ESU decoder question

Mo-Pac Mar 12, 2021

  1. Mo-Pac

    Mo-Pac TrainBoard Member

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    I found out that the ESU sound decoders 73100 and 73199 will fit in My GP15-1's. I am waiting for atlas to deliver the new GP15-1 maybe sometime this year. I do have the first year models on hand.

    The thing is which one is better out of the two sound decoders? What speaker would be the best for the narrow hood locomotives? The smallest speaker(as long as it is within the OHM impedance) as possible that I can use? I was thinking about these two speakers? Is the ohm's compatible? Should I look at 4 ohm's? Also what size baffle would fit between the board and the frame without modifications?

    http://www.esu.eu/en/products/access...er-9mm-x-16mm/

    https://www.soberton.com/sp-1609/

    I do want it at least to sound to at least match my intermountain's SD40-2's, not like the digitrax sound decoder for my "What if " locomotive. Without any heavy frame modifications like in milling. Although I wish I had a shop with a Bridgeport and an Hardinge, but my backyard is too small and I live in a flood zone area according to FEMA thanks to Katrina.

    If anyone has any links to follow please post. BTW this is where I got my information from.
    http://www.sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstips...tionnotes.html
     
  2. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    First - good luck in finding a 73100 or a 73199. Both those decoders are withdrawn from marketing, and I don't know of anyone with stock. For the newer Atlas models (the ones already sound ready, with the motor pole contacts side by side), the 73199 is a drop in, and those units have a space (and possibly even the speaker) already in the fuel tank. Older units, with the motor contacts offset, take the 73100.

    There will be a new LokSound 5 Atlas/IM drop in board, a direct replacement for the 73199, coming out in "2Q121" - but nothing firmer on dates. It is unclear what will work as a replacement for the 73100 -- maybe the new Nano board.

    My go to speaker is the Soberton SP1208. You can check out a lot of my installations here in the DCC forum
     
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  3. Mo-Pac

    Mo-Pac TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the update on the newer sound decoder. I thought that I saw this posted on ESU’s website. I am assuming that this too will be a generic fit for the narrow hood locomotives, like it’s predecessor.

    I will have to read up more about the SP1208. I see that it is 1mm smaller than the one that I posted. That’s a good thing! Thank you for your help.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  4. Mo-Pac

    Mo-Pac TrainBoard Member

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    What is the difference between the 73100 and the 73199?
     
  5. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Functionally, they are the same, LokSound Select Micro. The boards are laid out differently to fit the different frames. There are also additional built in LEDs on the 73199

    This is a 73100 (top). Note the very narrow channel.

    44CA7CEC-931F-439C-925C-2FF5A3E31313.jpeg

    Unfortunately, my PC with all my good photos is currently down for the count, so, for information purposes, I will point you at this thread over on The Railwire, where there is a lot of good information and better pictures.
    https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=44324.msg569569#msg569569

    But, basically, if the Atlas board in your unit has a long narrow central run, like my photo above, the loco would be best suited to the 73100, but may still need minor frame modifications. If the motor tabs are side by side, then it can probably take the 73199. See the photos in the link.
     
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  6. Dogwood

    Dogwood TrainBoard Member

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  7. Mo-Pac

    Mo-Pac TrainBoard Member

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    Okay guys, the other reason why I asked this was I received an esu decoder back in the beginning of December from Intermountain. I am positive that it was the 73199 due to the lack of wiring and it came with a speaker for the SD40-2. I threw away the package. If I am not mistaken it was in their own packet. Easy to install.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  8. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Yes, IM's SD40-2 uses the 73199
     
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  9. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    Hello. I have several ( N scale ) Atlas narrow hood locos. GP30, GP35, U23B, Dash 8, GP40-2.... 1997,2001, 2006 stamping. It appears the only ESU loksound out there that seems to work is the 73100. No other options that I've seen. The new ESU 58721 that came out is pretty much worthless for atlas owners too from what I can tell. It matches the physical outline for the IM guys? I don't have any IM, so I can't confirm.

    I have several loksound 5 58823 micro with the wires, but am not a big fan of all the loose fitting hardware swimming around and haven't tried tackling an install yet. Anyone suggest investing my time and install the 58823 micro or just stick to the 73100? Who knows when and if ESU will roll out with a drop in loksound 5 replacement board for the 73100. Also have a NW2 and a MP15DC.... I prob can't do anything until the ESU Nano comes out.
     
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  10. Dogwood

    Dogwood TrainBoard Member

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    The biggest problem is the speakers. There is very little space. I'm also waiting for the new ESU board. Without milling it won't fit either.
     
  11. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    I had almost given up on installing ESU loksound hardware vs buying already ESU built in locos until I found this forum. There is very limited youtube info on ESU loksound installs out there especially for N scale and for the 73100 board. RBrodzinsky has fantastic 73100 installs. After reviewing his videos and seeing the results I ordered his go-to Soberton 8x12mm speaker from Digi-Key. I purchased 5 and I believe the total including tax & shipping was about $25. I also ordered styrene sheets for the speaker enclosures in .010, .020, .030 and .040" thickness.... after viewing some basic styrene videos on the net.

    I feel my biggest challenge is the soldering on these tiny boards. I was hoping to use the Aux points to run separate light functions ( head light, number boards etc...), but on the 73100 with the aux 1 and aux 2 being so small to remove and modify the only realistic options are front and rear lights with these guys.... Might have to just stick with the loksound 5 micro if I want those options.
     
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  12. Dogwood

    Dogwood TrainBoard Member

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    Here is a prepared KATO non DCC board for ESU sound.

    IMG-20180529-WA0030.jpeg ESU sound wiring.jpg
     
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  13. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    Nice. I have an older Kato SD40-2 snoot that I can use the loksound 5 micro on. the SD40-2 is a lot longer than the GPs. Did you put a speaker in the fuel tank or under the decoder? I can't see.
     
  14. peteyPab

    peteyPab TrainBoard Member

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    Good improvisation of the old board. I like it.
     
  15. Dogwood

    Dogwood TrainBoard Member

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    Under the fuel cover. I milled the frames for speaker ...look here:

    20180426_205530-1280x960.jpg IMG-20180521-WA0024.jpeg
     
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  16. Dogwood

    Dogwood TrainBoard Member

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    IMG-20180521-WA0023.jpeg
     
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  17. Dogwood

    Dogwood TrainBoard Member

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  18. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I see the Nano as being slightly smaller than the Micro but really not all that much....

    LokSound 5 Micro 58823 Sound – 21 X 10 X 5.46mm --- .826 x .394 x .215 -- $90+

    LokSound 5 Nano DCC – 19.6 X 8.5 X 3.2mm – .771 X .335 X .126

    Is there something else about it that is a big difference. Looks like the same functions although the Micro maybe has more logic functions which I don't know anything about as far as using those.

    As far as the size the major difference is in the height and the Micro height is a little misleading.

    [​IMG]

    When I measure mine if I take a parallel measurement between the tallest component on the bottom of the board to the tallest component on the opposite side of the board I get the .215". They have the tallest component on one side at opposite ends from the tallest on the other side. So for a good part of the length of the boat it is a lot less than .215 in thickness. In conclusion as this is confusing probably the board isn't .215 at any point on the board.

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2021
  19. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    We don't know the real height of the nano, since no one has their hands on it. The measurements in your photo include the daughter (Next18) connector board, and how the wires connect to the unknown is not yet clear.

    The biggest difference on the Nano is the length and width. In N-scale narrow hood locos, those difference are huge for install
     
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  20. tjdreams

    tjdreams TrainBoard Member

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    The New LokSound 5 Nano will be coming with a New E24 connector on the narrow end which will connect to a adaptor board for connecting wires or adapt to other type plugs similar to the Next18 adaptor boards on the loksound 5 micro's. As such I suspect that the over all length New Nano and new 24pin connector will be longer than the advertised length of the Nano itself.

    Check out Matt from ESU's comments about the Nano on Trainworlds Live Video starting at 33.05 minutes in


    If you think it's tuff squeezing a sound decoder and speaker into N scale, Try putting one into a Z scale Loco.
    I had to cut the Next18 connector off the LokSound 5 micro DCC and solder the wires directly to the board
    Not a easy task but it did yield a substantial difference in both the over all length and thickness of the decoder
    20210501_221622 (2).jpg 20210501_223706 (2).jpg
     
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