Loksound Nano Interface

[Chinapig]

I'm trying to add a  home-made Stay-Alive to a loco, and I'm using the decoder interface below.
Does anyone know which is the Ground wire or if there is a solder tab that I should be using?

[peteski]

Ted,  the double-ended red arrow point to the pair of GND pins on the E24 connector.



As you can see there are no traces connected to those pins (other then the small pads directly at the pins), which means there is no GND pad available on the adapter. Unfortunately this seems to be common trend (Atlas E24-based light boards also do not provide GND pads.

Even if you were successful soldering some very fine wire directly to those pads, the clearance is very tight - the thickness of the soldered wire would prevent the decoder's connector from fully sitting ini the adapter's connector.

One solution would be to use the larger E24 nano adapter which does include the GND pad, but it increases the size of the entire assembly.



Another solution is to use the adapter you have and solder the negative side of the keep-alive directly to the GND locations on the nano itself. But that will void the decoder's warranty.

[Chinapig]

Hi Peteski, and thanks for the detailed reply.
I started this project using the E24 Nano Adapter board that you suggested, but it proved to be a little thicker than the blown Micro decoder I'm replacing.  Then I thought I might try the connector that I made the query about, but that looks like a dead end - I won't be trying to solder wires to that tiny pin!
Looks like I'll have to find a way to make the E24 Adapter board work.
Thanks again.
Ted

[peteski]

You're welcome Ted.  As I mentioned you can solder the negative wire of the keep-alive to one of the components I indicated directly on the nano board.  Those are usable and I know of other members doing that in their recent Atlas locos. But if something happens the the decoder, it's warranty might be in question. However, I believe ESU will repair (likely replace) defective out-of-warranty decoders for a nominal fee.

Other that that, I really see no alternatives unless someone prodces a small E24 adapter board with GND pad on it.

Are you certain that your V4 decoder is non-salvagable?  Or many you can find a working V4 decoder (on eBay maybe), and replace the defective one?

[Chinapig]

I haven't tested the decoder yet, but the loco sure looked good standing in the yard with smoke coming out of it 

[peteski]

Yeah, burn marks and smoke sure aren't a good sign.