ESU LokSound 73100 board -- HEADS UP

[RBrodzinsky]

Guys,

Had an interesting experience with a new one of these boards. Luckily I was doing this on the LokTester, not installed in loco.  Brand new 73100, attached track, motor and speaker leads to pads (using cut off, from Select Micro,  8-pin plug), and hooked up to LT in prep for sound file load. Using LokProgrammer, first item tried was to Update Decoder Firmware.   When status box got to "Read Decoder Data", the motor on the LokTester started running at what seemed like max speed.  Kept running for about 20 seconds, then stopped.  LokTester and LokProgrammer lights kept flashing, and then the motor started running again. I cancelled the firmware update, and went into Read Extended Decoder Data.  Same thing, as soon as the read operation started, the motor went to maximum. Had to unplug the decoder to force an error to regain control of the LP software.

At first, I couldn't find what the issue was. Didn't see any blown components on the board.  Sent a note to Matt at ESU for advice, and went to put the board pack in its package. That is when I noticed a small "thing" stuck to the tape that was used to affix the board to the shipping card in its package.  Looking closely, it was a barrel resistor (22ohm).  Going back the board, sure enough, there were two pads with indents in the solder that perfectly matched the resistor, displaying all the earmarks of cold solder joints. You can see, below, with a cut/paste of one of Pete's photos.  When I replaced the resistor, everything behaved as normal

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This actually took a couple days, mostly of my stalling, to try the repair myself.

[tehachapifan]

Good catch!

[MK]

Wow, hope it's a one off and not a bad batch by ESU.

[Nick Lorusso]

Thank you for the heads up Rick. Need to check the ones I have at home.

[peteski]

I thought that it is actually a coil (choke) which is part of the low voltage power supply for the decoder's circuitry (likely affecting the microelectronic or the brain of the decoder).  But ESU people say that it is a resistor?

It is either in the 5V or 3V section (don't recall). Yes, without it the decoder will likely behave very strangely. Looks like it was originally there but it was likely pulled off the board.

[MK]

Peteski is back???!!!!   

[peteski]

Peteski is back???!!!!   

   I need to find some good photos in my camera (from over 1200 photos) to make a grand entrance. But couldn't resist postign in my favorite section of the forum 

[RBrodzinsky]

I thought that it is actually a coil (choke) which is part of the low voltage power supply for the decoder's circuitry (likely affecting the microelectronic or the brain of the decoder).  But ESU people say that it is a resistor?

It is either in the 5V or 3V section (don't recall). Yes, without it the decoder will likely behave very strangely. Looks like it was originally there but it was likely pulled off the board.

I guess it could be a choke.  Would that have 22ohms of resistance? I only assumed it was a resistor, since it had color bands on it that matched the 22ohms.  I never did hear a word back from Matt.

Luckily, since I found it on the sticky tape, I was able to reattach, and all was well.

[peteski]

I guess it could be a choke.  Would that have 22ohms of resistance? I only assumed it was a resistor, since it had color bands on it that matched the 22ohms.  I never did hear a word back from Matt.

Luckily, since I found it on the sticky tape, I was able to reattach, and all was well.

Yeah, it is likely a resistor - I just measured it. 22 ohm would be a bit high for a small choke.  I'm surprised that they didn't use a standard flat ceramic SMD resistor, but I guess since this one is much taller than the SMD resistors, it can likely dissipate more power while retaining a small footprint.  It is an old-style resistor, but with no leads welded to its end caps.

[Steveruger45]

  I need to find some good photos in my camera (from over 1200 photos) to make a grand entrance. But couldn't resist postign in my favorite section of the forum 

Welcome back Pete.  We missed you. Hope you had a good time.  I have been to Poland a couple of times, Szczecin, Gdańsk and Poznan with my work. Wonderful country.

[peteski]

Welcome back Pete.  We missed you. Hope you had a good time.  I have been to Poland a couple of times, Szczecin, Gdańsk and Poznan with my work. Wonderful country.

Thanks Steve!  I grew up in Poznań and that's where I spend most of my time there (with my family).  It is a wonderful country with rich heritage.

[Steveruger45]

Thanks Steve!  I grew up in Poznań and that's where I spend most of my time there (with my family).  It is a wonderful country with rich heritage.

Then you will know cigileski (hope I spelt that right) the marine engine builders in Poznan, I used to go there and inspect marine engines for classification certification and of course the shipyards in the north west part.
I always had a lot of trouble with the Polish spellings I’m afraid, so much so I used to joke that in Poland you only need to use the left side of the computer keyboard. It’s where all the S, C, Z, etc live.

[peteski]

Then you will know cigileski (hope I spelt that right) the marine engine builders in Poznan, I used to go there and inspect marine engines for classification certification and of course the shipyards in the north west part.
I always had a lot of trouble with the Polish spellings I’m afraid, so much so I used to joke that in Poland you only need to use the left side of the computer keyboard. It’s where all the S, C, Z, etc live.

LOL!  I have also heard jokes that the Polish language is a vowel deprived language. 

That company is HCP or Hipolit Cegielski Poznań.  A heavy industry which produced huge marine engines, and railroad locomotives and cars among other things.  Some of my family members worked there for years.  As a kid I lived very near the huge industrial complex and a rail link between plants was very close to the house where I lived. I often saw brand new passenger cars destined for USSR being moved over those track. I used to put coins and small rocks on the track and have them flattened or pulverized.  When my relatives worked there I visited few areas of the plant.

But today that huge HCP complex is a shadow of its former self. Part of the complex was sold to Volkswagen (became a metal casting plant) and large part of the complex appears to be abandoned and in disrepair.  But according to the Polish version of the Wiki page (https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Cegielski_%E2%80%93_Pozna%C5%84) they still manufacture marine engines.

[Steveruger45]

The last time I was at HCP ( Cegielski ) was the summer of 2007.  One of the Managers gave me a tour while I was waiting on the one of the large marine diesels to be finished being set up for a trial run/inspection and yes, even then it appeared to be a shadow of its former self. IIRC there was also an old switcher loco on the site, not used for a long time.
I loved the city of Poznan,  I stayed in a hotel a short walk from the city square and spent a good few hours most days just admiring the place and architecture over snacks and beer in one of the street cafes.  Funny what you recall at times, I just thought about that red colored chunky style soup I used to like and have more or less every day while I was there, can’t recall its name and I probably couldn’t spell it either.

[soo]

Steve..it is a beet soup. Its called Barszcz. There is longer name ..but I wont go there. Growing up in a Polish family I never did care for it..I was more into stuffed cabbage ( Golabki) and head cheese ( Studzienina)

Na razie! ( so long )
 Wyattski