New atlas SD-9 Decoder

[ridinshotgun]

@ridinshotgun

While delayed a bit (not quite as long as Intermountain offerings    ), your vaporware has materialized.  That E24 LokPilot decoder has arrived at my favorite dealer:
https://sbs4dcc.com/products/esu-59925-lokpilot-5-nano-nmra-dcc-decoder-esu-e24-integral-connector.html

Yeah I saw that from Brian yesterday. I hope to see some in the wild here in Amherst.

[randgust]

This is useful here because it would sure look to me like everything has been duplicated on the GP7.   I wondered what was inside that tape wrap and why.   I'm equally puzzled about what's going on in the DC silver version as to why a micro substitute is even necessary....   I mean you could just wire the trucks and the motor together from the existing leads, throw on an LED headlight, and you're done.   Other than a resistor for the LED, no clue as to why there are more components on there.

[peteski]

This is useful here because it would sure look to me like everything has been duplicated on the GP7.   I wondered what was inside that tape wrap and why.   I'm equally puzzled about what's going on in the DC silver version as to why a micro substitute is even necessary....   I mean you could just wire the trucks and the motor together from the existing leads, throw on an LED headlight, and you're done.   Other than a resistor for the LED, no clue as to why there are more components on there.

Many newly produced DC models include some sort of standard DCC connector (6-pin, Next18 or most recently E24) along with a dummy decoder board installed, so the model operates in DC, and yet can be easily converted to DCC. 

Nowadays most new models (DC and DCC) also include Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) suppression components in the motor circuits.  That circuit consists of 2 inductors and one or two capacitors in the motor circuit. This RFI suppression circuit has been included for decades in models sold in Europe (due to more stringent radio frequency emission laws in Europe), and in most more recent Chinese made models for American market. Probably because China makes models for a worldwide market.

As for the other components, I have not had a chance to reverse engineer that board, but it looks like the other components are resistors for the headlights and other optional lights (LEDs), along with some capacitors which look like some sort of filters for those light circuits.  The connectors are also for optional Lightning.

I don't really see anything out of the ordinary here.  To me it is not surprising that Atlas uses the same light board for the gold and silver models. The days of the light boards only containing the lights/LEDs resistor and maybe a diode and a capacitor likely gone forever.  But none of the extra components will affect DC operation, so that is not an issue either.  As you mentioned, if you prefer you can remove the light board and hardwire the motor and LEDs/resistors.

[ridinshotgun]

@peteski

I PM'ed you some info regarding the atlas mother board which I got at Amherst.

[randgust]

I don't really see anything out of the ordinary here.  To me it is not surprising that Atlas uses the same light board for the gold and silver models. The days of the light boards only containing the lights/LEDs resistor and maybe a diode and a capacitor likely gone forever.  But none of the extra components will affect DC operation, so that is not an issue either.  As you mentioned, if you prefer you can remove the light board and hardwire the motor and LEDs/resistors.

Thanks, that's exactly what I see on that board.  Seemed like overkill for a DC model, but I date back to the days when Trix had an interference coil on the circuit boards of the U-boats stuck inside the fuel tank.

When you reverse directions on the DC Silver GP7, the headlight on the opposite end slowly goes out, not immediate 'off'.  So there's a capacitor in there, and the circuit board has 'C" indicators.  And I thought I saw some tiny coils when I removed the board for inspection.  Plus the usual resistors for the LED's.  They are microscopic and pad mount, I think I'll remove the cab one and put in leads to a headlight up where it belongs instead of lighting up the entire nose of the locomotive.

No DCC guru, but after looking at the speaker I got for 'cab mount' in my decapod, it sure looks like it would fit crossways in the GP cab, freeing up the radiator area to put the decoder in instead of the speaker..... but that would involve retooling the shell to clear and it's pretty obvious that VERY little was done if anything to the shell tooling. 

[peteski]

Yes, most new light board designs use the tiny Surface Mount Devices (SMDs). That often includes LEDs, although some are still the regular 3mm type with leads.  The number of components might seem like an overkill, but those components are cheap and the same board can be used in DC and DCC models. Probably less expensive than having 2 distinct boards.

[NYC54]

So from what I have gathered from reading this thread is that the new Silver series Atlas SD-7 and the new GP-7 both take the ESU LOKPILOT 59925 decoder with the E24 connection.
I'm looking to purchase 2 GP-7 & 2 SD-7 Silver units. The online store also has the 59925 decoder in stock. Since I don't do sound I figured this would be the way for me to go.

My next question is this: Has anybody installed one of these decoders? Do they plug into the main board? Any soldering required? Since these are so new I haven't been able to find any installation videos or pics much less any documentation on how to install. I'm trying to do my homework before I spend that kind of money but also don't want to have to spend a lot of time on installation. Can this decoder still be programmed with my NCE PowerCab on my test track? Will they consist ok with my other loco's that have mostly Digitrax and a few NCE decoders.

I have mostly an Chinese made Atlas fleet of split frame loco's U25B, GP35's GP38's and a couple of older GP9s and 2 of the newer (2018 release) GP-40.
I would love to have a few new loco's but don't want to set myself up for headaches or heartaches. Any responses would be highly appreciated.

Thanks, Tony

[peteski]

Looks like you started a duplicate thread on this. I answered your questions there.

[GM50 4164]

I would not use the connectors at all.  Just remove/unsolder them and solder wires to the remaining pads on the PC-board, or scrape the solder mask from the traces leading to the connectors and solder wires there.  Those connectors are kind of bulky. With them out of the way, there should be lots of room to add capacitors (assuming that the V+ is actually the raw rectified voltage (should be), and that GND is available on the board.

Where exactly would you look for GND to be on this Atlas light board? I was looking at it earlier and I saw the V+ and assumed that was one of the KA locations but didn't see anything that could be used for GND.

[peteski]

Where exactly would you look for GND to be on this Atlas light board? I was looking at it earlier and I saw the V+ and assumed that was one of the KA locations but didn't see anything that could be used for GND.

Good question.  I don't have one of those board in hand to check.  I asked for one (both member here and Atlas directly), but no luck.

[GM50 4164]

Good question.  I don't have one of those board in hand to check.  I asked for one (both member here and Atlas directly), but no luck.

Shoot me a message with your address and I'll send you mine. I can remove the board completely or send the whole locomotive. Just let me know if you would please.

[1956Porsche]

Just heard that Digitrax now has an E24 Nscale sound decoder.

[peteski]

Just heard that Digitrax now has an E24 Nscale sound decoder.

That's correct. See https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=57939.0

[peteski]

For the light board info see https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58111