Electronic Steam Whistle

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Thread Starter

czars

Joined Jul 9, 2009

7

Apr 30, 2010

• #1

Does anyone have a circuit for a two or three tone steam whistle generator?

 

retched

Joined Dec 5, 2009

5,207

Apr 30, 2010

• #2

A little clairification please.? So you just want a synth to sound like a steam whistle

or a steam whistle operator?

 

C

Thread Starter

czars

Joined Jul 9, 2009

7

Apr 30, 2010

• #3

I want to use an electronic circuit to create a steam whistle sound when I close a switch.

 

retched

Joined Dec 5, 2009

5,207

Apr 30, 2010

• #4

Im sure they are around. The model railroading community HAS to have these for the scapes.

Thing is, how LOUD are you talking?

Just something for a model railroad? or do you want somthing ala Flintstones "Im outta here" - "Quittin' time" 180+ db loud?

 

C

Thread Starter

czars

Joined Jul 9, 2009

7

Apr 30, 2010

• #5

Amplitude doesn't matter. I can always amplify the signal.

 

tracecom

Joined Apr 16, 2010

3,944

Apr 30, 2010

• #6

czars said:

I want to use an electronic circuit to create a steam whistle sound when I close a switch.

Click to expand...

I know that you asked for a circuit and this is not a direct answer to your question, but Velleman makes a kit (MK134) that generates the sound of a steam engine and includes a whistle switch. Velleman publishes the schematic for most (if not all) of their kits.

 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007

22,230

Apr 30, 2010

• #7

Have you seen this article?

http://www.epanorama.rackhost.net/s...hesizers/Model Railroad Sound Synthesizer.pdf

It's been around for quite awhile (1977) but you could have fun building it.

You could substitute a 2N3904 or 2N2222 for the 2N2712 transistors shown.

[eta]
I decided to throw a portion of the circuit into a simulator, and thus far I'm not impressed. There are some obvious errors around the 555 timer.

 

Last edited: Apr 30, 2010

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007

22,230

Apr 30, 2010

• #8

The Velleman kit is easy to put together. The sounds are really pretty decent for what it is, depending on your output sound system.

 

bertus

Joined Apr 5, 2008

22,923

Apr 30, 2010

• #9

Hello,

In the attached PDF you will also find a small schematic on the second page.

Bertus

 

Attachments

• circuit16.pdf
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C

Thread Starter

czars

Joined Jul 9, 2009

7

Apr 30, 2010

• #10

Thanks for the inputs.

The MK134 has a pretty good chuff sound, but the whistle is a single frequency tome and doesn't sound very good.

I'll try the others that were suggested.

 

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someonesdad

Joined Jul 7, 2009

1,583

Apr 30, 2010

• #11

I know it's a bit off topic, but if you REALLY want to make a real steam whistle, there are plans for a Lunkheimer in Guy Lautard's "Machinist Bedside Reader", vol 2, pg 134. IIRC, it didn't look too hard -- mostly straightforward lathe work...

 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007

22,230

Apr 30, 2010

• #12

This'll make the hair stand up on the back of your neck:

http://www.steam-whistles.com/sounds/caryssouthern3chimesteam.mp3

Here's a 5 chime on a Shay:
http://www.steam-whistles.com/sounds/swanson5chime.mp3