Train-Tech SFX 50+ DMU Sound Capsule Instruction Manual
- June 13, 2024
- Train-Tech
Table of Contents
Fit SOUND in any Train!
NEW SFX 50+ DMU sound capsule
- Fits in seconds with no wiring – self contained
- Tiny capsule fits in coaches, locos, wagons 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
www.Train-Tech.com
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 01953 457800 • email sales@dcpmicro.com
• www.dcpexpress.com
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
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!
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
SFX50+ Diesel Multiple Unit Sound Capsule
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.
SFX50+ DMU Sounds (others are available for Diesel, Steam, Goods shunting,
Passenger coaches – see Train-Tech brochure) These are sounds you can expect
to hear from your SFX50. They are not simulated effects but real sounds
recorded by us on the Mid-Norfolk and North-Norfolk Railways from several
different sets of Class 101 DMU’s, though these would sound good in most
vintage DMU’s.#
- Startup – hear the classic engine start up, then a steady tickover while resting until the train moves again
- Further movement triggers the distinctive guard ‘buzz-buzz’, then if there is still motion sometimes a quick horn, followed by…
- The classic rasp of the engine starts speeding up and you can hear gradual gear changes and coasting as its journey continues
- A quick High-Low horn sounds if the loco travels continuously for a minute or so, then less frequently if the train continues longer
- After the SFX detects that motion has stopped, the DMU capsule returns to the sound of a gentle tickover…
- When there is no motion for around a minute the SFX automatically goes to sleep and waits for movement to wake it up.
PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING YOUR SFX+
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. 
Place 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
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.
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%.
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).
Location of volume socket on SFX Plus
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 kΩ or 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 7.5kΩ is apprx mid volume)
Document Ref D779755/1 E&OE © David Palmer DCP 2021
Ideas for fitting SFX into N gauge
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…….
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 underhangs 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.
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.
Train-Tech products are designed and manufactured in Great Britain www
.train-tech.com
A full fact sheet on fitting SFX into N is available on www.Train-
Tech.com
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
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