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Walthers sd70 ace headlights and ditchlights

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  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, March 19, 2020 8:41 AM

From what I'm reading, it's an ESU decoder made for Walthers.  I know nothing about ESU decoders, but I'm also reading it is NOT compatible with their LokProgammer, as far as doing a different sound file.  I don't know about the lights, it seems that that's the way they are, dim.

Mike.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, March 19, 2020 8:25 AM

I looked up an old forum thread, but Mike is right the newer ones are Loksound.   Not sure if they are the full version loksound or the dumbed down version.

James Wright reviewed the newer version and the ditch lights are pretty dim @9:20

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, March 19, 2020 7:59 AM

Is the loco the Walthers Mainline with the ESU decoder and sound?  

I came across another Walthers Mainline owner with the same problem, at another place.  Unless that's you?

Mike.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 10:16 PM

I'm not a Soundtraxx guy, which I believe is what you have.  Loksound has a CV for brightness.  Maybe someone else with the loco will weigh in.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 117 posts
Posted by JohnWPowell on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 9:33 PM

they are very dim. It looked like they wasn't on but they are.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 231 posts
Posted by EMDSD40 on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 6:42 PM

I will assume you have failure requiring replacement. I have a number of these locomotives and no lighting issues. However I did have to disassemble one for erratic running. I suggest looking at the wiring and connections to the PCB. The wire is very fine and easily severed. I found it to be pinched and twisted around the frame and weight. Vibration,heat, or stress may have caused it to rub through and break. When you take it apart, many of the parts are very flimsy and easily broken. Good luck.

 

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 2:38 PM

JohnWPowell
Is it the leds itself or the resistors?

Curious thing to ask.  Does that mean your lights no longer function?

I can't recall a single thread where a resistor failure was the cause of a lighting problem.  If you lost all the lighting, I would expect a decoder issue rather than multiple led failures.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 117 posts
Walthers sd70 ace headlights and ditchlights
Posted by JohnWPowell on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 10:52 AM

Has anybody changed ditchlights and headlights? Is it the leds itself or the resistors?

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