Train-Tech SFX 21+ User manual

speaker
+V
speaker
+V
Powering SFX+ from larger batteries
The SFX+ is normally powered by a 3V CR2032
coincell battery to keep the size of the capsule
down, but although these are low cost & readily
available can be inconvenient for long periods of
sound such as exhibitions, shop displays etc.
So if space is available in the locomotive or stock
then 2 x alkaline AA cells, for example, will power
the SFX for much longer and a 2 x AA holder will
just fit inside many OO or larger gauge models -
you can also add an on-off switch if you wish.
VERY IMPORTANT: Note that the SFX must be
powered by 3 Volts DC maximum with correct
polarity or irreparable damage WILL result!
•Remove the CR2032 battery - do not refit!
•Solder red + positive wire from new battery
holder to pad marked +V on circuit board
•Solder black - negative wire from new battery
holder to the solder pad at the opposite end of
the SFX+ board just underneath the speaker
•Check connections, then fit new batteries
Using SFX+ with other loudspeakers
The SFX Plus capsule allows you to connect and
use a different speaker instead of the one fitted.
Almost any loudspeaker of 8Ω(8 ohms) should
be suitable and includes many ‘sugar cube’ and
‘bass reflex’ speakers designed for model use as
available from many DCC sound specialists.
To connect a different loudspeaker first you must
disconnect the existing SFX speaker:
•"Remove the battery.
•"Using plenty of light look at the edge of the
capsule marked ‘speaker’ and identify both fine
wires connecting the speaker and circuit board.
Using a very fine pair of wire cutters choose
either of the wires and carefully cut it at both the
speaker and circuit board end and discard so
that none is left to stray and touch other circuitry.
•Strip short lengths of insulation off the wires
from your new speaker, tin ends and carefully
solder them onto the solder pads either side of
the word ‘speaker’ on the printed circuit board.
•Check connections, refit the battery and test
Note that you must disconnect the internal
loudspeaker before connecting an external one
otherwise you will overload the amplifier circuitry.
NB The SFX speaker is bonded to the main
microchip - not recommended to try & remove!
Problems, hints and tips….
Sound too quiet?
Use the sound tube supplied, make a sound
box or adjust the volume - see details overleaf.
Don’t forget to make holes to let the sound out!
Clicking, Repeating or broken sounds?
If you hear repeating or odd broken sounds the
battery needs replacing. Remove it using finger
nail under battery at gold connector end first.
Battery
The SFX+ uses the popular CR2032 battery
available from discount stores and online - also
in packs of 3 as Train-Tech BAT1. Battery life
will depend on your volume setting and how
often you use the train it is fitted in, but you will
normally get many hours of sound from a new
battery, even longer if it is rested occasionally
because this gives the battery time to recover.
Motion sensor too sensitive?
The motion sensor contains a tiny 0.6mm gold
plated ball bearing to detect movement. If you
find it is too sensitive to other trains passing etc
you can slightly adjust sensitivity by changing
orientation of the sensor to point it upwards, or
wrapping the sensor in a small piece of foam.
But keep it away from the SFX speaker and the
loco motor and do not let it touch the inside of
the model or this may make it overly sensitive.
How can I turn SFX off?
SFX turns itself on and off automatically with
motion, but you can turn off SFX temporarily by
holding a strong magnet close to the sensor
outside the model which stops the ball bearing
moving - useful for transporting trains quietly!
Take Care!
Never apply more than 3 volts at correct polarity
& protect the speaker and all circuit parts from
damage from damp, wet or higher voltages.
Modifications to SFX+ : recommended for dealers and advanced modellers only
Caution - these modifications require good soldering skills and may invalidate your warranty
WARNING: Correct polarity & 3 volts MAXIMUM!
AA 1.5 volt battery
AA 1.5 volt battery
Top connect
+3V
Bottom connect
-3V
+ -
See our website, your local model shop or contact us for a free colour brochure
DCP Microdevelopments, Bryon Court, Bow Street, Great Ellingham, NR17 1JB, UK
Telephone [phone] • email [e-mail] • www.dcpexpress.com
www.Train-Tech.com
NEW SFX 21+ Diesel sound capsule
•Fits in seconds with no wiring - self contained
•Tiny capsule fits in locos, wagons, coaches etc
•Motion sensor replays sounds automatically
•Easy - no pickups so works on both DC & DCC
•Plays real sounds recorded from real trains
•Plus version includes adjustable volume link
•Pack includes Capsule, Sound Tube & Battery
Fit SOUND in any Train!
Image Courtesy
©Hornby Hobbies
Ideas for fitting SFX into N gauge
A full fact sheet on fitting SFX into N is available on www.Train-Tech.com
Unlike some of our other products it is not possible to power the SFX from
any battery smaller than the CR2032 which is 20mm in diameter and so is
too large to fit into most N gauge locomotives or stock. However with a little
imagination it is possible to use SFX in N gauge trains…….
Making the SFX an irregular load
A quick and easy method of using
SFX with N gauge is to mount and
disguise SFX on a flat wagon as an
‘irregular load’ as the picture below.
Fitting SFX inside N gauge stock
You can also fit SFX into an N
gauge coach or long wheelbase
wagon like this box van. The extra
height required is gained from
cutting a slot in the base of the
coach or wagon and fitting the SFX
with a trimmed down sound tube
horizontally so that it just under-
hangs between the wheels. It is
hardly noticeable once fitted!
To help let more sound out we
trimmed some of the inside rim of
the roof before refitting it, holding it
slightly proud of the box van sides
using a small piece of Blu-Tack or
similar at each end of the roof.
Note: This method of fitting requires
modest modelling skills to cut the
slot in the base of the stock.
SFX21+ Diesel sound
Train-Tech products are designed
and manufactured in Great Britain
www.train-tech.com
Tickover Turbo Horns
Speedup Compressor

1Ease the flexible sound tube
over the speaker - use a finger to
help shape the tube if it is flat
3Place the SFX into an open wagon or similar, tucking the
motion sensor away from the speaker, then put it on a track
and leave it to settle... you should then hear its Resting sound
speaker
+V
Using your model as a sound box
One ideal installation comes from sealing the
SFX speaker face down flat into the base of a
loco, tender or wagon body and drilling holes in
front of the speaker for the sound to come out
underneath, the body then acting as a sound
box to boost volume and make a richer sound.
(one of the main purposes of the sound tube or
enclosure is to prevent the sound waves
coming from the front of the speaker effectively
cancelling out or distorting opposing sounds
waves from the back of the speaker).
Increasing the volume of the SFX amplifier
We designed the SFX to be as small as
possible so that it could be fitted in most
models, but the tiny coincell battery limits the
amplifier volume and battery life available.
SFX+ capsules are supplied with the volume
preset to a medium setting as a reasonable
compromise between volume and battery life.
However SFX+ does have a facility to adjust
the amplifier volume and make it louder, though
with a corresponding reduction in battery life.
As supplied, the SFX+ has a small link wire
plugged into the volume socket (shown right).
Unplugging this link wire with fine nose pair of
pliers will increase the volume by around 35%. Document Ref D779753/1 E&OE © David Palmer DCP 2021
SFX21+ Diesel Locomotive Sound Capsule [ID dot colour on gold clip = Pink]!
Pack contents: SFX+ sound capsule, Flexible sound tube, CR2032 battery, instructions.
Introduction SFX is a self contained sound capsule for model trains and requires no connections because it is battery powered and uses a
motion sensor to detect whether it is stationary or moving and a microprocessor to play appropriate real train sounds! No on-off switch is
required because it turns itself on automatically as soon as it moves, then switches off after it has been still for a while to preserve battery.
SFX21 Classic Diesel Loco Sounds (note that others are available for Steam, DMU, Coaches, Goods shunting - see Train-Tech brochure)
These are the sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX21. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us from Class 31
locomotives No D5631 (31207) on the North Norfolk Railway (www.nnr.co.uk) and No 31235 on the Mid Norfolk Railway (www.mnr.org.uk)
#•"Stationary - Engine Tickover sound and occasional compressor cutting in and out
•Any movement triggers the sound of air release and if motion continues a single horn sounds followed by gradual speed up
•After speed up engine power is maintained on this version until the locomotive stops moving (the SFX20 includes some coasting)
•The two tone horn sounds after the loco travels continuously for a while
•When motion stops it returns to stationary sounds.
•If there is no motion for over a minute the SFX automatically goes to sleep and waits for slight movement to wake it up.
Test driving your SFX Sound capsule....
Getting the best from your SFX will depend on how & where you install it, so before you permanently fit it inside a model we recommend
you just try placing it in something like an open wagon first, either being pulled by a loco or just pushed along with your fingers.
2Fit CR2032 battery into the
holder + side up - slide under
gold metal clip side FIRST
This is the Motion Sensor - always locate this away from speaker
and not touching other surfaces in the model as it is very sensitive!
PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING YOUR SFX+
A minute after it last moves the SFX should sleep until it detects
movement again. (if it does not try changing the orientation of
the motion sensor or move it further away from the speaker)
Driving to the sound....
You will be able to hear all of the sounds described at the top of this page and many will be best experienced by ‘driving to the sound’.
The SFX only knows whether it is stationary or moving, not how fast it is going, but it’s on board microcomputer constantly monitors
motion and time to only increase sounds at a realistic rate (in other words real trains cannot go from 0-60 in 1 second unlike your
models can!). However you can effectively make your SFX reproduce the sounds you want by modifying the way you drive your train.
For example if you have some slow shunting to do and you do not want your train to sound too fast, then drive for a few seconds, stop
a moment then start moving again - the SFX will slow down and you can recommence shunting with the slower sounds.
The secret of getting the best from your SFX is practice and experiment - but whatever you do have fun with real sound!
Getting the best and loudest sound….
The best quality and loudness of sound from
your SFX fitted train will be governed mainly by
effective speaker installation. You could simply
drop your SFX into a locomotive or other stock
like a tender, coach or vented cattle wagon
and run it with the sound tube as shown
above, but like any sound system the quality of
sound will greatly depend on how the speaker
is mounted just as much as amplifier volume.
Making best use of the sound tube
We include a sound tube with each SFX to
enable you to quickly and easily try it, although
this can be used as part of a more permanent
installation. The tube can be bent or cut down
with scissors to fit into spaces, though longer
tubes usually sound richer & louder. But you
can try making better sound tubes using card,
plastic or bottle tops to fit in your model - you
will be surprised what a little experimentation
with different materials can achieve - look at
what a difference the tube makes to the SFX
speaker volume and richness when you fit it!
The best location for SFX will probably be
dictated by the optimum speaker position, but
do allow for relatively easy access to change
the battery from time to time.
volume socket
Tech-Tip
If you wish to set the volume in between the
medium and maximum levels you can plug in a
small fixed resistor of between 0 and 22 kΩor
use a variable or preset resistor as a volume
control, available from electronics suppliers.
Keep wires short and do not allow either of the
volume sockets to make connection with
anything else! (NB 7.5kΩis apprx mid volume)
Location of volume socket on SFX Plus
Although it may be tempting to increase the
volume just by removing this link, remember
that it will significantly reduce battery life and is
not a substitute for a good enclosure for the
speaker to give your train a richer higher quality
sound. (If you need longer battery life & have
space for larger batteries please see overleaf).
wire link
(keep fitted for
best battery life)
ID dot for
SFX model