Hello all,
I plan to add a Loksound Select (EMD 16-645E Non Turbo) decoder to my HO Scale Kato EJ&E SD38-2, using the 8 pin plug to simplify things. Is there anything else I need to know? The LED Kato lights are able to work fine right? Is it just a simple "plug and play" operation? Thanks.
-Khang Lu, University of Minnesota Railroad Club
davidmbedardYou got to mount the speaker.
Ok, that shouldn't be a problem, there's a speaker enclosure inside the fuel tank that Kato provided. Is the Loksound Select decoder compatible with LEDs?
Soo Line 720,
You can take a look at some of these. I did not look through all of them, but when I typed in my query, the site popped up. Take a look! Lot of info:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Locsound%20%20Decoder%20Install%20Kato%20SD38-2%20W%2FSOUND&sm=12
Frank
zstripe Soo Line 720, You can take a look at some of these. I did not look through all of them, but when I typed in my query, the site popped up. Take a look! Lot of info: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Locsound%20%20Decoder%20Install%20Kato%20SD38-2%20W%2FSOUND&sm=12 Frank
Those are good videos for showing the sound functions, but they dont answer my questions from above, has anyone done a Loksound Select installation?
The LokSound Select is compatible with LEDs IF they already have the required resistors on the Kato circuit board, which should be the case. However, you do need to program the Select light output functions for LEDs as follows:
SET CV32=0SET CV263=128SET CV271=128
CV 32 tells the decoder that you're going to be setting a Special Function. CV 263 is the Headlight Special Function and CV271 is the Backup light Special Function. The value of 128 sets those fuctions to indicate that you're using LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs.
If might be helpful to you for future reference to download the LokSound Select User Manual from the ESU-USA web site.
David's comment about the speaker is to avoid the problem of the speaker's magnet picking up loose metal objects from the layout and damaging the speaker cone.
You can get the LokSound Select manual from here: http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/instruction-manuals/digital-decoders/
Why not? Does the speaker not fit or something?
Speakers in fuel tanks pick up every bit of magnetic debris along your tracks, which leads to muddy sound which leads to speaker damage depending on what it pulls in. Grille cloth over the opening can protect the speaker but also muffles the sound somewhat.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Speakers in fuel tanks pick up every bit of magnetic debris along your tracks, which leads to muddy sound which leads to speaker damage depending on what it pulls in. Grille cloth over the opening can protect the speaker but also muffles the sound somewhat. --Randy
Oh...Ok then, do I have to do any modifications at all to the locomotive to house the speaker in the long hood? I am not very skilled with modifying things.
This speaker with enclosure should fit inside the top rear part of the shell. Any similarly sized oval speaker with enclosure should suffice if you have a local supplier available instead of having to rely on mail order and accompanying shipping charges.
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=999003270&cat=283&page=1
So this is the final million dollar question, all I have to do is plug the decoder into my Kato SD38 using the 8 pin plug, mount the speaker in the rear, and set CVs for LED lights? Heres the EBAY listing for the decoder I want:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-3426-LokSound-Select-EMD-16-645E-Non-Turbo-SD38-2-WITH-A-3-4-SPEAKER-/140932727677?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item20d03ec37d
Soo.
I buy from this retailer. Cheaper too. http://www.traintekllc.com/ESU-73400-LokSound-Select-6-AUX-HO-Sound-Decoder/productinfo/ESU-73400/
Traintek is a great place. I buy all my decoders from them. Just don't forget to pick the sound set when ordering.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
You didn't activate the link so I can see the decoder you intend to purchase, but I would be extremely leery of ordering a LokSound through e-Bay -- too much chance that you're getting one that is used, has problems, has no warranty, and no reputable dealer backing it up.
cacole You didn't activate the link so I can see the decoder you intend to purchase, but I would be extremely leery of ordering a LokSound through e-Bay -- too much chance that you're getting one that is used, has problems, has no warranty, and no reputable dealer backing it up.
Thank you, I ended up buying the decoder from a different site, but can someone answer my post from above? I am new with DCC and I am trying to learn how to install decoders.
Possibly just plug in - it depends on the arrangment of the Kato circuit board, if the LED resistors are kept in the circuit when a decoder is plugged in to the 8 pin socket, then yes, 'all' you need to do is plug the decoder in and mount the speaker and enclosure. Not sure if there truly is enough room, I would have though they made the weight larger since they left a speaker space in the fuel tank, but I don;t have one of those locos to compare. Some places to check out for visuals would be the TCS web site, which would also show if you can just plug the decoder in and the LEDs are taken care of, or if you have to add your own resistors, and also the Yahoo Group RPMclinics-RickBell. In the Yahoo group they do one loco at a time, and in the files section they keep archive articles for the ones that were done in the past - complete sound installs. Great for ideas on making things fit. There isn't necessarily just one way to do things, but if you haven't done this before, it's probably a good idea to follow someone else's example for the first few, especially with regards to fitting the speaker, which is the hardest part of most sound installs (at least now that the decoders are down to a size where they are no bigger really that a motor only decoder).
rrinker Possibly just plug in - it depends on the arrangment of the Kato circuit board, if the LED resistors are kept in the circuit when a decoder is plugged in to the 8 pin socket, then yes, 'all' you need to do is plug the decoder in and mount the speaker and enclosure. Not sure if there truly is enough room, I would have though they made the weight larger since they left a speaker space in the fuel tank, but I don;t have one of those locos to compare. Some places to check out for visuals would be the TCS web site, which would also show if you can just plug the decoder in and the LEDs are taken care of, or if you have to add your own resistors, and also the Yahoo Group RPMclinics-RickBell. In the Yahoo group they do one loco at a time, and in the files section they keep archive articles for the ones that were done in the past - complete sound installs. Great for ideas on making things fit. There isn't necessarily just one way to do things, but if you haven't done this before, it's probably a good idea to follow someone else's example for the first few, especially with regards to fitting the speaker, which is the hardest part of most sound installs (at least now that the decoders are down to a size where they are no bigger really that a motor only decoder). --Randy
So it seems that I do not need to add a resistor, but I will have to find room for the speaker, that's pretty much what I needed to know, thank you!
SooLine720,
The one you want is not in here, but looking through some of the others, may give you some tips:
http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/HO_Search/search.html
Good site to save, for reference.
zstripe SooLine720, The one you want is not in here, but looking through some of the others, may give you some tips: http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/HO_Search/search.html Good site to save, for reference. Frank
I did look at that, and I found the Kato SD40-2 was the closest to the SD38-2 I have.