Rapido F40PH-2D

[CR4100]

I just received two Rapido F40PH-2Ds from the new run. The paint on both the Kool-Aid and Canada schemes is well done. They even include the bug deflector on top of the nose.

This run has been updated to include an e24 decoder socket instead of the Next18 used previously. Kind of a bummer as I was hoping to run these today!

Edit: Everybody loves pictures:

[Narlie]

Received my DCC Home Hardware wrap unit last week.
Runs and sounds real good.
Unfortunately the lighting functions are not correct and do not follow the included instructions.
Have reprogrammed decoder (ESU nano ) using Decoder Pro and got the unit working much better. It also appears that the head light and number boards are together?
Have asked Rapido for info  but will not hold my breath.

[Narlie]

FYI Response from Rapido

Yes, we are just discovering an unknown number of our models has two plugs reversed from the factory.
Here's the fix:

582 is fine. 580 has an issue, but only with an undetermined portion of the run. It is an easy fix. Here's a copy of Mark's instructions:
For the 580 models, it is a wiring issue - Todd's initial findings and our subsequent analysis show that the front lights and the Track & Number Board lights are 'backwards'.
Initially, I thought wires to the plug were incorrect, but... looking closer, I found there are two identical plugs (one is hidden under and behind the cab) and all that is needed is to swap the plugs, easy peasy.
The attached photos show what is needed. Remember to unhook the two rear handrails before pulling off the shell...

I hope this information helps you.
Thank you,
Todd Armstrong

[ek2000]

The ditch light of my rapido kool-aid locomotive does not come on with the F6 function. Has anyone else had this issue or know the function key to turn it on? Ive followed up twice with Rapido over email and have received no response.

[milw156]

Are those blue cylinders capacitors? If so, the other guys need to take notice!

[davefoxx]

“Oh, yeah!”

[ek2000]

The ditch light of my rapido kool-aid locomotive does not come on with the F6 function. Has anyone else had this issue or know the function key to turn it on? Ive followed up twice with Rapido over email and have received no response.

Ditch lights comes on at F15! The programming is all haywire as noted earlier in this thread. The rear light comes on in the switching mode and it is not F12 per instructions. I played with the functions and was able to turn it on once but have no idea how to recreate it. Rapido thankfully has a new Buffalo warehouse that you can ship to which takes care of the customs and shipping to their Canadian warehouse. A+ for customer service per usual from Rapido although I wish these glitches didn't exist in the first place!

[peteski]

If those use ESU LokSound decoders, all the function mappings should be easily changed when one used ESU LokProgrammer or even JMRI DecoderPro.  But why they set them up in such a strange way would be an excellent question.

[davefoxx]

Very likely a proprietary Rapido sound file.

DFF

[peteski]

Very likely a proprietary Rapido sound file.

DFF

Proprietary or not, they can't prevent reding of all the decoder's CVs into DecoderPro or LokProgrammer. Then the mappings can be changed (even if there are no English labels showing), and decoder data (CVs) can be written back to the decoder. The original sound project is not required.

[davefoxx]

Proprietary or not, they can't prevent reding of all the decoder's CVs into DecoderPro or LokProgrammer. Then the mappings can be changed (even if there are no English labels showing), and decoder data (CVs) can be written back to the decoder. The original sound project is not required.

I don’t recall saying anything about anyone preventing CVs from being read.  Rapido uses their own proprietary sound files on LokSound decoders.  I know, on my HO scale F40PH, Rapido really customized the sound file to try to capture all of the lighting and sound features, as conveniently for use as possible.  So, a sound or light function may not be mapped for where someone subjectively wants it.  If they don’t like the Rapido file, either modify and remap the file or download an appropriate sound file from the ESU website.  I have replaced many OEM sound files, because they will lack certain information, e.g., the description of each sound effect is missing, making modifications to the file much harder than it has to be.

DFF

[peteski]

I don’t recall saying anything about anyone preventing CVs from being read.  Rapido uses their own proprietary sound files on LokSound decoders.  I know, on my HO scale F40PH, Rapido really customized the sound file to try to capture all of the lighting and sound features, as conveniently for use as possible.  So, a sound or light function may not be mapped for where someone subjectively wants it.  If they don’t like the Rapido file, either modify and remap the file or download an appropriate sound file from the ESU website.  I have replaced many OEM sound files, because they will lack certain information, e.g., the description of each sound effect is missing, making modifications to the file much harder than it has to be.

DFF

I guess we are again talking past each other, yet we're basically describing the same thing.  Someone was complaining (at least that was my take)  about the function mappings as if that was some unsurmountable problem. I simply mentioned that mappings can be easily modified in ESU decoders to something more acceptable to them.  My brain seems to be working on another wavelength (because to me proprietary means that it would be difficult or impossible to modify). I have to learn not to comment on your posts. It is counterproductive.

[Wutter]

Ditch lights comes on at F15! The programming is all haywire as noted earlier in this thread. The rear light comes on in the switching mode and it is not F12 per instructions. I played with the functions and was able to turn it on once but have no idea how to recreate it. Rapido thankfully has a new Buffalo warehouse that you can ship to which takes care of the customs and shipping to their Canadian warehouse. A+ for customer service per usual from Rapido although I wish these glitches didn't exist in the first place!

Not sure if you tried swapping the plugs, but I found mine to have weird behavior as well out of the box. (well also the E24 Nano was rattling around inside the shell when I took it out of its box)

After I swapped the plugs the lights worked correctly, but originally, my headlight did not work, ditch lights did not work, something about the ditch lights and ground lights sharing the same wires on that plug vs the headlight made it do weird stuff.