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Post by grabbem88 on Apr 12, 2014 7:32:47 GMT -8
Hello guys
Bought a kato p42 dc when they first came out basically been a shelf queen since..
Been installing tsunami decoders on my engines till I felt confident enough to tackle the kato p42..
After 20 installs I figured it was time and I was ready..
Lol! I think I was wrong but then again my search engine has yet found anything on actually installing an Esu loksound direct select board!!
I followed most of kato and tsunami instructions but that basically stopped after the only useful thing was how to wire the coreless trucks..
I think the board style is what my problem is??
Trucks are supposed be wired to pos/neg pads in series but what about power pick up?
The kato has the brass strip for contacting the trucks
Am I supposed to remove this and wire to trucks and run wires like we do the conventional kato engines like the pre kato sd40-2 mid's that had that same copper strip??
Well that's how I did mine
I'm sure I left a lot out but I wanted to get a post out so when others want to attempt this there will be something to search for
Thanks art
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Post by Mark R. on Apr 13, 2014 17:38:56 GMT -8
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Post by grabbem88 on Apr 14, 2014 9:25:07 GMT -8
Yes those were it
I figured it out but I realized trying make an esu direct board work was going to be a nightmare and the plastic tabs holding the weight/frame were not budging.
Plus the weight has to be further ground to clear the truck wires from binding on the frame..
So I sent it back and swapped for the more user friendly tsunami/kato decoder
I really wanted that prime mover sound from esu but tsunami hasn't failed me yet!
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Post by Mark R. on Apr 14, 2014 16:14:49 GMT -8
Why didn't you use a Loksound Select with the 8-pin plug ? Aside from the modifications you have to do anyway, it would plug right in. The last picture on the Kato link shows the Loksound Select decoder installed.
Mark.
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Post by nightmare0331 on Apr 16, 2014 7:13:53 GMT -8
there is no grinding the frame necessary to install either decoder. If the trucks are binding, you don't have enough truck lead pulled out of the frame for it to pivot properly.
Neither install is particularly difficult although the ESU involves a bit more work to modify the existing light board, which isn't a big deal since in either case you have to do some soldering.
Enjoy!
Kelley.
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Post by grabbem88 on Apr 17, 2014 6:12:34 GMT -8
If I used esu's other decoder I'd be posting my results but instead I goofed and ordered the board style..
And the lighting would have been nightmare with those light bars. I'd have leakage for sure unless I tape smd's without tearing them apart..
I'm just hoping using qsi speakers instead of tsunami will sound like my Amtrak 8-32bw ... I was surprised how much better the horn sounded and prime mover clarity..
Anyways I made a mistake although I wished esu made a direct drop in for the p42 like tsunami did other than extending the wires obviously...
Btw is the tsunami kt1000 really just a fdl 16 modern or is it an actual recording of an Amtrak p42
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Post by Mark R. on Apr 17, 2014 8:50:59 GMT -8
The Tsunami is a generic modern FDL16 (although they will probably tell you otherwise) where-as the Loksound was recorded from an actual P42. If the Tsunami was an actual P42, where are all the HEP sounds like the Loksound version has ?
Mark.
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Post by neurorad826 on Apr 26, 2014 23:35:39 GMT -8
I installed the ESU (Locksound 4 - european version) on the Kato P42. I soldered the wires to the Locksound wires (cutting apart the 8-pin plug). The nightmare were lighting. I used white LEDs and optic fiber (1,5 mm) for front lights and for L&R ditch lights. Red LEDs and 1mm optic fiber for front rear (red) lights. For the rear lights I used the pipes already installed in the Kato P42 with 1 withe LED and 1 red LED. It was an hard job but sound is great and I saved 80$
Inviato dal mio iPad utilizzando Tapatalk
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Post by grabbem88 on May 7, 2014 10:11:15 GMT -8
Change of plans and in a good way....hopefully.
Exchanged tsunami for the right esu select aux 6
The tsunami has weak leds and actually crapped out when I changed the address..
I have the kato board all prepped the trucks all wired
So all I gotta do is hook up purple wire to rear lights the speakers grind a slot for decoder wires and plug it in
Am I missing something??
Thanks art
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Post by grabbem88 on May 10, 2014 19:04:37 GMT -8
Well this decoder bit the dust.
Got it running then went up in smoke. Not sure what's going on but this kato is starting to seam like a pos lemon..
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Post by sd80mac on May 17, 2014 13:28:18 GMT -8
I was disappointed with the Kato P42 sound from both Soundtraxx and ESU. Neither has that characteristic P42 "chug" and "whine". I work with modern GE's (Dash 8s, Dash 9s, AC4400s) on an almost daily basis. P42s do NOT sound the same as these beasts, even though they use the same engine, there is something that makes a P42 unique. The horn from both decoders was also disappointing. The Nathan K5LAs delivered on the P42s with their 2-stage solenoid valves have a truly unique sound in their own right, can no one get a good recording of these things?
Sorry for the off topic rant, good luck on your install! I had wanted one of these but after reading about your problems and the disappointing sound, I might just stick with my Athearn RTR.
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Post by grabbem88 on May 17, 2014 15:17:03 GMT -8
I have p42's fly by my house everyday and I agree sound is very unique but I gotta have sound in this sucker!!
Especially after all my epic fails lol
It's on the back burner now ... Made me a sweet looking Santa Fe cf7 which turned out pretty good..
Another trash can save!
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Post by Mark R. on May 18, 2014 14:23:26 GMT -8
I was disappointed with the Kato P42 sound from both Soundtraxx and ESU. Neither has that characteristic P42 "chug" and "whine". I work with modern GE's (Dash 8s, Dash 9s, AC4400s) on an almost daily basis. P42s do NOT sound the same as these beasts, even though they use the same engine, there is something that makes a P42 unique. The horn from both decoders was also disappointing. The Nathan K5LAs delivered on the P42s with their 2-stage solenoid valves have a truly unique sound in their own right, can no one get a good recording of these things? Sorry for the off topic rant, good luck on your install! I had wanted one of these but after reading about your problems and the disappointing sound, I might just stick with my Athearn RTR. Interesting comments considering Loksound's recording were straight off an Amtrak P42 - including the horn ! Mark. |
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Post by grabbem88 on Jun 4, 2014 19:03:02 GMT -8
Well got her done!
I like it a lot! Not bad for a rookie eh??
Enjoy and comment if ya like
Art
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Post by sd80macs on Jun 5, 2014 16:07:05 GMT -8
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Post by grabbem88 on Jun 6, 2014 5:04:30 GMT -8
I was about to ask why you recanted your previous post but I see you are a macs not a Mac lol!
Yours sounds good unfortunately mine has speaker pockets and limited to what can be done
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Post by hexomega2319 on Jun 7, 2015 8:30:33 GMT -8
I was disappointed with the Kato P42 sound from both Soundtraxx and ESU. Neither has that characteristic P42 "chug" and "whine". I work with modern GE's (Dash 8s, Dash 9s, AC4400s) on an almost daily basis. P42s do NOT sound the same as these beasts, even though they use the same engine, there is something that makes a P42 unique. The horn from both decoders was also disappointing. The Nathan K5LAs delivered on the P42s with their 2-stage solenoid valves have a truly unique sound in their own right, can no one get a good recording of these things? Sorry for the off topic rant, good luck on your install! I had wanted one of these but after reading about your problems and the disappointing sound, I might just stick with my Athearn RTR. Interesting comments considering Loksound's recording were straight off an Amtrak P42 - including the horn ! Mark. It doesn't sound like any P42 I've been around... Sorry to be a thread necromancer but I have been working on my own P42dc soundset for the Loksound decoders so if anyone is interested let me know and I will share it! |
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Post by Mark R. on Jun 7, 2015 18:47:37 GMT -8
Listening to numerous Amtrak horns in this video ....
I was also playing the sample of the Loksound horn, and even though I told directly by Matt at ESU that their K5LA was indeed recorded from an Amtrak P42, I have to agree it's not right. However, I tried a few of the other Loksound horns available, and Loksound's Holden K5H is almost a dead ringer for the horns in that video. I was playing the video and the Loksound horn at the same time and honestly got confused a couple times whether it was the video or the Loksound horn I was listening to.
Mark.
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Post by hexomega2319 on Jun 8, 2015 18:24:32 GMT -8
Which? The Holden K5H sounds very much like an F40ph.
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Post by Mark R. on Jun 8, 2015 18:40:06 GMT -8
I'm just saying - comparing to the Amtrak horns in that video, Loksound's Holden K5H sounds closer to them than their K5LA, that's all. It's still not perfect, but to my ear, it's closer ....
Mark.
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Post by hexomega2319 on Jun 8, 2015 23:15:28 GMT -8
Gotcha. I wish you didn't have to purchase a V4 just to add your own sounds to it.. The V4 is only a 4 function decoder so you have to buy an additional board to do the ditch lights.
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Post by Mark R. on Jun 9, 2015 15:32:22 GMT -8
Actually the V4.0 does have six function outputs - the last two are logic level, meaning you would have to utilize your own off-board switching transistor and power sink.
Mark.
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