ESU LokPilot 5

Discussion in 'Decoders & Programming' started by Iantha_Branch, Sep 25, 2022.

  1. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Anyone here have experience with ESU decoders?

    I bought a couple silent "LokPilot" decoders to install in switchers that are paired up with LokSound equipped models. I have a pair of Wathers Proto GP9s that I'm setting up in this manner (1 with factory sound, 1 without). Neither of the LokPilot decoders I installed worked properly. I could control the headlights, but couldn't get the motor to work. It worked fine with the DC dummy board, and it works with the NCE decoder I dropped in it. Do I just not have something set up right, or did I just happen to get 2 duds?
     
  2. geep07

    geep07 Member

    Ethan,
    Go back to the beginning. Set the decoder to factory default. Run the loco to address 3 .
    Don't go any further until you can run the loco on address 3. If it still does not run check your wiring.
    When you have it running on address 3, you then can give it the address desired. Then you can place it in a consist address.
    Tip: After you have it running on the locomotive address (prior to consist address). Set loco on the track for programming on the main.
    Enter loco address, set CV 54 = 0, press F1 on your throttle, the loco will take off for a few feet, make sure track is clear!
    This will adjust the back EMF feature and your loco should run smoothly at creeping slow speed.
    Good luck!
     
  3. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Right, nice and easy to understand. Unlike plug and play SoundTraxx. (sarcasm dripping).
     
    geep07 likes this.
  4. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I should have specified, these were brand new out of the box, unprogrammed on address 3. The headlights responded correctly, but the motor wouldn't. The fact that it worked with another decoder right of the bat still has me scratching my head. I'll trouble shoot some more next time I'm out at the work bench.

    Yeah... I really went back and forth on whether or not to try these. Unfortunately, Atlas, Walthers and Scaletrains all use ESU for their sound decoders. While they sound nice, I don't like how they run and are an unnecessary nightmare to program. I really hate the delayed throttle response. I still haven't figured out how to disable that, which is why I decided to try the silent decoders. I might just throw all the ESU chips in the next brush pile I burn.
     
  5. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Just another reason why I avoid sound decoders.

    GS
     
  6. geep07

    geep07 Member

    FYI,
    The silent decoders also have delayed throttle response.
    If you notice the value of CV 3 is a high number.
    A number of other owners of Loksound locomotives dislike them due to the complicity of programming, etc.
    I am no exeption!
     
  7. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    "I really hate the delayed throttle response."

    And that's about the only thing I like better: The prime mover automatically revs before the engine begins movement, just as it should be.

    I can do the same with my TSU2's, but it requires additional button pushing.

    Ethan: That delay is programmable. You can program the delay to what level you like. I'll have to dig up my LokSound manuals and give the CV's to you.
     
  8. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I did a little bit of experimenting a while back and found that CV3 and CV4 didn't impact the delay for the throttle notch up.
     
  9. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Ethan:

    It's not in those momentum settings. It's a different CV altogether. I'll try to remember go out to the layout building tomorrow and dig up the data for you.
     
  10. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I would really appreciate it if you could share that.
     
  11. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Good news, bad news.

    Good news: I found the data I mentioned.

    Bad news: It's for the "LokSound Select" decoder that Atlas uses in most of their "Gold" series engines. For your sake, I do hope the CVs and values are the same for the LS5 and I hope it does what you want it to do.

    ESU_LokSound_StartUpCVs_1.jpg

    ESU_LokSound_StartUpCVs_2.jpg


    Hope this helps.

    EDIT: A careful reading of the above indicates to me it has to do with the sounds of starting a dead engine and the said model will not respond to throttle input until said sequence is complete. It may not address the momentum delay during operation.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2022
    Iantha_Branch and geep07 like this.
  12. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Thanks for the info. I'll keep digging on the throttle delay issue and report back if I find out anything.
     
  13. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    After looking through the LokPilot manual tonight I might have finally found the CV that controls the delay, 255. Will try and report back
     
  14. geep07

    geep07 Member

    Ethan,
    Did you get the Silent Decoders to run ?
    You where so intent on the delayed response item but never mentioned if you where able to get them to run!
    I have a couple of Loksound silent decoder locos behind Loksound sound units, they are running great together.
    Hope you where able to solve the problem.
     
  15. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Not yet. I haven't had time to go back out to the layout since starting this thread. I will come back and give an update when I work on things again
     
  16. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Update time

    The two decoders I couldn't figure out the other day are function only decoders. I feel kind of dumb for not realizing this, but in my defense the labeling is about is convoluted as their programing process.

    I forgot that I had ordered 4 more LokPilot decoders last week to work with Loksound decoders. The good news is I got the correct decoders this time. The bad news is 1 is defective.

    Now with the first problem solved, lets look at the original problem that prompted me to buy the LokPilot decoders in the first place.

    The manual for the LokPilot decoder shows that it comes factory programmed so that Fx 4 toggles the throttle delay feature. I tried this out and it does not work as the manual states. No explanation on how to change it.

    After looking through the entire CV table in the manual, I found a few to try and FINALLY found the solution to the throttle delay.

    CV 124 is an extended configuration table. Bit 2 controls the throttle delay. Set CV 124 to 0 and it fixes the issue.

    If anyone from ESU reads this, there is no reason programing the decoder should have been this hard. This should have been one of the first things listed in the manual.

    Now that I have this figured out, I don't need LokPilot decoders to match up with LokSound Decoders.
     
  17. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    One more critique of LokSound, there's no preloaded sound options to change on the decoder. The only way to change sound options, such as horn and bell sounds, is to buy their $180 proprietary programing module. On top of that, you have to hope that the correct sound profile already exists on their website for you to install on the decoder.
     
  18. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Hm. Interesting.

    The LokSound "Select" decoders in the Atlas Gold series engines offer several horns and other options, and are quite programmable with my NCE hand helds. However, sometimes a editing certain values requires being on the Program Track instead of Program On Main.
     
  19. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    The Walthers Proto GP9 I was working on had nothing in the instructions on alternate horns, and the generic manual didn't either. I'll have to find some of my Atlas gold engines and look at them.

    FWIW I'm running JMRI through my digitrax command station to a programing track to make changes.
     

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