I just received these decoders that I've waited over a year for ESU to release....... The first KATO loco that I wanted to "test" fit was the PA1 and PA2. (FYI - don't bother looking at the enclosed instructions and diagrams from ESU; they haven't updated their documentation to include the #58941. ESU had the documentation for the Atlas legacy decoder on their website but I don't find any diagram for the 58941 so I will have to call or email - great.) The daughterboard is too high and hits the top of the shell so it won't fit and there are no bumps inside the shell to shave down. I may have to "carefully" try to take a little off the inside of the shell to see if that would work although I'm not interested to sacrifice a shell.. I removed the daughteboard just to confirm the issue and the shell fit with no issues once the daughterboard was removed. I then test fitted the sound decoder into an E8 and there were no issues with clearing the daughterboard. I would have thought that both frames would be the same and the shell would be identical except for the cab. I also test fitted a 9x16 speaker, to the rear, and the shell fit as well. Baffle box is very small so I will see how it sounds without machining down the frame (last resort). I'm sure they will fit in F3 and F7 but I have been using the wudder motherboards and then snapping in the ESU sound decoder (I don't have the number off hand) so I am going to use those first to finish up all my F3 and F7. If you use the #58941, you won't have to shave down the nubs in the underside of the shell as the daughterboard "should" sit lower than using the wudder board and the sound decoder 21 pin adapter board. The new boards use a different plug that is not so high. Once I get some of these installed; I'll let you know the results. Regards, Brian
Why are you using a daughter board? Won’t the 58941 just replace the light board on the Kato PA? Might have to make room for a speaker.
Thanks, I just got one in today to go into an E9. Haven't checked anything yet as it is still in the box. I'll try tomorrow but from what you are saying it should to into the E9 OK clearance wise? It will replace a non-sound Digitrax decoder. Sumner
I was looking at the the photo on the ESU’s web page and the decoder looked to me to all one piece. After a second look I see decoder mounted on the daughter board.
Put the 58941 in my E9 this morning and no luck with it. I had a Digitrax non-sound decoder in the loco and ran it before I pulled it out and it ran fine. The motor contacts are isolated and checked for any shorts after putting the ESU board in and had none. I don't have an LED on it and the speaker isn't connected. I have track power to the power strips on top of the loco. Run decoder pro and 'no acknowledgement' from the loco. I need to put a LED on it to see if it even blinks. I'm wondering if there has to be some load on the board but it is connected to the motor (I checked and it is). Trying to find the right and left track power contacts on the board to see if it is getting power from the strips under the board but can't find which pads they are. Love ESU decoders once they are in but their documentation is usually the pits as far as I'm concerned. I can't believe they can produce such good decoders and yet the documentation is usually "can't say the word here". The documentation has diagrams of a number of their decoders but not this one. I don't get it. Seems like they could at least for the time being put in a separate B&W diagram of the decoder and maybe even a few examples of installs. Paper doesn't cost that much. Open to suggestions. Hope it isn't just a bad decoder, it would be my first, Sumner
Well do not feel alone. I have a brand new 58751 decoder that my Programer could not find- had to get a second one to finish the project. I called ESU for support - hummm tech is only there on some days- wish they would give us the days and time when support is there-NO better now than when Matt was at the helm.
Which number and when are you calling and who replaced Matt? Looks like the 1982 number might be support and 1980 is maybe sales only??? Maybe the same person handling both?? ================================================ For USA, Canada & Australia: Tuesday, Thursday 9am - 12pm (EST) Phone: +1 570-980-1982 Fax: +1 866-591-6440 For the USA, Canada & Australia: ESU LLC 1304 Jordan Ave Montoursville Pennsylvania 17754 USA Phone +1 570-980-1980 (Sales) Fax +1 866-591-6440 (Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm (EST)) ============================================================== Looks like you are in Phoenix. Will be there next month when it will probably be getting real hot. Wife's family and mother is there. She gets down every 6 weeks or so to visit her mom in a home and I usually go every other time or so. Some nice model RR clubs there, are you a member of any? Thanks, Sumner
I used the 1980 number, called last Friday about 1 PM EST. I was told the service tech ‘s name was Frank. Send you a PM with my phone # maybe we could catch lunch- when you are here.-not a member but do know some members.
Thanks. I'm going to put the Digitrax back in tomorrow morning and make sure it still works with it. If so I'll give them a call. Didn't get a PM so when you have time send one or I could. Sumner
OK, got the ESU board working. I decided before calling to put the Digitrax board back in and make sure it still worked. It didn't at first. This is a board layout where the motor tabs bend over and held with that little clip. When I bought the E9 used someone had all ready installed the decoder and besides the tab had also soldered them. The tap alone wasn't creating a good contact. If I pushed on it the loco would run. Took the board out and the ESU board back in along with only the tab and by pushing down on it got it to work. Took everything apart and I'm milling the frame now in the mill. When I put it together I'll solder the motor tabs. I was going to do that all along but didn't want to proceed on that until it was going in for the final time. I'll post back when it is together and running hopefully with sound, Sumner
I also like the benefits of the ESU decoders but how can a new decoder that took 1 1/2 yrs to release not have diagrams to show all the contacts???? Not even online!!!! Good luck getting in touch with tech support....... Also - ESU how about releasing the already released KATO sound decoder with motor tabs - either already soldered to the board or loose. Alot of the new KATO DC boards have the motor tabs soldered to the DC board which creates another step to unsolder and hopefully a clean tab with no solder residue. I hate to pile on but it's justified, IMHO. Sumner, I'll watch for your post once you get it all together. Brian
the new boards are suppose to have 12 functions can you tell where they are /has anyone figured them out. I am thinking of getting one for a P42 project but am hesitant without any instructions to be found
I've been putting on in an E9, or trying anyway. Never could get any sound out of it so sent it back and hopefully will get a replacement soon. Motor functions worked but sound didn't. Maybe something I did wrong?? Above you can see there are Aux outputs all over the edges of the board that the decoder is attached to. I don't have any experience using them but have used them on ESU LokPilot decoders and imagine they would be the same. Sumner
Summer, where did you have to machine the frame, or was it the shell that had to be modified? Seems like Brian was having problems with the decoder hitting the shell when he tried to put it back on.
You can see the slot in the back for the speaker and another one in the nose for the keep-alive. As far as I remember the shell fit on OK but maybe I only tried it with the speaker and keep-alive installed. I'll try and report back when I get a new decoder to test. Sumner
