MyLocoSound

Overview

This page is under construction. The information I have gathered here is a compendium of what I believe to be correct, and some information comes from the manufacturer. I intend to personally try one out, but until then this page has these caveats.

This appears to be one of the most popular non-DCC sound systems, and is inexpensive. https://www.mylocosound.com/

Sold worldwide, especially popular in the UK and the USA & Canada (I think popular in Australia and New Zealand).

In large scale, there are the following sound products:

• Steam Universal
• Steam British
• Heavy Diesel Universal
• Heavy Diesel British
• Light Diesel
• Electric
• Street Car
• Railbus

Within each product, there can be several whistles, for example the British steam has 9 different whistles.

There seems to only be one bell on each product.

The card uses a combination of recorded and synthesized sounds (will try to find which is which)

There are 7 trigger terminals, for remote operation.

Sound output:

System is rated for 8 ohms 3 watts max, and you are informed a 4 ohm speaker can overload the amp if run a while at high volumes. Interestingly, this is one of the few sites I have ever read that guides you to a speaker with a resonant frequency of under 500 Hz, and optimally under 350. (for my steamers I try for 200 and under, but it's all about space in the tender).

To trigger the sounds from DCC the manufacturer suggest a servo switch, driven from a servo output on the decoder.

The manual goes on to say: "Many decoders also have function outputs which can be used to trigger sounds. However, this is technically
difficult and you should only attempt it if you are very familiar with your decoder and the setting of CVs."

 link to manual: https://www.mylocosound.com/linked/manual_premium_universal_steam_us.pdf

Since these function triggers just need to be pulled to ground, I am at a loss why this is difficult, and why you need to be "very familiar", at first glance it appears a simple connection to the function output of any DCC decoder would work. The grounds of the MLS and the decoder should be connected. I'll look for someone who has done this, but it should be simple.

It does appear that the MLS card can run up to 24 volts, minimum voltage is 7 volts

Programming

It has an interesting way of programming, to make things easy for non-technical users, it uses an IR remote like on a TV to change things. You can also control sounds, but IR outside is very limited.

More on sound details:

Diesel engine speed settings:

There are 4 "variations" on this sound:

1. engine revs increase proportionally to the speed
2. same as #1 but with gear changes for diesel mechanical locos
3. this simulates selecting notch 5, so the revs increase to double tickover rate before the loco moves
4. simliar to 3, but notch 8, where the revs increase to triple tickover rate before moving

Clearly, the "tickover rev rate" is adjustable, and for case 1 and 2, the user can set the rev rate limit while in motion

There is a chuff trigger input