Kato FEF Slow Speed with Hard-wired ESU LokPilot

[jdcolombo]

Hi folks.

As you can tell from the other thread on this topic, the TCS decoder for the Kato FEF seems to be having some problems with slow-speed performance, undoubtedly related to its implementation of BEMF not playing nicely with Kato's new coreless motor.

I hard wired an ESU LokPilot using the original stock DC circuit board to provide soldering points for power pickup, motor leads and the headlight.  After about an hour of playing with ESU's BEMF parameters, which are user-adjustable (unlike TCS, which doesn't provide BEMF parameter adjustments), I managed to get the FEF pretty much where I want it.

Here's a short video of the FEF's slow speed performance with this combo (I started at speed step 1, then ran it up to about 15 out of 128):

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John C.

[bobdobbs]

Thats what i'm looking for!  Guess I will break out the iron and hard wire the ESU in.  The sad thing like I have mentioned in other threads, I can get all of my other steam (including my Model Power 4-4-0 and 4-6-0) to creep just like the FEF, if not even slower, using digitrax DZ123 or DZ125 decoders, albeit not as smooth as the Kato FEF!  I really wish TCS would supply a modified decoder to us that paid good money for it....

[EspeeGoldenState]

Any chance you show where you cut the lines in the Kato light board and soldered the light leads and motor control? I assume it would be the same if I was using a Tsunami and not a LokSound.

I had this same idea, but wasn't quite sure how to implement it.

Chris

[jdcolombo]

Hi Chris.

I'll see if I can take some photos of the board.  I did manage to blow up the front LED (wired the white wire to the wrong trace) and replaced it, but I can show the basic cuts.  I've also ordered a couple of extra analog DC circuit boards from Kato to help with my decoder experiments, and I might wait and take photos of one of those.

John

[peteski]

This is how you install a wired-in decoder.
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[jdcolombo]

Yep.  Peteski's illustration is right on.  But do yourself a favor and add the "reliability" wires.  Consider them essential, not an option.

John C.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Thanks a bunch fellas! That will help tremendously.

Ran the FEF today, and without sound, it was just wasn't the same.

Chris

[carlso]

Thanks Peteski for the illustration. I am rather dense so I will ask my question. Why the reliability wires? My guess, please correct me, is that those reliability wires ensure that the board is making contact on all four mechanism pads. Am I close? Thanks again for the post.

Carl

[peteski]

Thanks Peteski for the illustration. I am rather dense so I will ask my question. Why the reliability wires? My guess, please correct me, is that those reliability wires ensure that the board is making contact on all four mechanism pads. Am I close? Thanks again for the post.

Carl

That is 100% correct Carl. So much for being dense. 

[Sdynamo]

Peteski & JDColombo,

Thanks for the great info on this thread!  It's just was I was looking for.

JD - I've installed a select micro and had to turn off BEMF to get it to run well.  If you have time can you share the settings you used for the various BEMF parameters?  I'm still figuring out what they all do!

[jdcolombo]

Peteski & JDColombo,

Thanks for the great info on this thread!  It's just was I was looking for.

JD - I've installed a select micro and had to turn off BEMF to get it to run well.  If you have time can you share the settings you used for the various BEMF parameters?  I'm still figuring out what they all do!

CV 51 = 0
CV 52 = 6
CV 53 = 125
CV 54 = 50
CV 55 = 150
CV 56 = 128

John C.

[Sdynamo]

Excellent thank you!   

[nstars]

For those interested a comparison between a Digitrax decoder and a couple of CT Elektronik decoders. From right to left: DZ126, DCX75, DCX76z and DCX77z.



The DCX 75 installed in a Key PRR I1 decapod.



And the result in running quality. No adjustment of CV was necessary. The loco is not yet run in, but already performs quite satisfactory.

Marc

[Sdynamo]

That DCX77z is tiny!

[nstars]

That DCX77z is tiny!

It is! We measured it and it is only 5 by 7,7 by 1,9 mm or in inches, 0,197 by 0,303 by 0,075 inch. But the other decoders have other advantages. So has the DCX75 only components on one side, which makes it very thin (only 1,4 mm) and easy to install with a bit of double sided tape.

Marc