Kato E5 with ESU LokPilot micro 5 - not

[keeper]

I have a Kato E5B - a shell from Bill - with an ESU LokSound V4 micro. I thought it might be a bit easier to match an E5A with an ESU LokPilot 5 micro than any other decoder.
So I tried to install the version with a Next18 plug on PC board and using the LED from the original board. As you can see, the install itself went quite well and easy.



At the beginning I tried if the decoder will fit in height and it did, but with all the tape and wires it doesn't. You can press the shell down until it clicks in its position but the decoder pushes it up again so that the shell sits a bit higher than it should.
I compared it to an E5 with a Digitrax decoder installed.



So next I will try it with a plain wired LokPilot 5 micro decoder.

Thomas

[Wolf N Works]

If it is not too much additional height you might take a rotary tool and then the top of the shell where the decoders hit, go slow and try often.  I had to do this all the time with Kato C44 shells .

[peteski]

There is very little clearance under the roof of Kato E units.  If you cut or milled down the rear part of the metal chassis you could place the decoder there.  I have done that.

[keeper]

If it is not too much additional height you might take a rotary tool and then the top of the shell where the decoders hit, go slow and try often.  I had to do this all the time with Kato C44 shells .

I might try that, but maybe heat might be another issue when the roof gets too thin.

[keeper]

There is very little clearance under the roof of Kato E units.  If you cut or milled down the rear part of the metal chassis you could place the decoder there.  I have done that.

Sure, but I don't want to loose the loco's weight. I have done that with the B unit to get room for the speaker.

[peteski]

Sure, but I don't want to loose the loco's weight. I have done that with the B unit to get room for the speaker.

This locos are so heavy that taking off a bit of metal in the rear will not greatly affect they pulling ability.  Since you have one intact and another one With some metal removed, you could easily test how much pulling ability is lost.  And if you run them as a pair (A-B lashup), then you have nothing to worry about. Plenty of pull!

[keeper]

So, I installed an ESU LokPilot 5 micro DCC (59820). That one is really tiny! Sorry, no photo.
Lots of space for that decoder without milling or cutting.

[Spruslayer]

I have the E5A Silver Streak Zephyr set i want to add DCC& Sound but im going to wait for ESU to release this
   Art.No.   Description   Delivery   
NEW!   58941   LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Kato USA Widebody "blank decoder", with loudspeaker 11x15mm, gauge: N   Q3/22   
 
Scheduled for the third quarter of 22
Suposed to be a drop in replacement but will have to find a place for the speaker

[peteski]

I have the E5A Silver Streak Zephyr set i want to add DCC& Sound but im going to wait for ESU to release this
   Art.No.   Description   Delivery   
NEW!   58941   LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Kato USA Widebody "blank decoder", with loudspeaker 11x15mm, gauge: N   Q3/22   

I seem to recall a mention that it will not fit the Kato E units because of the overall thickness of the decoder and motherboard.

[keeper]

This is my E5B with an ESU LokSound v4 micro.



I'm not sure why I used parts of the PC board. Would need to peel off the tape to answer that question.

[keeper]

To make this complete, here is the E5A with an ESU Lokpilot 5 micro DCC which I mentioned earlier.

[keeper]

Comparing the two photos above, it seems that Kato modified the frame. There are additional plastic clips to hold the contact stripes.
Maybe that's why I used the PC board to hold down the contact stripes with the plastic thingy in the middle.

[Spruslayer]

I seem to recall a mention that it will not fit the Kato E units because of the overall thickness of the decoder and motherboard.

On further investagation i have found the Loksound V4 Keeper used is listed as 3.8 mm/ .1496 thick and the Loksound 5 micro Kato widebody is listed as 4.5mm/ .1771 thick.
Here is the discription for the V5 micro Widebody on the ESU website

The LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Kato USA Widebody has been specially developed for installation in wide body N gauge locomotives of the Kato USA brand: Most diesel locomotives of this manufacturer come with only a common DC lighting board. Finally, these models can also be easily retrofitted with a LokSound decoder.

The LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Kato USA Widebody with its dimensions of 47.5mm x 14mm x 4.5mm is a pure DCC decoder and comes without a loudspeaker.

Make me question what ESU considers a Kato widebody
Im gonna try a send ESU a e-mail to see if they can clarify what Kato models this will fit in

EDIT
Looks like there's no way to contact ESU
Veeeery Interresting!

[peteski]

On further investagation i have found the Loksound V4 Keeper used is listed as 3.8 mm/ .1496 thick and the Loksound 5 micro Kato widebody is listed as 4.5mm/ .1771 thick.
Here is the discription for the V5 micro Widebody on the ESU website

The LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Kato USA Widebody has been specially developed for installation in wide body N gauge locomotives of the Kato USA brand: Most diesel locomotives of this manufacturer come with only a common DC lighting board. Finally, these models can also be easily retrofitted with a LokSound decoder.

The LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Kato USA Widebody with its dimensions of 47.5mm x 14mm x 4.5mm is a pure DCC decoder and comes without a loudspeaker.

Make me question what ESU considers a Kato widebody
Im gonna try a send ESU a e-mail to see if they can clarify what Kato models this will fit in

EDIT
Looks like there's no way to contact ESU
Veeeery Interresting!

When the info first came out about this motherboard/decoder combo  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=53478.0 , I also questioned the fit in the E units.  I seem to recall another thread where someone confirmed that it will not work with Kato Es.

Other locos it will fit are  F units, PA (PB?), F40PH and P42 locos. Also SDP40F?

You can certainly contact ESU USA.  While not very intuitive,. See the first item on https://www.esu.eu/en/sales/importers-of-esu-products/ Matt is the contact for ESU USA, and his email and phone number are listed.

[Spruslayer]

Thank you Peteksi for the contact info
Looks like i should just put a Loksound Nano in it seeing as i will have to do some mods to get a speaker in there any way.

EDIT
After reading the linked thread showing it is made for the Kato E bodys i think a phone call to ESU is in order
Ill put that on my Monday todo list!