Very nice install job, it appears that you installed LEDs as well. I intend to do a similar conversion with my model but with using an ESU decoder as well as separate flashing ditch lights
Thanks! I did replace the original bulbs with some surface mount LEDs and besides some bleed between the light pipes I'm happy with the effect. I had considered ESU as well. Do you have a specific project you'll use from ESU or a custom project?
@@yardsounds90 Custom sound file based on their AEM-7 project (S0595). Initially I intend to wire up a silent 21 pin motor decoder as a cost saving measure also because of the ongoing decoder shortage
@@yardsounds90 did u use 0402 or 0603? i’m currently exploring options that can be installed into the existing metal housing with light pipes or mounting directly to the lenses (including ditch lights so they can flash(
0805s actually! I usually save the 0402s and 0603s for classification lights and other very tight fit spaces. I just glued them into the plastic housing the bulbs originally occupied and filled in some gaps with non permanent sticky tack to prevent light bleed. Since I was just using the stock light pipes and not giving the lights individual LEDs, its essentially the same setup as stock. I think you could easily fit 0805s for ditch lights. I'm probably going to pick up a P42 later this year and add the flashing ditch lights as well. I was thinking of adding flashing ditch lights to the Acela too, but I haven't seen any video of it running with them flashing despite what I see on most other modern Amtrak motive power. Are they supposed to flash?
Thanks you! Unfortunately no one outside of custom sound projects does the correct horn for Acela, so I went with the closest thing on the Soundtraxx decoder until I can figure out a more accurate version.
It's a lot of fun having sound and the flashing pantograph and is a relatively easy DCC conversion. I'd like to eventually get an HHP-8 too, good luck with your future conversion!
Nicely done good sir. I too am planning on adding sound to my Acela set myself. How did you manage to take the shell off to get inside? That's where I'm having a little trouble with
Thank you! I'll be honest, I actually took the shell off maybe 5 or 6 years ago and it wasn't until I did this video that I went ahead and installed the decoder and lights. I remember I took off the nose which just clips in and the back plate at the rear of the loco, and slid the shell forward before it would come off the chassis. I don't recall how necessary it was to remove the nose or back plate but I felt it was necessary at the time. It was also a lot of gentle prying of the shell at the rear and the front. Popsicle sticks worked wonders. Apologies I don't have a more detailed answer. I do plan on adding a second function only decoder to the unpowered end of my Acela to control lights, so I'll probably do a detailed step by step disassembly at that point. That'll be in a few months however.
@@Alpha-jk5xm Wanted to follow up: I've re-disassembled the Acela with the intention of changing the LED setup and some other things, and I documented taking off the shell here - ua-cam.com/video/5PcVOsPb_JU/v-deo.html
Hi there, I used a surface mount LED for the pantograph, specifically an ice blue size 0805 LED that was pre-wired, and I used the 1k ohm resistor that was included on the Decoder Buddy motherboard I used for the install. The LED is about 1mm long and very small. If you do a Google search for 'surface mounted LED sizes' you'll see a chart and their designations. You should be able to find pre-wired surface mount LEDs on ebay or AliExpress pretty cheaply. I do not believe the specific listing for the ice blue one I purchased exists anymore but this was the seller on ebay: www.ebay.com/str/completecomponentsolutions?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fhWJSnTzS-W&sssrc=3418065&ssuid=47_YAm0MQ4-&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Hi there! No custom sound files here, I've just used the 'electric locomotive' version of the Soundtraxx Tsunami 2. I've considered swapping to an ESU in the future but it's not a priority with the Acela at the moment.
@@yardsounds90 Thank you for the reply! You mentioned it during the video but thanks for replying to clear any doubt. I am in the process of converting my Acela to DCC + Sound.
@@New.England.Rail.Enthusiast 21 pin in this case. All of the wires for the lights and motor and speaker from the locomotive get wired to the motherboard rather than the decoder, and the decoder plugs into the motherboard. Helps make neater wiring if there's space under the shell to make it all fit. And easier to swap decoders if ever there's a need to do so.
Hello, nice video. I just received my Acela, and am looking for help with installing sound: ua-cam.com/video/cScMJmcR0SQ/v-deo.html. It's running on DC, but I also have a TRIX Mobile Station 2 for my DCC locos.
Thank you for watching! It looks like you have a newer Acela which should have LEDs so you do not need to worry about that. It should have an 8-pin socket, so you really only need to find a sound decoder that you'd like and a space for the speaker which there is plenty. I removed the original motherboard as I wanted the extra room for a current keeper. The hard part is removing the shell, which I unfortunately do not recall how to do, as it was done years ago before I started the DCC installation. I do plan to open up the unpowered locomotive to install a lighting decoder in there, and will show how to open up the model hopefully then in the future, as it is not really documented anywhere.
@@yardsounds90 Thanks for getting back to me. My biggest challenge is to determine which decoder to use, as there are so many out there. I just ran it on DCC, and it works fine (runs much faster than on DC). Looking forward to your future video.
@@tomsmaerklintrainlayout6742 ah yes, figuring out which decoder to use is half the challenge. I went with Soundtraxx, partially because they had a sale and I got it for a good price, and partially because I like the feature of the flashing arc of electricity in the pantograph. If there was an ESU sound project that I was confident would get me close to the real Acela horn and general sounds, I'd likely have gone with that instead. Or if Train Control Systems ever do a WOWSound stand alone, I'd consider that too since they've done factory sound in Bachmann's ACS-64, and that sounds really nice. Because the model has an 8-pin socket, it should be pretty easy to get a decoder to fit. It's just getting the right sound profile is the hard part as Electric locomotives don't make too much sound in the first place, and they aren't as popular so there aren't as many options. ESU Loksound with a TGV or ICE sound profile might get you close but the horn wouldn't be American. I do wish you luck! The Acela is a very nice model and sound really makes it more exciting I think.
Very inspiring! I think I'm going to do this with my Acela set which has been sitting with the old analog non-dcc for like 10 years great work !
Thank you much! It's a wonderful model out of the box but I enjoy the added fun of sound, even if electric locomotives don't make much noise.
Very nice install job, it appears that you installed LEDs as well. I intend to do a similar conversion with my model but with using an ESU decoder as well as separate flashing ditch lights
Thanks! I did replace the original bulbs with some surface mount LEDs and besides some bleed between the light pipes I'm happy with the effect. I had considered ESU as well. Do you have a specific project you'll use from ESU or a custom project?
@@yardsounds90 Custom sound file based on their AEM-7 project (S0595). Initially I intend to wire up a silent 21 pin motor decoder as a cost saving measure also because of the ongoing decoder shortage
@@yardsounds90 did u use 0402 or 0603? i’m currently exploring options that can be installed into the existing metal housing with light pipes or mounting directly to the lenses (including ditch lights so they can flash(
0805s actually! I usually save the 0402s and 0603s for classification lights and other very tight fit spaces. I just glued them into the plastic housing the bulbs originally occupied and filled in some gaps with non permanent sticky tack to prevent light bleed. Since I was just using the stock light pipes and not giving the lights individual LEDs, its essentially the same setup as stock. I think you could easily fit 0805s for ditch lights.
I'm probably going to pick up a P42 later this year and add the flashing ditch lights as well. I was thinking of adding flashing ditch lights to the Acela too, but I haven't seen any video of it running with them flashing despite what I see on most other modern Amtrak motive power. Are they supposed to flash?
@@yardsounds90 the new Athearn Genesis P42 has pre installed LEDs including separate ditch lights. To my knowledge they flash
That is correct bell not horn like on the really cool when Pendergrass lights up
Thanks you! Unfortunately no one outside of custom sound projects does the correct horn for Acela, so I went with the closest thing on the Soundtraxx decoder until I can figure out a more accurate version.
I'm trying to get the set myself and do something similar. I also want to with a HHP-8
It's a lot of fun having sound and the flashing pantograph and is a relatively easy DCC conversion. I'd like to eventually get an HHP-8 too, good luck with your future conversion!
Nicely done good sir. I too am planning on adding sound to my Acela set myself. How did you manage to take the shell off to get inside? That's where I'm having a little trouble with
Thank you! I'll be honest, I actually took the shell off maybe 5 or 6 years ago and it wasn't until I did this video that I went ahead and installed the decoder and lights. I remember I took off the nose which just clips in and the back plate at the rear of the loco, and slid the shell forward before it would come off the chassis. I don't recall how necessary it was to remove the nose or back plate but I felt it was necessary at the time. It was also a lot of gentle prying of the shell at the rear and the front. Popsicle sticks worked wonders.
Apologies I don't have a more detailed answer. I do plan on adding a second function only decoder to the unpowered end of my Acela to control lights, so I'll probably do a detailed step by step disassembly at that point. That'll be in a few months however.
It's all good man, I do appreciate the advice, I really do. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for that
@@Alpha-jk5xm Wanted to follow up: I've re-disassembled the Acela with the intention of changing the LED setup and some other things, and I documented taking off the shell here - ua-cam.com/video/5PcVOsPb_JU/v-deo.html
Very cool I subscribed keep it up
Bachmann acleas deadly since 2010
The Acela has a K5LA hybrid search it on.
It does, but unfortunately no one makes a suitable deocder with the Acela's distinct K5LA, they really only get in the ballpark for that sound
Did you use a 3mm 3.3v blue LED? Please tell what you used and where did you purchase. Thanks
Hi there, I used a surface mount LED for the pantograph, specifically an ice blue size 0805 LED that was pre-wired, and I used the 1k ohm resistor that was included on the Decoder Buddy motherboard I used for the install. The LED is about 1mm long and very small. If you do a Google search for 'surface mounted LED sizes' you'll see a chart and their designations.
You should be able to find pre-wired surface mount LEDs on ebay or AliExpress pretty cheaply. I do not believe the specific listing for the ice blue one I purchased exists anymore but this was the seller on ebay: www.ebay.com/str/completecomponentsolutions?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fhWJSnTzS-W&sssrc=3418065&ssuid=47_YAm0MQ4-&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Could you share the sound files? Where did you get them? Thank you!
Hi there! No custom sound files here, I've just used the 'electric locomotive' version of the Soundtraxx Tsunami 2. I've considered swapping to an ESU in the future but it's not a priority with the Acela at the moment.
@@yardsounds90 Thank you for the reply! You mentioned it during the video but thanks for replying to clear any doubt. I am in the process of converting my Acela to DCC + Sound.
What kind of soundtraxx
I used the Tsunami 2 TSU-21PNEM8 with the 'Electric' sound profile, coupled with a Decoder Buddy motherboard :)
@@yardsounds90 oh is it like a 8 pin or some wiring
@@New.England.Rail.Enthusiast 21 pin in this case. All of the wires for the lights and motor and speaker from the locomotive get wired to the motherboard rather than the decoder, and the decoder plugs into the motherboard. Helps make neater wiring if there's space under the shell to make it all fit. And easier to swap decoders if ever there's a need to do so.
Hello, nice video. I just received my Acela, and am looking for help with installing sound: ua-cam.com/video/cScMJmcR0SQ/v-deo.html. It's running on DC, but I also have a TRIX Mobile Station 2 for my DCC locos.
Thank you for watching! It looks like you have a newer Acela which should have LEDs so you do not need to worry about that. It should have an 8-pin socket, so you really only need to find a sound decoder that you'd like and a space for the speaker which there is plenty. I removed the original motherboard as I wanted the extra room for a current keeper. The hard part is removing the shell, which I unfortunately do not recall how to do, as it was done years ago before I started the DCC installation. I do plan to open up the unpowered locomotive to install a lighting decoder in there, and will show how to open up the model hopefully then in the future, as it is not really documented anywhere.
@@yardsounds90 Thanks for getting back to me. My biggest challenge is to determine which decoder to use, as there are so many out there. I just ran it on DCC, and it works fine (runs much faster than on DC). Looking forward to your future video.
@@tomsmaerklintrainlayout6742 ah yes, figuring out which decoder to use is half the challenge. I went with Soundtraxx, partially because they had a sale and I got it for a good price, and partially because I like the feature of the flashing arc of electricity in the pantograph. If there was an ESU sound project that I was confident would get me close to the real Acela horn and general sounds, I'd likely have gone with that instead. Or if Train Control Systems ever do a WOWSound stand alone, I'd consider that too since they've done factory sound in Bachmann's ACS-64, and that sounds really nice.
Because the model has an 8-pin socket, it should be pretty easy to get a decoder to fit. It's just getting the right sound profile is the hard part as Electric locomotives don't make too much sound in the first place, and they aren't as popular so there aren't as many options. ESU Loksound with a TGV or ICE sound profile might get you close but the horn wouldn't be American.
I do wish you luck! The Acela is a very nice model and sound really makes it more exciting I think.