30 Class Tank

The Auscision 30 Class tank has no real space for a sound decoder and thus has to be installed in the cab area. This conversion dose require use of small hand tools to complete the necessary modifications

Begin by removing the cab roof, this is clipped in at the front and rear and can be removed using a small blade screw driver to undo the screws holding the coal bunker. To remove the coal bunker locate the two screws securing the bunker on the underside of the footplate, Separate the bunker extension located on the top of the coal bunker and then the cab and could bunker.

Note: The cab has 4 lugs and these may have to be leaver out with a small screwdriver

See photos for clarity, place the screws and bunker to one side.

With the parts separated modify the cab rear and bunker extension as shown below. A fine razor saw and file are required to complete this task. Remove the glazing before modifying the cab then mark the glazing from the cab and modify as required then reinstall with a small dot of contact cement.

CAB MODIFICATION - numbers are in mm
Note clips that secure the cab

BUNKER EXTENSION MODIFICATION - numbers are in mm

The decoder loom is to long and we chose reduced the overall length to 25 mm - speaker wire should be 30 mm. 

Note: The MRRC will modify this with you order for a small charge at time of ordering.

Seal the MRRC Micro Boost speaker by removing the moving coil pack from the supplied enclosure then applying PVA / Craft glue around the rim with a tooth pick or similar. Reinsert the speaker and allow to dry for 20 minutes. Glue the speaker onto the cab floor using some contact cement an allow to dry.

Blacken the enclosure using a Sharpie then the side of the decoder to help it hide in the cab before installation.

Ready for final assembly

Solder the speaker wires onto the speaker tap - set the iron to 270 deg C for this task.

Thread the loom through the bunker and plug into the factory board as shown then rest the opposite end of the decoder onto the top side of the back head. The speaker wires were tied up with a loop of black electrical tape - get the good stuff, Nitto if you can.

TEST RUN THE LOCOMOTIVE ON ITS DEFAULT ADDRESS OF 3

Add a crew from Kerroby Models and the hardware will not be visible

Clip the cab back in by engaging the front lugs and while pushing forward against them push down carefully to engage the rear lugs. 

Install the bunker extension by re-engaging the pins into the coal bunker - if damaged a wipe of contact will secure the frame to the coal bunker.

This should work with the lighted engine also.

Comment
Refer to blog on installing a Soundtraxx decoder into a lighted 30 Class for additional  information

Tam Valley Issues

Octo Decoder
There is a timing issue with the TAM Valley Octo Decoder and the NCE system in relation to macros.

Only two [2] instructions can be sent in a macro before a time delay has to be inserted and this is not possible. So the only solution is a NCE Mini Panel that has the instruction set to insert a delay of 1 - 2 seconds in a string of commands.

There is no other solution at this time

Reset QSI

The QSI decoders will require a reset from time to time to recover the sound, this is more prevalent when moving between DC and DCC.

These decoders have been used in the Eureka and Austrains locomotive in Australia.

The best method is a CV reset done on the programming track using a NCE PowerCab

Place the locomotive on a piece of track and enter the following CV's

CV49 = 128

CV50 = 255

CV 56 = 113

Note:  CV 56 will never give a read back so wait till it displays 255 then enter the required value

With all decoder resets the selected CV's will not start a reset they are a flag to reset on the NEXT startup. 

To achieve his remove the power from the base of the PowerCab and count to 10 and power the system back up and the decoder will reset

The engine should now be tested on address #3 and once all is verified to be working a long address set.

Generally this is done on the main BUT it is critical that CV 62 be set to zero [0] before attempting to set the address on the main. This CV controls the voice read-back and it must be off to set a long address as it is bridged between CV17/18 and the read-back chops off CV17.