Lokpilot 54650 slide in decoder

[Steveruger45]

I have just installed this new slide in lokpilot decoder in a few locos now. Including Atlas U25B's, B40-8 and non dcc ready framed kato sd40 and sd45.  These decoders have the same profile as the loksound 73199.  It take a bit of patience to file away the frames, mainly between the motor mount tabs, but it fits pretty well. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

You do need to solder the motor terminals to the decoder motor pads with short lengths of wire and apply kapton tape in a few areas to prevent shorts. But all in all pretty easy to do.

[Nick Lorusso]

You should be using the other board similar to 73100 for the dash 8 and u25b. Direct replacement  Similar to a DN163AO from Digitrax just better.

[Steveruger45]

There is another lokpilot slide in similar to 73100???
Pls provide a link for it.

[reinhardtjh]

There are two different LokSounds, but only one LokPilot.  That one has to make due for either type of installation.

[Steveruger45]

That's what I thought too

[tehachapifan]

I found it curious that there is apparently only the one LokPilot to match the 73199. I was assuming that one with the same footprint as the 73100 was coming out at some point soon as well, but this was only an assumption. Has anyone heard anything one way or the other on this?

[reinhardtjh]

I haven't seen anything said about it on the ESU Yahoo group nor the two Facebook pages they had.  But I don't think anyone has asked, either.

[Nick Lorusso]

Sorry Steve, I was mistaken. I could have swore me LHS had a part number.

[Steveruger45]

Hi Nick
No worries.  I too would love to see esu bring out a lokpilot slide in decoder with the same profile as the loksound 73100. Unfortunately I don't see any published prospect on this yet by esu. It certainly Would make life a little easier and save on filing the frame on a good number of  locos.   I am intending to put one of The 54640 in an atlas sd60 but this board is a little short to have the onboard led rear light close enough to the loco rear.  It does have a couple of free aux pads though. So I thought I could use one of them to connect an additional led and resistor and map it accordingly for the rear light. I love these decoders, so much easier to speed match and consist with my loksound locos and maintain the start up delay.  They are really reasonable in cost too at about $20 each, about two thirds to half the cost of a lokpilot micro (if you can find them) or a lokpilot nano.
  So there in lies my current project of "esu-izing" my entire fleet of which I am about 60% done. 
Once done I think I see a lokprogrammer in my future too.
Happy New Years every one.
Steve

[Nick Lorusso]

If you don't mind hard wiring they have a Nano decoder that works sweet. My friend has put them into a pair of Rivarossi SW1200 cow and calf. and these run way better than they did on DC now.

http://www.esu.eu/en/products/lokpilot/lokpilot-nano-standard/

[Steveruger45]

Hi Nick,
Yeah. I did consider these but there is a firmware bug on them as can be seen from other posts, about getting them to behave correctly on the start up delay. I also read that this has been fixed with a firmware upgrade very recently. My concern would be about those already out there on the market without this firmware upgrade which without a lokprogrammer you could not fix.   Also the cost of these is higher than the slide in lokpilot, which, when you have a plan to do all your locos as I am is not insignificant.  Anyhow, I guess you could ask the vendor to do a firmware upgrade on the nano before shipping it.   
Something to consider.

[RBrodzinsky]

Steve,

Where have you found these for “around $20”? All the normal suppliers have them for about $32, the same as the LokPilot 4.0 Micro and Nanos (+/- $1).

Yes, the Nano firmware has been fixed, but a LokProgrammer is needed to write it. On the ESU Yahoo group, there is a document with LokProgrammer owners willing to help folks. I have started taking mine to any show our group is at, and will gladly update decoders for folks.

[Steveruger45]

Hi Rick,
At mountain subdivision hobbies.  Www.modelrrsupply.com.
I have been buying decoders here for some time. Great service and great prices.
Bryan will upload sound files for you  to the Loksound decoders.
He is an ESU dealer as well as for other brands of decoders.
Free shipping on orders over $39 as well.
Check them out.
Steve

[RBrodzinsky]

Thanks. Interesting, there seems to be two different prevailing prices for these; one 2x the other, depending on dealer.

[tehachapifan]

Wow, no kidding! And I thought the place I was pricing these out had a good price! Sound versions are about the same though.