Sound and Motor Decoders for N Scale Kato SD90/43MAC and F40PH

[taholmes160]

When I first bought these 2 locos, I made a bad mistake and put in MRC decoders which have been no end of troubles.  So I want to replace them.  I am looking for some kind of a drop in decoder replacement.  Sound is important but moreso is motor control.  I run an NCE powercab -- I found the digitrax SDXN146K1E -- which looks good and digitrax is a good name -- but what I am wondering if there is something better -- I googled for Drop In decoder for Kato SD90/43MAC -- and got a hit on the digitrax one as well as some others that are not obviously sound as well as motor decoders -

So some of you that are DCC gurus -- what do you recommend? and why

Tim

[Super_G]

For the F40PH, Wutter here in the forums makes a drop in adapter board for ESU's next18 DCC decoders for sound and non sound decoders with all the functions available as well. Here they are at Streamlined Backshop:


https://store.sbs4dcc.com/WVDESULokound5MicroNEM662Next18AdapterBoardforKatoF2F3F7FP.aspx


Regarding the SD90/43MAC, I believe only MRC and Digitrax make drop in decoders for that locomotive with and without sound. Motor control is no where near Zimo or ESU, but Digitrax may be a better bet than the MRC. BTW, I have only read about others experiences with decoders and not my own. I am looking into eventually doing frame mods to put the newer ESU select direct micro into a few 80MAC's/90MAC's...

[jagged ben]

For the SD90 I would probably unearth the old DC lightboard and modify it to create a custom drop in using a LokSound.  You may be able to buy a DC lightboard on Ebay or frok Kato if you don't still have the original.

[taholmes160]

I dont mind doing some soldering -- im not set up to be able to modify the frame, unless its something I can do with a dremel tool or a band saw.

I need a keepalive on it, and would REALLY like to be able to have plenty of lighting outputs -- I would love to be able to have wigwagging ditch lights and maybe a cab beacon on both of them

TIM

[woodone]

Your best bet is a decoder from ESU. Their micro direct decoder is built for the narrow hood locomotives.
You are still going to have to do some frame modifications to fit the decoder and a speaker into it.
I think for only your one loco a Dremal too with so good cutters will get you there.
If you look at the first part of this DCC section you can see several installs listed by John C.
Look at these and you can get some ideas.

[Wutter]

I dont mind doing some soldering -- im not set up to be able to modify the frame, unless its something I can do with a dremel tool or a band saw.

I need a keepalive on it, and would REALLY like to be able to have plenty of lighting outputs -- I would love to be able to have wigwagging ditch lights and maybe a cab beacon on both of them

TIM

Highly recommend the WVD Adapter Board for F40PH  , it allows you to have 9 functions, keep alive and no frame modifications for sound unless you want to carve out a larger space for a bigger speaker. Instruction manual for reference: https://tinyurl.com/yx8zcz4s

Regarding the SD90, you can fit a Loksound 73100 in there with some minimal Dremel grinding, that will get you 4 functions and keep alive capability by wiring it into the existing caps onboard.
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Keep in mind this is an in-progress picture and the motor hasn't been wired up or the board isolated from the frame yet, this is only for test fitting.

[taholmes160]

Cool -- that sounds fantastic -- is there an adapter board in the works for the SD90?

TIM

[Wutter]

Cool -- that sounds fantastic -- is there an adapter board in the works for the SD90?

TIM

Not currently, there isn't enough room in narrow hood diesels to put in a 58828 Next18 decoder to use the adapter board. Building it for the 6-pin NEM 651 would still require milling and not carry any functions beyond headlight and taillight, making it almost as much work as just putting in the 73100 or fully hardwiring. So for now the 73100 Select is still the best option for narrow hood diesels, at least until the rumored Loksound 5 version of the same board comes out.

[taholmes160]

Cool -- thanks