Example 1: Simple Zimo Sound

Kit:: MX648R (plugged in); SugarCube7 speaker

Going for a really simple approach on this one...

Just complicated a little because we want a firebox glow LED (nano)...

The MX648R plugs straight into the model's 8pin DCC socket, and a SugarCube7 is perched just ahead on some Black Tack.

Body on, custom weathering applied and off we go!

Example 2: Same, but adding Stay-Alive and hard-wiring

Kit: Zimo MX648 hard-wired and SugarCube7 speaker, SPEIKOMP kit and 3x 330uF Tantalum stay-alive

Donor model, already weathered by TMC...

The 8 pin DCC socket has sprung-loaded pins that go down to the pickups, so best to keep this. However, we need lots of space, so we chop all but the pins and the screw retainer. The MX648 decoder has the pickup wires soldered direct to the top of the pins. The decoder has has all unwanted wires removed, and the sleeve replaced with Kapton tape to make as thin and compact as possible.

You don't necessarily need to do this, but for good running we have added a SPEIKOMP kit and 3 x 330uF Tantalum capacitors as stay-alive. Capacitors joined in parallel and all bits protected with Kapton tape.

All connected with relatively short wires, and secured with some double-sided tape, or a little Black Tack, mounted diagonally to fit better. SugarCube7 fits in the side tank.

Done, and back together...

Example 3: simple plug-in

Kit: MX648R (or MS480R); SugarCube7; Lais stay-alive

This time we decide to remove the metal weight in one of the side tanks so that the kit can all fit in without having to hard-wire.

This mostly works fine, except that the suppression components in the model cause problems for the motor control from the decoder, so we must remove them. In this J50, the offending component is a surface mount capacitor underneath the 8pin PCB marked as 'C1'. Desolder (or snip) this out and everything behaves perfectly!

Please note that these guides are provided as useful resources for you, as-is. YouChoos cannot be held responsible for errors in the information, or for any damage caused to your models or equipment if you choose to follow any of the steps detailed here.