Another F40PH-2 LokSound Install

[RBrodzinsky]

Similar to Mark Watson's install (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41586.msg520393#msg520393), I just finished installing an ESU LokSound select into my F40PH-2 CalTrain #914. Nothing really to this install, except for the introduction of separate ditch lights, rather than using the "all in one" light pipe that Kato provides.

There is no frame milling required, and plenty of room for everything. The only unfortunate aspect to this model is the near impossibility to put in the correct marker lights for reverse running. Since CalTrain has these mounted high on the hood, next to the number boards, and Kato has the large pipe for the numberboards there, it becomes near impossible to have them in place.

Here are a couple photos of the decoder and stuff.

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You can see that I mounted a rear light, onto the speaker enclosure.  Why, you ask, if it is normally pulling/pushing passenger trains?  Well, what about when the loco is not coupled?  What I did is use the very versatile function mapping of the ESU decoders, and have dedicated a function switch (well, 2, since I have two cab cars) and the reverse light only goes on when there is no cab car.   (In ESU programming, the F0(R) function is now active when: F0 is on, Direction is reverse, F12 is not on; F13 is not on.   I will use F12 for one cab car; and F13 for the other.)

Here is a short YouTube of the sound in this unit

 

[RBrodzinsky]

With both the F40PH-2 and MP36PH-3C, I also needed to get the newly released Bombardier CalTrain cars

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[tehachapifan]

Looks and sound great!

[carlso]

Rick,

My comment on both threads is great work. I have a question regarding the #2 picture and your comment regarding "stuff".
Is that "stuff" a Kapton wrapped resistor board with a capacitor board as well?

Very nice work !

Carl

[RBrodzinsky]

Rick,

My comment on both threads is great work. I have a question regarding the #2 picture and your comment regarding "stuff".
Is that "stuff" a Kapton wrapped resistor board with a capacitor board as well?

Very nice work !

Carl

Well, the resistor board isn't Kapton wrapped, only the capacitors  .  As I said: stuff.

[MK]

If I want to do this for my Operation North Pole, same loco, is it possible to maintain the headlights turning off and the red marker lights coming on when running cab forward?  Or will I basically lose that feature?

I currently have a TCS decoder in it and it does that (pretty neat) when running cab forward.

[RBrodzinsky]

If I want to do this for my Operation North Pole, same loco, is it possible to maintain the headlights turning off and the red marker lights coming on when running cab forward?  Or will I basically lose that feature?

I currently have a TCS decoder in it and it does that (pretty neat) when running cab forward.

Absolutely. The cab cars flip their lights, just as the locos do, so always have the correct lighting for direction of travel. I have still never gotten the Bombardier cars converted for lights. Project fell by the wayside.

[MK]

But I will probably have to glue LEDs to the top pair of marker lights on the shell (from memory, I don't have the loco in front of me) and have wires linked to the decoder/frame.  Like Mark Watson, I hate doing that.  The bottom pair I can do like you with some glue to the frame.

[RBrodzinsky]

But I will probably have to glue LEDs to the top pair of marker lights on the shell (from memory, I don't have the loco in front of me) and have wires linked to the decoder/frame.  Like Mark Watson, I hate doing that.  The bottom pair I can do like you with some glue to the frame.

Are you speaking of the cab car, or the loco?  In the loco, I have not installed any upper marker lights, for just that reason (and, that there really is no good room in the shell for them, anyway).  In the Nippon Sharyo cab car, there are individual light pipes available.  See this thread for details: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=42777.msg540999#msg540999

[MK]

Loco.  I thought it would be nice to have sound in it.  The cab car I'm all set with Kato's decoder that changes between head lights / mark lights depending on direction of travel.

[woodone]

Are you speaking of the cab car, or the loco?  In the loco, I have not installed any upper marker lights, for just that reason (and, that there really is no good room in the shell for them, anyway).  In the Nippon Sharyo cab car, there are individual light pipes available.  See this thread for details: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=42777.msg540999#msg540999

Why would you dislike having wires going to the shell?
With most surface mount LED’s with wires, have very long wires and very small, so you should be able to remove the shell with out to much of a problem. Be sides, how often do you need to get inside?
I do this all the time for ditch lights and or a Mars light- never have had a problem.

[peteski]

Why would you dislike having wires going to the shell?
With most surface mount LED’s with wires, have very long wires and very small, so you should be able to remove the shell with out to much of a problem. Be sides, how often do you need to get inside?
I do this all the time for ditch lights and or a Mars light- never have had a problem.

I also dislike any wire (umbilical cord) between the shell and chassis. I go to great lengths to avoid them (for easier servicing, and also because I'm a neat-freak).  When I can't avoid electrical connection etween shell and chassis I either use a wire harness with submini connector, or contacts which engage when the shell is seated on the chassis.

Example of contacts.  The etched circuit board is mounted in the shell and the springy phosphor-bronze fingers are attached to the chassis. This photo shows them engaged.

[nscaler711]

I'm with @peteski on this, I hate not being able to separate the body from the frame on some trains because of wires.
I had to do it on an Athearn P42, that I put sound in, as the grain of wheat bulbs they used to use are notorious for burning out.
Though I do need to buy some micro connectors as all the ones I used to have were salvaged from other electronics...
Know any good sources? At least for ones that'll fit in an N scale loco...

[davefoxx]

I'm with @peteski, too.  When I'm working on the mechanism or a decoder installation, I like to remove the shell and place it out of my wingspan, so that I don't accidentally Hulk-Smash the shell and its details to bits while working on the locomotive.  Not to mention, all of those wires can create problems trying to get the shell back on and seated properly.

I just pulled the shell on an IM HO scale SD40-2.  Thankfully, I realized that there was a plug that I could pull and the front headlight was mounted to a PC board that could also be pulled from the frame.  This easily allowed the separation of the shell from the frame.  Kudos, Intermountain!

DFF

[MK]

Very sexy Peteski! 

I'm with you on the umbilical cord.  Eventually they will break from the flexing no matter how careful you are.  And they already break at the wrong time!