Loksound 5 Nano

[sp org div]

It's definitely two separate boards…
The board is 8.88mm wide though where the wires come off the sides it's a little wider, about 10.50mm including the wires. It is roughly 4.6mm tall which includes the thickness of the wires.

WHY!?!

[peteski]

WHY!?!

Because ESU decided that was the way to go(starting with the V4 nanos, with Next18 connector).  Using Next18 made some sense since many (mostly European) models already come with a mating Next18 connector, for (mostly) plug-n-play install, but V5 has what looks like proprietary connector that is used by ESU to adapt nanos to larger PC board (assuming that it is made to utilize the V5 nano for larger scale locos).   I'm not too happy that ESU continues to go this route, but as the saying goes, it is what it is.

[woodone]

Money is the reason. It cost money to solder seperate wires to the decoder board.
A pick and place machine can place a socket on the board at the same time has the components go on in less time.
It is about the $$. 

[tehachapifan]

It is curious as to why they went through all the effort to make a narrower board only to negate it completely with wires hanging off the side. I love ESU products and have even adopted them as the standard on my layout, but it sometimes seem like somebody isn't talking to somebody there.

[trainzluvr]

It is curious as to why they went through all the effort to make a narrower board only to negate it completely with wires hanging off the side. I love ESU products and have even adopted them as the standard on my layout, but it sometimes seem like somebody isn't talking to somebody there.

More likely there are no N Scale modelers among ESU engineers.

[tehachapifan]

More likely there are no N Scale modelers among ESU engineers.

Possibly! Still, you would think that, after going through all the design and engineering required to render the narrowest board in their catalog, they would understand it would be used for tight spaces over, say, the LS5 Micro. I'm assuming they went for the 8.5(?)mm width with American N scale diesels in mind. However, with the wires adding another, what, 2mm or so width, now we basically have something that's the same width as the LS5 Micro or the (venerated and sorely-missed) 73800 board and its V4 counterpart. Both of which wouldn't fit inside many N scale narrow hood shells without a lot of extra work, if at all. Some of us can make this Nano work, as we possess the soldering skills necessary to reroute the wires, but it's not something I was planning on having to do.

[RBrodzinsky]

I actually believe the Nano was REALLY designed for the new HO Direct board with built in Power Pack.  Its use for N is an added bonus, but not the primary thought.  Their IM/Atlas (new models), Kato USA and Kato Japan, similar to the 73100 and 73199, are their only true "N" decoders.  And, for whatever design reason, none of them came designed for Power Pack / stay alive capacitors.

[jdcolombo]

Folks, the width increase caused by the wires is a minor annoyance.  If the width is a problem, resolder the wires you need in the other direction.  You may be able to just bend them back as needed once the shrink wrap is removed.

What is a bigger issue (for me, at least) is the thickness.  I managed to shoe-horn the old Select Micro into some engines only because one end of the Select Micro was REALLY thin - about 2mm.  I don't think one could install either the current 5 micro OR this nano in an Atlas classic RS-3, for example.  It's probably not an issue for modern diesels, where the rear shelf is nearly as long as a whole switcher, but it's going to be an issue for some first and second-generation hood diesels, I think.

We'll see.  Modelers always seem to find workarounds for things, so perhaps my pessimism is unwarranted.

John C.

[trainzluvr]

The obvious solution to me is to find the type and model number of the connector which ESU used on the decoder and make a custom breakout board that's smaller (I don't think it's feasible to solder wires directly to the pins of that connector).

[reinhardtjh]

The obvious solution to me is to find the type and model number of the connector which ESU used on the decoder and make a custom breakout board that's smaller (I don't think it's feasible to solder wires directly to the pins of that connector).

This is what I'm hoping.  I'm sure it's not a custom connector so somewhere, someone should be able to provide it to OEM and hopefully individuals.  Then perhaps we can get custom boards like the Wutter board for the LS V5 Micro and Kato F3/F7/P42/etc/

[trainzluvr]

Actually on pg.1 of this thread there are photos of a breakout board, so it already exists.

I'm kinda confused now about the board on pg.3...

[reinhardtjh]

Actually on pg.1 of this thread there are photos of a breakout board, so it already exists.

I'm kinda confused now about the board on pg.3...

Yeah, that short board with the wires on both sides is V1 and what's documented in the manual (see here https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=52422.msg725620#msg725620).  This new board (V2 I guess) is something, well, new and unexpected.  Someone at ESU must have thought it was better - I don't know why.  I think the new board is somewhat thicker, or at least makes the whole decoder assembly a consistent 4.6mm instead of around 4mm on one side and something less on the other side (I don't know that anyone ever measured the bare Nano decoder).

My order from Streamlined Backshops is due on Monday (22nd) according to the USPS so I'll be interested to see what I get when they show up.

[trainzluvr]

So those are FPC/Board to Board Connectors, 24 position.

https://www.mouser.ca/c/connectors/board-to-board-mezzanine-connectors/?number%20of%20positions=24%20Position

The trick is finding the compatible one - would help to measure the pitch between the pins.

Maybe the easiest thing is to email ESU and ask them for a part #.

[reinhardtjh]

So those are FPC/Board to Board Connectors, 24 position.

https://www.mouser.ca/c/connectors/board-to-board-mezzanine-connectors/?number%20of%20positions=24%20Position

The trick is finding the compatible one - would help to measure the pitch between the pins.

Yeah. That's the trick.  when mine arrive I'll be checking out the parts places to see if one looks feasable.

Maybe the easiest thing is to email ESU and ask them for a part #.

I did.  I got an answer back from Matt (Herman) that he asked me not to talk about.  But not the answer I was looking for (part #), something different. 

So feel free to write him and ask and see what answer you get. 

[trainzluvr]

I did.  I got an answer back from Matt (Herman) that he asked me not to talk about.  But not the answer I was looking for (part #), something different. 

So feel free to write him and ask and see what answer you get. 

I don't get it, you asked him for a part # and he told you something else, unrelated, then said not to talk about it?!

That's kinda messed up...

EDIT: Email sent to ESU.EU enquiring about manuf/part # for the connectors. Told them that ESU America was not useful in providing this information.