Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => The "Black Arts!" ( Electrics & Electronics ) => Topic started by: AndyR on April 03, 2024, 03:46:13 pm

Title: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 03, 2024, 03:46:13 pm
Does anyone have any information bout this unit?
It is from an old Mount Fleet Ben Ain that I have been given and needs a rebuild.


I don't know what the terminals are for, which is power? which is speaker@ etc.


It seems the manufacturer no longer exists.





Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: DocMartin on April 03, 2024, 04:25:31 pm
Do you have a better picture of the full circuit board???  It may help answer some of your questions.
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 03, 2024, 05:41:03 pm
The orange connector on the right is power, it's marked with a + and -
The black one has diodes connected in opposite polarity on it, I think they may be for the 'pulse breaker' that goes to the motor.


That would leave the white ones as speaker.


Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 03, 2024, 06:56:43 pm
Apparently Componentshop.co.uk took over the products.


I will email and see if they have any circuit diagram or instructions.
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: DocMartin on April 03, 2024, 09:46:33 pm
With the information you've provided, I'm guessing the set-up and control of your module could be related to this:

https://www.componentshop.co.uk/p56-steam-engine-sound-simulator.html.html (https://www.componentshop.co.uk/p56-steam-engine-sound-simulator.html.html)

Check out the PDF file, as the controls and connections you describe are similar. 

Hope this helps!
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 03, 2024, 10:40:12 pm
Yes, I was just looking at that, it's got fewer components than the one I have and the two pots for volume and state are in different locations, but it looks like it could be a development of the original Tomahawk.


This one has a bunch of 'potted' components under a metal cover that seems to be acting as a heat sink for a hefty transistor, that screw you can see is holding the transistor against the cover I wonder if it's got a built in amp.
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: Mrs Stav on April 05, 2024, 03:10:46 pm
not at all anything to do with ACTion electronics Dave Milbourn devised his own systems as he was ACTion.
Stan Reffin can you help at all




Mrs Stav

Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: Stan on April 05, 2024, 04:58:33 pm
Sadly not.
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: HMS Invisible on April 05, 2024, 06:49:12 pm
Does anyone have any information bout this unit?
It is from an old Mount Fleet Ben Ain that I have been given and needs a rebuild.


I don't know what the terminals are for, which is power? which is speaker@ etc.


It seems the manufacturer no longer exists.
What about these photos DocMartin asked for? They'll reveal if its an audio amp or a timer circuit regardless of whether chip numbers are scratched off.
Its more likely to be some sort of smoke unit controller. Tomahawk search turns up smoke unit, Ben Ain has a lum, and a smoke unit would also have a motor connection by diode bridge.
 
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 05, 2024, 07:30:21 pm
Haven't had chance to take any yet, I will do them this evening.



Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 06, 2024, 11:56:19 pm
I suppose 'Steam Chuffer' could apply to a smoke unit or a sound unit.



Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: DocMartin on April 07, 2024, 12:31:05 am
Earlier comments deleted as upon closer review, the circuit board clearly has printed "TRAIN CHUFFER" at the edge. 
+1 comments previously left by HMS Invisible
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 07, 2024, 10:08:36 am
Further on a motor connector via diode bridge, there's what looks like a diode bridge by the black connectors, four diodes.
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: HMS Invisible on April 07, 2024, 11:00:45 am
I didn't notice the words "train chuffer" before. That's surely a sound unit. There would be no harm in connecting a high impedance speaker or headphones, say 64 ohm, or lower with a series resistor.

Maybe a search on web.archive.org shows something.
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: DocMartin on April 07, 2024, 01:35:13 pm
Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.  %)

Following HMS Invisible's suggestion, I searched web.archive.org and found a few archived pages.

Attached is a product list and available wav. files for the associated sound cards.  Interestingly, TP offered both a smoke generator and a steam sound generator.

Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 07, 2024, 06:39:36 pm
Good find.
Unfortunately there's no part number on the unit  :((
Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: DocMartin on April 07, 2024, 06:49:36 pm
Perhaps the "motor" output is really the connection point for the associated (add-on) smoke generator.

Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 07, 2024, 09:28:26 pm
There's a small black box with it labelled 'Pulse Breaker'
I just noticed that in small lettering next to a pair of captive wires it says "Connect to sound generator"
At the other end is a pair of terminals with "connect to motor)track" and separately "Polarity not important"
"

Title: Re: Identifying an old Tomahawk Products sound module. (wiring?)
Post by: AndyR on April 08, 2024, 12:07:25 pm
A new development.
In among all the bits that came with the Ben Ain kit is a scrap of paper I ignored up to now.


It has written on it


"Two medium wires to sound unit (9 volts)"


I guess that answers the question about what it is.


I also noticed that the two white terminals are screwed down tight shut whereas the two black and the orange marked with + and - are unscrewed.


As there isn't a speaker anywhere in the boat or the bits I am guessing they were never unscrewed to fit any wires.


That, I think answers all my questions about what goes where and what exactly the thing is.


Thanks to those that responded.