[Accrs-ho] Train Boss - The Talking Train Defect Detector System

[ACCRS HO Scale]

The logical place for installation is block 37 which would cover ALL trains and location of speaker near the dispatch panel would allow for volume control by the dispatcher as noise level changes throughout the day during the fair.   If we like the unit and want to buy a second in the future the other single line location could be the inter-urban by the port.  That could encourage more Inter-urban line use, but a speaker right at the entrance could cause a bottleneck.   Would it be possible (probably not but I'll throw it out to the electrical people to pass judgement) to wire a second detector to the same speaker if we put it on the Inter-urban near Oildale?
I don't think buying male and female voices and changing the chip is a good idea.  Sounds like a guarantee of breaking something.  I would defer the female voice (and extra $30 cost) until the second unit.
While the club name is ACCRS, the actual railroad is Sierra Western and the club locomotives are decaled that way so that should probably be the railroad identifier in the voice.  Although if I recall the specs it allowed enough custom words that we could do "Alameda County Central Railroad (not custom - it is in the canned words) Society" as the identifier. 
Just my thoughts, since I will not be at the meeting next week.
Dennis

      From: ACCRS HO Scale <accrs-ho at mail.accrs.org>
 To: "accrs-ho at mail.accrs.org" <accrs-ho at mail.accrs.org> 
 Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2017 3:01 PM
 Subject: [Accrs-ho] Train Boss - The Talking Train Defect Detector System
   
#yiv8681855915 #yiv8681855915 -- P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}#yiv8681855915 Follow-up on Boulder Creek Train Talking Train Defect Detector product.   Think about this more -several decisions to make concerning install/config.  See http://www.bouldercreekengineering.com/trainboss.php and  http://www.bouldercreekengineering.com/docs/tb-23_product_manual.pdf for more details.


Boulder Creek Parts and Prices $189.95Model No. TB-23M  $149.95  (Includes two Axle Sensors, report push-button switch, male voice)

Item No. TB-VC22F  Female Voice Chip $30.00

Item TB-CWP Custom Word or Phrase  $10.00


Additional Parts Required (Estimated Cost $39.00)Power Supply: DC (9-12 V) or AC (7-9 V), 250 mA required *   
8-Ohm speaker or powered speakers required **
* A power supply for laptop or electronics device with these ratings can used)  Estimated Cost $15.00**  Old PC external powered speakers can work with this.  Estimated Cost $24.00
If anyone has old PC parts (power supply, external powered speakers) willing to donate this would be helpful.


Decisions To Make1.) Purchase 1 or 2 TB-23 (one for freight main line and one for passenger main line)2.) TB-23 Installation location, power source, wiring, on/off switch requirements or not
3.) Single or Double detector option (Single is the default config - provides  axle counts, train speed, and train length;  Double does not report speed or train length)4.) Speaker Placement, volume control5.) Track locations to install Axle Sensors on;  requires cutting out a section of ties and roadbed to insert sensor board underneath  Single detector option requires two locations on same mainlinewithin 235 scale feet of each other. 6.) Custom word or phrase to program7.) Install/Not Install push-button report switch
SuggestionsPurchasing - purchase one TB-23 for freight main line and if all goes well purchase a second one for passenger main line
Install with Standard/Default "Single" detector option - more like the real thing.
TB-23 Install Location - Port area near aisle.  There is available surge protector to plug power supplies into,  there is a mounting board installed for adding devices with available space. Easy to install sensor wire drops to the TB-23
Speaker Location -   Could be installed into the aisle fascia or position under the layout pointing into a specific direction.  Easy access to the TB-23.
Volume Control - Powered speakers with an available volume control switch would be the easiest of the two options.  Using direct attach 8 ohm speaker, volume is controlled only on the TB-23 board.  If the volume control knob switch can be hacked, ie, removed from speaker housing it could be mounted on tabletop area - perhaps under a "lift-up" building or other structure to concern the knob.
Male/Female Voice - Purchase 1 TB-23 Male and the extra Female voice chip - can switch them every two months;  if a second TB-23 is purchased, request no chip, save $30.00 and use the extra one for that.
Custom Word - ACCRS
Push-Button Report Switch - this repeats the last report, could be useful for testing purposes and or  an amusement to visitors if installed for visitor access, but could abused and become annoying.  Or, perhaps wire this into the control panel for operator amusement.

//eom



 






From: Accrs-ho <accrs-ho-bounces at mail.accrs.org> on behalf of ACCRS HO Scale <accrs-ho at mail.accrs.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2017 11:10 AM
To: List, ACCRS
Subject: [Accrs-ho] HO Scale Meeting Minutes May 2017 Message From: UPWPFan  upwpfan at comcast.net

Message From: Tony Long  tony.long at outlook.com

_______________________________________________
Accrs-ho mailing list
Accrs-ho at mail.accrs.org
https://mail.accrs.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/accrs-ho


   
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mail.accrs.org/archives/accrs-ho/attachments/20170602/b82d17cc/attachment-0001.html>