Kato SD70Acu What ESU Lokpilot decoder fits this unit?

[Myracan]

Want to purchase a couple of these units and install Lokpilots into them, but not sure which one fits. Anybody have one of these units and if so do youi know what decoder is in it. Thanks 

[samusi01]

ESU makes a LokSound decoder that’s drop-in, but not a LokPilot for reasons unknown. My recommendation might be to poke around in the archives here and I believe it was @GaryHinshaw that posted a guide showing how to modify the OEM Kato DC light board and hard wire a LokPilot to it. I don’t recall which locomotive he used but the principles should translate across without too much difference.

[Myracan]

Yes have converted many katos using Garys method with the 59820 Lokpilot. And have used the 59741 Direct drop in board on a kato. I'm wondering if the 59741 will drop in. If this new unit is similar to an SD70Ace maybe it will, or is it like the SD90 decoder which has that thinner end. If like the SD90 I may be out of luck. I only see the LokSound version 58781 on their website.

[samusi01]

ESU 58781: https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-micro-dcc-direct-kato-usa-sd90/

So the sd90 (and 80 if I remember correctly) is the form factor. sorry.

[peteski]

Why not pop the shell off and look at the light board?  You should be at least have an idea what would be the shape of the possible decoder to replace it.  Your post count is under 25 so you would not be able to upload the photo here.  I checked the writeup for that loco on spookshow.net but he does not have a photo of the chassis (yet). 

EDIT:
Oops, never mind.  You don't yet own any of those locos.    Looks like spookshow doesn't have them either.

[GaryHinshaw]

The SD70ACU shares the same mechanism as the SD90, except that it has been slightly modified to accommodate light pipes for rear ditch lights:



[The top mech is an SD90, the bottom one is an ACU.]  The stock ACU board is shown just below the mechanisms and an ESU 58741 (which has the same form factor as the 59741) is shown for comparison.  So the 59741 will not work with this loco; however, it would be straightforward to use the stock light board with a 59820 or 59826, as you have done in other locos.  That's what I am planning to do with mine.

[Myracan]

The SD70ACU shares the same mechanism as the SD90, except that it has been slightly modified to accommodate light pipes for rear ditch lights:



[The top mech is an SD90, the bottom one is an ACU.]  The stock ACU board is shown just below the mechanisms and an ESU 58741 (which has the same form factor as the 59741) is shown for comparison.  So the 59741 will not work with this loco; however, it would be straightforward to use the stock light board with a 59820 or 59826, as you have done in other locos.  That's what I am planning to do with mine.

Ahh so no drop in for this loco yet. Thanks Gary for that info. So I guess it will be a 59820 then. I have sound version of this ACU on order (for the last 2 years) anybody know what ESU decoder will be in it. BTW is it Duford Model Works doing all the sound installs for Kato?

[Jbub]

This is the drop in board for SD90 / SD70ACu

https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-micro-dcc-direct-kato-usa-sd90/

https://midwestmodelrr.com/esu58781/?sku=ESU58781&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=8987078875&gbraid=0AAAAAC4l-H4EsinLTuALFKJPrdlbHzZ_6&gclid=CjwKCAjw6MPRBhBTEiwAd-7MrzUNROGuxwOJQZRPxdeIDqawvoqAGrfBdXBQ2hdnVcAIm904pc3uGxoCyO8QAvD_BwE

[Myracan]

This is the drop in board for SD90 / SD70ACu

https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-micro-dcc-direct-kato-usa-sd90/

https://midwestmodelrr.com/esu58781/?sku=ESU58781&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=8987078875&gbraid=0AAAAAC4l-H4EsinLTuALFKJPrdlbHzZ_6&gclid=CjwKCAjw6MPRBhBTEiwAd-7MrzUNROGuxwOJQZRPxdeIDqawvoqAGrfBdXBQ2hdnVcAIm904pc3uGxoCyO8QAvD_BwE

I'm having one of those "I feel stupid" moments. I have an NS Acu unit sitting on my layout that my son gave me for Christmas. Been so busy doing other things on the layout and haven't even run any trains much the last 6 months. This unit just sitting there mixed with all the other units. Somehow I thought it was an Ace. Went through all my kato boxes looking for light boards and discovered the Acu unit light board which is as you posted the SD90 version. It is one of the units i installed the ESU lokpilot  59820 decoder using Gary Hinshaws method. I used a kato light board from an old SD90 I purchased when they first came out. I now remember saying to myself why use this shiny new light board when I have this original one that has been laying around collecting dust.

I do want to try installing sound in one of these, something I have never done yet. Cheers 

[Jbub]

I'm having one of those "I feel stupid" moments. I have an NS Acu unit sitting on my layout that my son gave me for Christmas. Been so busy doing other things on the layout and haven't even run any trains much the last 6 months. This unit just sitting there mixed with all the other units. Somehow I thought it was an Ace. Went through all my kato boxes looking for light boards and discovered the Acu unit light board which is as you posted the SD90 version. It is one of the units i installed the ESU lokpilot  59820 decoder using Gary Hinshaws method. I used a kato light board from an old SD90 I purchased when they first came out. I now remember saying to myself why use this shiny new light board when I have this original one that has been laying around collecting dust.

I do want to try installing sound in one of these, something I have never done yet. Cheers 

Don't worry, I felt stupid after posting earlier since you asked about a LokPilot drop in, not a LokSound. Unfortunately, ESU does not offer a drop in LokPilot (yet?) for this chassis. If you do go the sound route, make sure you a speaker enclosure for the best performance.

[Myracan]

Don't worry, I felt stupid after posting earlier since you asked about a LokPilot drop in, not a LokSound. Unfortunately, ESU does not offer a drop in LokPilot (yet?) for this chassis. If you do go the sound route, make sure you a speaker enclosure for the best performance.

Seems 3d printed speaker enclosures is the best way to go but I dont have one. Would buy a ready made one maybe try and make one outa styrene. I guess the issue is where to put it. Some milling of the frame may have to be done too. Will see.....