ESU Loksound 5 "coming soon" decoders

Carl Sowell Sep 17, 2021

  1. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Just curious, I have checked Bryan's website, nothing new there so I checked the ESU website and nothing new mentioned there either.

    Are there any rumors or availability noise postings out there ? ? ?

    Be well,
    Carl
     
  2. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    They've been hit by the semiconductor chip shortage. Were hoping for "late summer", but now I guess it is "early fall". I'm not holding my breath, at this point, for a couple more months
     
  3. Mr. Trainiac

    Mr. Trainiac TrainBoard Member

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    Which products are we waiting on? I see a good amount of V5 decoders still in stock at Streamlined Backshop, but it looks like it's mostly the 21 pin versions that are out of stock.
     
  4. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    The Kato USA “drop in” and the Nano are still not available.
     
  5. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    I've been watching with baited breath for the release of the nano. Have 5 projects awaiting that release. I did find a couple of vids by folks in other places who got the nano... not as small as I was hoping. Length may actually be as long or longer (with plug installed... similar to current micro) than the micro but width and thickness is where things get smaller. Fortunately those are the only dimensions I need reduced for what I want to do. I also assumed they were using the next18 connector but it appears that they will be using an "e24" connector so going to have to fire up the soldering station when I finally get some lol.
     
  6. tjdreams

    tjdreams TrainBoard Member

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    Likewise I too have a pile of Z scale projects sitting here waiting on the Nano's. For Z scale I have to remove the NexT18 coupler from the LokSound 5 micro's and solder wires directly onto the decoder board in its place. I have 2.5 to 3 mm room in the length area but the with and thickness are critical any bigger than the advertised size and it will not fit.
     
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  7. Dogwood

    Dogwood TrainBoard Member

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    Nothing new from ESU ... or. nothing new available. I'm also waiting for the new plug in decoders. As dead the model railway market has never been.
     
  8. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    The KATO USA Loksound 5 (ESU 58741) are starting to finally trickle out. I was lucky enough to grab a couple on ebay. I didn't try searching other train supply stores, so they might hopefully make their rounds elsewhere as well.
     
  9. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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  10. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    That's a really good price. The only other decoder now that I'm waiting for is the Loksound Nano. I'm not feeling too thrilled because I've been hearing from other members that it won't be as small as a lot of people hoped. I have a couple of yard switchers with almost no space. NW2 and SW1500. I'll wait and see.
     
  11. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Just checked back at streamlined and they have the nano in stock.
     
  12. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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  13. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    I had to go back and watch it over a few times to understand him, but he is stating it's roughly the same size as the loksound 5 micro. Sorta defeats the purpose of even designing this unless someone sees it differently.
     
  14. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    The width is the key, so that it can fit in a narrow hood. But waiting for mine to be delivered
     
  15. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    Agreed. No need for filing down the inside shell as before. Please post once you've completed an install. I've got a good handle on installing ESU select direct and loksound 5 decoders on my narrow hood four-axle GP units. I didn't attempt to use the DCC micro with wires because it seemed overly cumbersome to squeeze in the wires and a speaker to boot. There is practically no clearance give for height, hence I stuck with the decoder boards to wedge in between the halves. I have a MP15DC Southern Pacific I was hoping to use the Nano on, but it still might be too big. My Kato NW2 may never have a loksound installed either. Even smaller.

    I tried posting videos, but the trainboard website doesn't seem very robust to allow me to upload. Picture orientation isn't forgiving also. 9/10 I get frustrated and don't bother posting. I couldn't find any rotation editing. Any tips on uploading pics and videos? I noticed you've got quite an impressive collection of postings. Thanks.
     
  16. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Magnet wire is what I use to replace the factory wiring on the micro decoders. I still use/keep the larger gauge factory wires for track and motor connections. All my LED's I install for custom lighting effects are purchased with magnet wire leads already soldered to them.

    I've used select where I can for convenience purposed but they did away with the 71300 just one loco too soon for me lol. Fortunately the only legacy atlas diesel I have left to convert is an SD9 and likely the nano should work for that. The two issues I run into with the select boards is the they only provide two function outputs with soldering pads and in a lot of cases the board extends into areas where I'd want to put a speaker forcing me to have to hollow out the tank area to place said speaker. Milling out the top of the chassis rather than the tank area is much easier when all I have is a dremel with cutting wheel. I've had some success removing the onboard aux LEDs to wire in remote LED's but they were very tricky to get to even with the finest of soldering tips due to the surrounding surface components.

    I've never had the 58721 select board in hand unless that is the same one that is factory installed in the recent Intermountain diesels which if the case then I have a few. Same issue with function outputs though where to get at more than the two they provide soldering tabs for one has to remove or tap into the LEDs already placed on the board. All of my IM locos that came with these boards have been modified to support separately lit number boards, dual ditch lighting or roof beacons. Upside to using the pre-lit outputs is if you can get the LED's off and re-use the soldering pads then one doesn't have to run a resistor in line to step down the voltage to the LEDs that replace them.

    Upload vids to youtube and link them in your posts using the filmstrip icon in the format/options bar that is visible at the top of the post you are creating/editing.
     
  17. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    As was mentioned upload your video to YouTube and then post the link using the 'Media' button. Download the free paint.net and use it to edit your pictures. You can crop them, rotate them and resize them in less than 30 seconds. Then use the 'Upload a File' button to post them.

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2021
  18. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    Kato Loksound 5
     
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  19. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Nice. Is that the Kato?

    This is a first gen Kato that was modified to this 1976 bicentennial livery. The real life version was an SD40T so not the perfect base model. The frame on these are DCC unfriendly especially if you want sound as they use separate light boards at each end rather than a single center board like the ones produced since the mid 90s do.


    20200205_174549.jpg 20200205_205931.jpg

    All together with some grabs installed while on my workbench

    20201023_153907.jpg

     
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  20. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    Yikes. I was fortunate with my Kato SD40-2. I popped in the new lok 5 after re-soldering the contacts. The body shell must also be wider compared to the narrow hood Atlas engines because I was able to use a speaker I purchased in the past that was already enclosed. All of my GP four-axle engines have custom built styrene enclosures with the soberton speakers. This was by far my easiest loksound. I'm usually having to mill out a few spot on my GP four axle as well. Especially loksound 5.

    My number boards are black plastic and don't have the ability to light up. I'll have to research if there is a replacement for a clear plastic that I can put #s. Are your number boards clear plastic or did they come with the numbers?
     

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