Speaker Volume

[Mrpicks]

Just completed install on a U50 but the speaker volume is very low.Set volume on the handheld to 100% and no real improvement. Switched out the speakers and same result. Speakers are installed in series currently. Also noticed that when the loco moves the diesel sound does not ramp up and stays the same. What am I doing wrong here?

[CPRail]

From the few multi-speaker installs I've done, I've wired them in parallel, not series. Also, I seem to recall something about them needing to be 8 ohm speakers. I'm sure Tim (G8B4Life) or Kevin (Kpack) can provide the details there.

As to the no sound ramp-up issue - I'm presuming you are using the GE 7FDL-16 Early ULT file. Do you have the Auto Notch turned on or off? If it's set for Manual Notching, you'll need to add Notch Up & Down buttons, or switch it to Auto Notching.

[Espeelark]

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.

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,

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....

[Mrpicks]

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.