Loksound in an SDP40F

[Rivet Miscounter]

Howdy,

I am considering getting a Kato "Notched" SDP40F in Santa Fe. (So, technically an SDF40-2 I guess if you want to pick nits.).  I want to install a Loksound decoder, and I'm sort of going in circles trying to figure out how to proceed.    I've seen that Loksound has released or is about to release a new round of decoders for various purposes so I'm wondering which of those if any are correct.   Also got directed to a "Wutter Board" which I then learned wouldn't work for the SDP40F model...unless maybe they released a new version of the board since that thread.   So anyway, help?

I've always been a fan of the ATSF cowl units.  Although I'm modeling BN, there was significant ATSF run through power and I have "proof of life" for almost any six-axle ATSF locos.  Getting an FP45 (or F45, I can't remember which one would be the better option) could be another option, but I sort of like the "junk yard dog" look of the notched SDF40-2's.   I model the era right as Santa Fe was bringing the silver warbonnet back, so I was thinking that I might do the Freight SDF40-2 and also one of the the "new" silver warbonnets too.  (and really the notches were done right about that same time too)

[tehachapifan]

I installed a (Pre V5) LokSound decoder in one but can't recall the specifics at the moment. If no one else chimes in, I'll bust into it inn the next day or two and take a look. I want to say I used the Wutter board in it, but I can't recall for sure.

[Wutter]

The “drop in” option would be a Loksound 58741 as it uses that type of Kato board shape. That is not to say you can’t still use a Wutter board + 58823 Next18 decoder if you already own those parts. You would just need to hardwire it like any other decoder (pickup rails to each of the original contacts on the underside, motor pads isolated from the pickup strips to the board pads). All the necessary callouts are on the decoder manual except for the bottom pickup rails which are marked on the board itself. (https://tinyurl.com/yx8zcz4s). 

Many others have used the WVD board in other N and HO applications that it isn’t specifically designed for as a breakout board for all the functions since it takes up significantly less footprint than a Decoder Buddy but still have pads for all of the functions.

One more thing to note is that the original factory Kobo Loksound units are built on wired Select Micro decoders (90861 sound file). And you would probably use the S0765 file for use with a V5 decoder.

[peteski]

I thought the WVD "motherboard" combined with ESU V4 Next18 decoder was too thick to fit under the Kato E-units shells due to insufficient vertical clearance, but would fit into Kato  SDP40F.

[Wutter]

I thought the WVD "motherboard" combined with ESU V4 Next18 decoder was too thick to fit under the Kato E-units shells due to insufficient vertical clearance, but would fit into Kato  SDP40F.

Height wise it should fit in the SDP40F as long as the nubs on the ceiling of the shell are shaved off, but its just not designed as a drop-in solution, as the board shape is the 58741 shape and not the 58941 shape. So if you don't already have a decoder allocated for the locomotive, the best option is to buy a 58741.