I would like to replace the QSI dedoder in my Atlas HH600 with a Loksound 5.0, for sound quality as well as to eliminate my last non-Loksound equipped eingine. The Loksound 5 is really excellent in regard to engine and traction motor sound. Is there a "drop in" replacement or would I need to hard-wire a Loksound? I assume the speaker would be acceptable to retain.
Yea, you might be able to re-use the speaker that is with the old QSI decoder. Check the ohm rating on the back magnet to see if it will be compatible. 4- or 8-ohm will work just fine for the Lok 5.
Given the size of the HH600/660s, I would look at a Lok 5 micro. ESU makes an 8-pin plug version and one without. I don't know how long the wires are for the 8-pin Lok 5 version. You could try then cut of the 8-pin plug if the wires are too long to fit under the hood.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
The new Loksound 5 Micro 8-pin uses a flat ribbon cable.
Don't really care for that idea as you can't alter the length like you could a traditionally wired 8-pin.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
On one hamd, that's a neat idea, similar to flat wrapped power supply cables on a lot of newer computer power supplies, makes it easier to keep things neat. You cna probably run that right under a speaker cube and not make the speaker stick up too far to put the shell back on. But then there's the not easily adjustable length.
Guess it depends on how flexible it is without breaking - if you can double it back on itself you can shorten it and still not be any thicker than regualr wire cut to length, just need s strip of Kapton tape to hold it in place. Or maybe even keep the speaker in the long hood and snake that down through the cab floor and put the decoder in the short hood - even with a detailed cab interior, if it can be shaped to conform or even hide under the interior casting, you wouldn't see it.
Certainly some different options - perhaps they need to offer both versions. Interesting use of flex PCB though.
Edit: On the Loksound 5 Micro page, they show some pictures of a cable using the same sort of flex pcb for the Next18 version - and they shout it folded back on itself and also creased to a right angle - so it looks like you can compress any excess quite well. It might be no problem at all to not be able to cut it to length, just some new installation techniques.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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The "wired" version of the Micro decoder has the typical wires, just no plug attached to the end.
Looks like the Next18 one is the most versatile though - they have adapters with bare wires, adapters with a 6 pin plus at the end of flex, 8 pin at the end of flex, and a direct plug Next18 to 8 pin.