Interesting Post on ESU Facebook Group for Kato F units (and F40PH) DropIn Board

[skent]

Installed one of the boards last night. Honestly I found it to be easier that installing a plain DCC decoder.
I also salvaged the LED off the stock Kato light-board.

(Attachment Link)

I’ll probably be installing the other one later on today as a demonstration and photo-op for my boss before we drop in some Next18 sound decoders and put these things to the test.

Looks great!  Thanks for sharing the picture!   Keep us posted on how your testing goes!

-S

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I just ordered three for a few F40PHs.

A few questions. I have not used this specific decoder before, just the Select Direct Micro. Will I need to use any resistors for LEDs on any of the AUX?

What is the difference between a regular AUX,a logic level AUX and a SUSI DTA, SUSI CLK version?

The only AUX I would need to jump from the decoder is AUX 7 right?

[Lemosteam]

Will this work in older Kato F units?

[EspeeGoldenState]

I ordered mine on Sept 21st, it left LA Distribution Center at 16:05 CDT on Sept 24th.... It's still missing. Almost two weeks now. It's probably lost.

Guess its a plus I haven't ordered a decoder to put on it yet.

Chris

[Sharky_McSharknose]

I've confirmed the Wutter board + decoder (ESU 58818) will not fit in the Kato PA. Not without cutting a hole in the roof like you would need to cut a hole in a drag car's hood for a supercharger. Into the F40PHs they go!

[skent]

Will I need to use any resistors for LEDs on any of the AUX?

No, you will not need any additional resistors for any of the AUX's.

What is the difference between a regular AUX,a logic level AUX and a SUSI DTA, SUSI CLK version?

The regular AUX lines you can just wire to directly whereas the logic level AUX, SUSI DTA, and SUSI CLK lines need FETs for amplifying the light output.   Those FETs are already on board, so you don't need to add anything additional for those either.

The only AUX I would need to jump from the decoder is AUX 7 right?

AUX 5, 6, and 7 need to be soldered to the decoder because the pads for those are on the decoder itself and not available via the on-board connector.

Will this work in older Kato F units?

No, this board will only work in DCC Ready locomotives, post-2003 release.  If you're unsure, then feel free to send Wutter or I a picture and we can provide some guidance.

I ordered mine on Sept 21st, it left LA Distribution Center at 16:05 CDT on Sept 24th.... It's still missing. Almost two weeks now. It's probably lost.

We're so sorry to hear about this!  Please DM me your eBay username so we can help you track this down.

-Shane

[nickelplate759]

I've confirmed the Wutter board + decoder (ESU 58818) will not fit in the Kato PA. Not without cutting a hole in the roof like you would need to cut a hole in a drag car's hood for a supercharger...

Then we'd have chrome the decoder...

[Sharky_McSharknose]

Then we'd have chrome the decoder...

Now I want a drawing of Rat Fink driving a PA with a massive supercharger sticking out the engine compartment! Pinky out on the throttle handle! 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I was thinking about the PA, and had an idea. What if this board had a hole large enough for the decoder to fit into - shaped sort of like a donut? Rather than sitting on top of the mounting board, it sits within it. A small ribbon cable would connect the donut board to the Next18 connector.

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[thomasjmdavis]

I've confirmed the Wutter board + decoder (ESU 58818) will not fit in the Kato PA. Not without cutting a hole in the roof like you would need to cut a hole in a drag car's hood for a supercharger.

On the prototype, they faced the same problem when trying to re-engine PAs, DL109s and FAs with EMD 567 engines. 

[EL3632]

I installed my four boards yesterday. Great fit, really easy to install. I do not have decoders for these yet, but I did swap over my ALP45's decoder to test to make sure everything worked as intended. They sound and work great! Can't wait to get decoders for them.

[skent]

I installed my four boards yesterday. Great fit, really easy to install. I do not have decoders for these yet, but I did swap over my ALP45's decoder to test to make sure everything worked as intended. They sound and work great! Can't wait to get decoders for them.

That looks great!  Thank you for sharing a pic of your install!

-S

[Mark5]

I am thinking about using these to do an A-B-B-A set of F7s. 2 sound and 2 just DCC.

The listing says the Lokpilot decoder is 59824 - does anyone have these "in stock"?

What speaker / enclosure is recommended?

Thanks!

Mark

[skent]

The listing says the Lokpilot decoder is 59824 - does anyone have these "in stock"?

Both the 59824 and the 59828 work for LokPilot (non-sound) and both are available from SBS4DCC.   I would recommend taking a look on their store for both of those items.   The 59824 has a PluX16 breakout that you would have to take off whereas the 59828 is a plain Next18 connector.   In the end, both options work.

What speaker / enclosure is recommended?

SBS4DCC also has a great selection of sugar cube speakers and enclosures that you can find here: https://store.sbs4dcc.com/sugarcubespeakers.aspx

I'll do a shameless plug of my sugar cube speakers listed on my eBay listing:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/193674929502   

-S

[reinhardtjh]

I am thinking about using these to do an A-B-B-A set of F7s. 2 sound and 2 just DCC.

The listing says the Lokpilot decoder is 59824 - does anyone have these "in stock"?

What speaker / enclosure is recommended?

Thanks!

Mark

The 59828 is the LokPilot 5 Micro with the Next18 connector.  Bryan has 16 currently in stock - https://store.sbs4dcc.com/ESU59828LokPilot5MicroNMRADCCDecoder-NEM662Next18IntegralConnec.aspx

Bryan is going on vacation so he list his cutoff date for ordering as Oct 7th so order so if you don't wan to wait until after the 19th.