Specifications

19
Steam Sound
: Optical Synchronization
Rim read
OPTICAL COUPLER
(ITEM #583)
SOUND UNIT optional reflective optical coupler mounts
parallel to axle, can read reflective tips of installed
square cam (factory installed on some engines) or
install provided (or paint) black / white stripe quartered
to drivers.Using reflective infra-red light, this coupler
reads axle pattern for true chuff synchronization (4
chuffs per revolution or whatever you desire). Packaged
with the pickup are various laser printed stripes for
mounting on a drive axle (various diameters included)
or rim locations. This pickup is optional for all steam
sound systems. The infra-red optical pickup has 16" of
wire attached to it. Since only 3 wires are necessary
between the engine and tender, our item 521 or 758 are
ideal for this application. See page 53 under heading -
accessories / small connectors.
Optical coupler measures 0.1" thick X 0.25w @ front,
0.5" deep & 0.6" wide @ main optical rear - before
mounting slot, mounting slot is 0.5" long X 0.25" wide.
Axle read
Focus Distance
1/8" - 3/16"
Optical pattern
mounted on
drive axle
apply a thin layer of glue
on each side to prevent oil
from contaminating the
optical pattern.
Optical Coupler (hi-lighted for ease
of viewing) glued to frame 3/16"
from optical end to pattern. In this
installation, the end mounting ears
had to be trimmed to obtain
clearance to the drive gear box.
When doing so care must be used
to not damage the optics.
Steam Sound
: Reed Switch Synchronization
Axle synchronization can also be accomplished by
gluing one or two magnets onto any axle. The reed
switch is supplied with two wires and heatshrinked
inside heatshrink tubing. These merely connect to the
White and Black wires from the "sync" connector.
To create one chuff per revolution, which most will find
creates the sound effect desired, merely glue one
magnet onto the axle. For two chuff's per revolution, the
second magnet needs to be glued onto the axle in the
opposite position. Most trailing wheel sets are 1/2 the
diameter of the main drivers, so two magnets would
yield 4 chuffs per revolution of the main drivers.
These magnets are very small and measure only 0.1"
wide x 0.2" long x 0.045" thick.
Two magnets and one reed switch assembly are
included in this package.
Reed Switch
Magnet's
Item #583
Item # 584