws less current from the power-amp and thus, produces lower SPL for a given volume setting. In theory the addition of a second speaker (which results in power-addition) offsets the decrease in current-draw from the power-amp, but these values can vary by a couple decibels here and there.

The sound volume from my U50 (with two speakers) for the GE Prime Mover sound is noticeably quieter than a U30 I have but with a single SSS speaker. The horn, bell, coupler crash, etc. are all equal in perceived volume to my U30, but for some reason only the GE Prime Mover sound is noticeably quieter. The next time I have the shell off I think I'm going to disconnnect one of the two speakers and see what happens.

SSS also said that if installing the speaker pair in parallel that,
Quote
wiring them in parallel will double the current-draw (which does make the power-amp run hotter) and produce more acoustic output. Of course this assumes both speakers are 8Ω (ALL SSS speakers are 8Ω).

Hope this helps....
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