Replacing an ESU Essential Sound Unit Decoder with a Loksound 5 decoder

[@tvtoms]

Thanks for this video. As it happens, I've recently received a Walthers mainline gp9 with the esu board. I'd ordered the same blank decoder (I got it blank, downloaded the file and have a lokprogrammer). Just received the decoder today so searched for a video and found this. Couldn't have been more simple other than a stubborn shell it looks like. I hope mine goes smoothly too, thanks.

[@michaelphlegm2182]

Q

[@williambryant5946]

Nice video. Sound is great! Ready to see the super detailing videos. 👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Thanks for the great tutorial on the install. I`m thinking of a LokSound 5 21 Pin conversion for my GP9 as well.

[@CodysTrainz]

The Sound file used is S0768 which is a Lok Sound 5.0 file for EMD 16: 567C 2EXH NT.

[@TMandN]

Excellent tutorial. Sounds awesome. Keep up the good work!

[@btaldog]

Excellent video. Do you have one showing how you set up your lok programmer board? That's really interesting.

[@ck7813]

Thank you. I am sorry, I am not understanding your question? Do you want to see how to setup the actual LokProgrammer? It is fairly simple, you need a piece of track with two feeders that connect to the LokProgrammer. Then it is just a USB cable from the programmer to my computer. You can download the software at ESU.EU. I did a video series on building a small demonstration layout, if you go to about 30 minutes in this video, it kind of describes how to setup the LokProgrammer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3aqeaRmd5WagaMsi=sRE66JPLhyoamkLp

[@normantoogood6937]

Great video. I have the same Walthers unit. I can't afford to swap decoders, as a Lok 5 is about 150 in Canada, and I only paid 199 for the loco! If I knew how limited the Essential was, I would not have bought this. My biggest issue is getting this unit to crawl forward & reverse without waiting about 10 seconds. I have changed CV 3 & 4, and also CV124, but nothing helps. Any suggestions? Thanks for all you do for the hobby.

[@ck7813]

Hi Norman, I made a video that will hopefully rectify your situation, please watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4WxcnSCrsmAbqs

[@normantoogood6937]

@@ck7813 Yes, I saw that one, where you removed the dynamic braking feature. Do you think that this would resolve my slow start moving issue?

[@ck7813]

@@normantoogood6937 You can do what you want to, it is worth trying. Just read the CV first and write down the current value so you can always change it back if it doesn't work. I don't have any locomotives with the Essential Sound Unit decoder to help troubleshoot.

[@normantoogood6937]

@@ck7813 Looks like I already changed those values, probably after watching your video the 1st time, and it did nothing to eliminate the delay in movement. Oh well, I'll keep looking & let you know if I can ever resolve it. Too bad that ESU doesn't stand behind this product. Guaranteed I will never get another one. Ha ha

[@bensullivan]

Enjoyed the video. Thank you! Do you have a video on actually loading a new sound file onto a LokSound decoder?

[@ck7813]

Thanks, Ben. Unfortunately, I do not. I went through and searched my old videos and couldn't find it. I will try to post a video of this in the upcoming week.

[@442productions6]

Your layout is super cool

[@WeMustRebell]

Nice CK! You planning on upgrading all 4 of your GP9s?

[@ck7813]

WeMustRebel yep, three new decoders are in-route!

[@WeMustRebell]

ck7813 Very nice. You know I’m satisfied with my GP9 overall. That said. I do believe Walthers should step up their game as compared to the current Athearn RTRs.

[@aleclangkau4556]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you purchase your new decoders from? I would appreciate having the gp-9 sound files pre loaded into the decoder just like yours. I also wanted to ask your opinion. Should I buy a DC locomotive and install speakers, or is it worth buying the DCC version and just replacing the decoder itself?

[@pedullabass]

i drilled out the classification light to add leds. you can see AuX 5 and Aux6 free in front of the decoder in your video. Do you know how to make those work? I wired up a led with a resistor. and cannot get any function keys to turn on the led when plugged into either Aux 5 or 6. Thanks

[@ck7813]

Hi Eddie - Do you have a LokProgrammer? Ultimately, you need to assign a function to those two auxiliary functions. The most straightforward way is with a LokProgrammer. You can use JMRI or direct decoder changes with your command station but the details are too much to type out in the comment section here.

[@pedullabass]

@ck7813 no . I found out the esu essential sound doesn't work on aux 5 and 6.. I found out 1 and 2 and they do work. I added a wire to the main headlight plug and got an led to work... however now that light pulses. It has some kind of effect. I can't figure out which cv controls aux 1 and 2. Hope to talk to esu tomorrow.

[@tyhik9338]

What's up man, in any DCC ready locos, do I cut the wires off and install the 58429 decoder or do I solder them to the speakers?

[@ck7813]

@@tyhik9338 Thanks for the comment. I am not 100% sure what you are asking about. If you have a DCC-ready locomotive, you should be able to add a decoder (please note the pin arrangement, there are differences like a 21-pin or a next 18 pin). You should not have to cut any wires off to make it work. If the locomotive you are installing a decoder in does not have a speaker, you may have to solder some wires to the speaker and the decoder board. Before soldering anything, please review the manual(s) that came with your decoder and locomotive. Some brands have a “DCC-buddy” board that the decoder plugs into that has outputs for all of your light and speaker functions. Look for the “SPK” tabs on the board and that is what you need to connect the speaker to. Some boards have a 1mm male/female plug that do not require soldering to the board at all! If this is not what you need, please reply with more details about what you are trying to accomplish.

[@tyhik9338]

@@ck7813 I'm trying to install the 58429 decoder in an atlas Metra MP36 DCC ready locomotive and a scaletrains ES44AC DCC ready locomotive and I'm trying to see if they have speakers already installed so I can easily install the decoder but I'm not sure if I can solder to the speakers.

[@ck7813]

@@tyhik9338 Gotcha! Ok, full disclosure I have not installed a decoder/speaker in either an Atlas brand nor a ScaleTrains brand locomotive. The process should be somewhat similar no matter what brand of locomotive you have. A better video for you might be this one I published a few months ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGHbk62pos93ecksi=jyBo0WDrw19p4mbq the speaker installation discussion occurs at about the 5min, 30 second mark. It should be pretty evident if your locomotives have speakers installed already because the should be towards the top of the unit and have two wires running off of them. If the speakers are pre-installed, they should already be wired to the board. If you still have questions, it may not hurt to reach out directly to the tech support from each company for specific instructions for their locomotives

[@tyhik9338]

@@ck7813 oh ok

[@frankando12]

HI I have 3 ESU V 5 L decoders The Headlights and AUX need to be turned on before you use the decoder. Can you explain the way to do this.Thanks Frank

[@ck7813]

Thank you. My first question is, do you know what AUX functions they are programmed to? Once you figure that out you can program. Second question is, do you have the LokProgrammer? If yes, there are tutorial videos on KZbin to help you out, it is pretty simple if you have that. If you don't have it, no worries, you can still download the LokProgrammer software for free and make the changes you want in the software (you can't write it to the decoder without the programming module), the software will give you a summary of the CV changes and then you can change those CVs with your hand throttle or JMRI.

[@NKPTrainSimulations]

Question on the esu essential decoder for a walthers mainline can you download and put sounds on them it says mine is a 5

[@ck7813]

Thanks, NKP1911. To my knowledge, the essential sound unit decoders do not allow for changing the sound files on them. You can certainly visit the esu.eu website for additional information.

[@aleclangkau4556]

Are the speakers in those mainline units decent? I'm not sure if I should buy mine with DCC and just replace the decoder like you. Or should I just buy standard DC and install the decoder with a better speaker too?

[@ck7813]

Hi Alec, if you are minimally competent with soldering, I would recommend getting the non-sound unit, buying a 21-pin sound decoder and add your own speaker. I would recommend Scale Sound System speakers. JT has GREAT products and they are not overly expensive.

[@lynncreekrailroad9690]

Do you have any hobby shops you would recommend that will preprogram the decoder sounds to match the unit for you? Thanks

[@ck7813]

Yes, Yankee Dabbler (google him) will program your decoder, check out their site, I have had great luck purchasing from him!

[@lynncreekrailroad9690]

@@ck7813 Yes I've bought from them before. Just didn't know they could do that. Thanks 👍

[@gmcliff555]

I din't see you hook up the speaker ? Was it already Pre-wired from the Mother board ?

[@ck7813]

gmcliff555 it was pre-wired. You could disconnect from the motherboard and connect to the two brown wires on the decoder.

[@alco251b9]

For some reason, the speaker on mine sounds a bit rough

[@dcctrain]

Awesome!

[@boylesterminalshops6841]

I’m honestly surprised you bought these compared to your other models. Do you plan on detailing them?

[@ck7813]

Absolutely!! Stay tuned!

[@thomasavensjr.2790]

It is a shame that you need to do all that work on a brand new locomotive, i was interested in these locomotives but now not so much and Walthers Mainline really disappointed with these GP9's even though they are handsome locomotives- Tom.