ESU Loksound installs in Atlas GP-7/9's

[wazzou]

Just curious if anyone has tried ESU Loksound EMD 567 installs in Atlas GP-7 and/or 9's or for that matter in the Atlas/KATO SD-7/9?
I thought I had seen @jdcolombo with one of these installs, but it may have pre-dated the most recent ESU Loksound decoders.  As much of my fleet consists of these locos, I'm interested in it.

[RBrodzinsky]

Well, at least these are all split-frame models   

Basically, these will be a bit of a puzzle to figure out the best placement of components, and all will require at least some milling. But, these are mostly "massive" blocks of metal, and judicious milling will make room for speaker, decoder and capacitors.  On the older versions, with the split lighting boards, I would only try with the wired install.  In the "newer" versions, with a continuous board (2006 time frame?), the 73100 might work.

[Sdynamo]

I picked up some DCC ready mechanisms to try the new loksound boards in this weekend.  I'll post here how it goes.  John Columbo did a hard wired install in a GP7 and it can be found here:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31186.0

[jdcolombo]

I have done these using the standard wired LokSound Select Micro:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31186.0

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31621.0

The above links show installs I did back in 2013 and 2014, before I had a milling machine.  Here's a photo of my most recent GP7 installation, using a milling machine to widen the "channel" in the center for keep-alive and with updated component placement.  For power pickup in this latest installation, I used some 1/8" wide strips of .010 phosphor bronze that I cut from a sheet, and then folded over until the thickness was enough to securely engage the "fingers" on the front of the frame that held the pc board.  Then I soldered the black and red wires to the phosphor-bronze pickup.  This same general layout could be used for the SD7/9 as well, and you could use a 9x16 speaker with that engine because of the longer frame.  Note that if you use a hard-wired LokSound, you'll need to sand down in the inside of the shell where the Micro fits by about two-tenths of a mm on each side.  I use a 1/4" sanding drum on a dremel to do this (VERY CAREFULLY!), but you could also use an emery board, and that would be a LOT safer.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

I try to keep a list of ESU installs here, but I'm behind in updating this thread:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31981.0

John C.

[wazzou]

I have done these using the standard wired LokSound Select Micro:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31186.0

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31621.0

John C.

OK, yep...I remember those now.  Thank you John.

[TrainboySD40]

You're a great help! Couple of questions.

-What capacitors did you use, and where did you procure them?

-Have you used the ESU 11x16mm speakers, and how does this 8x12mm speaker compare to them or others?

-Have you found the Shapeways printed enclosure to be superior to a styrene one?

Thanks in advance!

[jdcolombo]

You're a great help! Couple of questions.

-What capacitors did you use, and where did you procure them?

-Have you used the ESU 11x16mm speakers, and how does this 8x12mm speaker compare to them or others?

-Have you found the Shapeways printed enclosure to be superior to a styrene one?

Thanks in advance!

I used 16v, 220uf tantalum caps in this installation.  However, most folks are now switching to tantalum-polymer caps, which are more stable and less prone to blowing up.  If you don't know your track voltage, use 20v tantalum polymers:

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/panasonic-electronic-components/20TQC100MD2/P19854CT-ND/6202259

If you use these, try to get 3 of them in as a minimum (300uf).  Less than that won't really help dropouts much.

I have not used ESU's speakers, but I imagine they are the same as any other cell-phone type.  An 11x15 speaker in an appropriate enclosure (at least 750 cubic mm of internal volume) will sound better than an 8x12, but there is not enough room in a hood diesel for an 11x15.  I use 11x15's in steam tenders all the time.

I don't think the Shapeways enclosure results in better sound, but it is a heck of a lot simpler to use.

John C.

[BCR 570]

Hi Bryan:

Yes, the first install for my layout was an ESU Micro Select decoder with Star Micronics speaker in an Atlas/China GP-9.  I prepared te speaker enclosure and Dave Mackinnon installed the decoder and speaker.  We followed John's tutorial all the way.  Four years later it continues to run well.

Here are some photos before and after installation:






Tim

[skytop35]

Here's a LokSound Select Direct #73100 in an Atlas GP-9. Pretty easy actually. Just need to mill out a bit of the frame near the back end for the speaker. There isn't much room there so custom build an offset speaker box with styrene and you're good to go. No more sanding away inside the shell to shoehorn in the Select Micro.




Another photo

[jpwisc]

Bill, If you went with a smaller LED on the board, would that board clear a chopped nose conversion?

[skytop35]

Bill, If you went with a smaller LED on the board, would that board clear a chopped nose conversion?

Karl,

Not sure since I don't have any chop nose units to check it out.

[Cajonpassfan]

Very nice and clean, Bill, I need to do a couple of these.
Out of curiosity, what speaker did you use? Hard to tell from photos what's speaker and what's enclosure.
Otto

[peteski]

That is a nice and clean install, typical of your handiwork Bill!
It appears that you've bucked the current trend, and chose not to shoehorn any additional stay-alive capacitors.

[skytop35]

Thanks guys !

Very nice and clean, Bill, I need to do a couple of these.
Out of curiosity, what speaker did you use? Hard to tell from photos what's speaker and what's enclosure.
Otto

Soberton 8x 12 mm speaker

That is a nice and clean install, typical of your handiwork Bill!
It appears that you've bucked the current trend, and chose not to shoehorn any additional stay-alive capacitors.

Giving it a try without the keep-alive caps. So far I haven't noticed any sound cut outs.

[GM50 4164]

Bill, If you went with a smaller LED on the board, would that board clear a chopped nose conversion?

Karl I have a chop nose so I'll check it out later this week!