IM SD40-2s, how should I get them?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok boys. Now that the previous batch is in stores, it's going to be decision time for me soon.

Unless something crazy happens, I'm happy enough with what I've been seeing to know I'm going to be getting all four numbers. But there's one big question. How many of them should I get with sound?

I like sound. I like the sound in these, but I'm looking for feedback from those of you who run MU consists with sound. Is it worth having it in all the units in a consist?

[BCR 570]

If you believe that you will want variety in how you run them, and the budget allows, I would opt for sound in all for the following reasons:

1.  Not sure what the non-sounds units have for a decoder, but the ESU decoders have significantly superior motor control at slow speeds, especially when back EMF is set.
2.  Sound in all will allow you to run the units in any combination and have some sound.
3.  You can always turn off the sound in units you want to run without it, or turn on just one or two units in a consist.

Tim

[jdcolombo]

To Tim's response, I'd add the following.

ESU has a feature in its sound decoders called "Full Throttle" that lets you independently adjust the prime mover notch sound from speed.  For example, suppose you have a train going up a steep grade.  Using Full Throttle, you can set the speed at a crawl, but then set the sound to Run 8 so that you have engines prototypically screaming while going up a hill at 10 mph.  When you crest the hill, you can "throttle back" the notch to idle, engage the dynamics, and then separately increase the speed of the train to normal track speed - again, exactly like what you'd see in the prototype.

But at least right now, the main Full Throttle feature, called Drive Hold, can only be used in a consist if ALL the locomotives in the consist are equipped with ESU sound decoders (ESU is supposed to released a firmware update for its non-sound LokPilot V.4 decoder that will allow it to work with Drive Hold, too, but that update has not yet been released, and I don't know if the non-sound versions of the IM SD40-2 use a LokPilot V.4 or not - there are other versions of the LokPilot out there).  So if you think that the Full Throttle features might at all interest you, having all-sound units is a necessity at this moment.

Finally, it is cheaper to buy a sound unit to start with than to retrofit it later.  If you think you might want sound at some point, better to buy a sound-equipped unit now than later wish you had.

John C.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Sound for all it is then!

Thanks guys.

[eja]

Hear ! Hear !

I like the options "all in" facilitates

[MK]

We love to spend Ed's money! 

[mu26aeh]

I go for all sound as well if you got the funds.   While you're at it, pick up a CSX YN2 for the Hanover Sub 

[rochsub]

Next to my Kato SD40-2 units, the IM units are too high off the trucks.  I sent mine back.

Daryl

[Bruce Bird]

Nice description on the Drive Hold, John.  I can see you adding a portion of the W&LE to your NKP just so you can have a grade to try it out!

Bruce

[wmcbride]

And to get the most out of these, you need to do Jon Colombo's speaker fix.

Another nice feature of the ESu sound decoders allows you to basically "phase" each unit so the sound responds to the throttle a bit differently - like a lag between units once the command is given. It's pretty neat.

[basementcalling]

Ok boys. Now that the previous batch is in stores, it's going to be decision time for me soon.

Unless something crazy happens, I'm happy enough with what I've been seeing to know I'm going to be getting all four numbers. But there's one big question. How many of them should I get with sound?

I like sound. I like the sound in these, but I'm looking for feedback from those of you who run MU consists with sound. Is it worth having it in all the units in a consist?

You know you are going whole hog in. It's a bacon thing.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

And to get the most out of these, you need to do Jon Colombo's speaker fix.

Another nice feature of the ESu sound decoders allows you to basically "phase" each unit so the sound responds to the throttle a bit differently - like a lag between units once the command is given. It's pretty neat.

Awesome. I love it.

Now if only I could get one to shoot sparks...

[jdcolombo]

And to get the most out of these, you need to do Jon Colombo's speaker fix.

Another nice feature of the ESu sound decoders allows you to basically "phase" each unit so the sound responds to the throttle a bit differently - like a lag between units once the command is given. It's pretty neat.

I wonder if someone would be willing to design and print a 3D-print an enclosure that mirrored my speaker fix.  The enclosure would have to be 4.5mm high x 13mm wide x 17mm long, and constructed so that a 9x16mm speaker would fit lengthways, with the "extra" width of the enclosure able to be sealed off somehow.  See photos at this thread message:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41074.msg510952#msg510952

If someone (@Lemosteam - John LeMerise, where are you?) could figure out a way to print an enclosure like this (even if we had to seal off the extra area by hand using some styrene or lead sheet) for, say, a CUI 9x16mm speaker (available here: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/cui-inc/CDS-16098A/102-3540-ND/5355535 ), the speaker transplant for the SD40-2 would be a lot easier!

John C.

[Roger Holmes]

Another nice feature of the ESu sound decoders allows you to basically "phase" each unit so the sound responds to the throttle a bit differently - like a lag between units once the command is given. It's pretty neat.

How do you program that feature (for dummies-me, not the the loco)?

[jdcolombo]

How do you program that feature (for dummies-me, not the the loco)?

Each sound in an ESU LokSound is assigned to a "Sound Slot" (e.g., a memory space) in the decoder.  The prime mover is by default in Sound Slot 1.  The sounds in each slot can be varied in pitch and timing by altering what ESU calls the "sound speed" - there is both a minimum and maximum sound speed for each sound slot.  These settings default at a value of 128.  If you vary them by just a little (e.g., plus or minus 5 or less), then the timing and pitch of the sounds will end up varying slightly as well.

If you have a LokProgrammer, this can be done using the Sound Slot Settings pane - click on this, and then use the sliders or direct number entry to vary the maximum and minimum sound speed settings for Sound Slot 1 - the prime mover.  Don't overdo it - I use values between 124 and 132 for minimum and that seems to work just fine. 

If you don't have a LokProgrammer, you can do this via direct CV programming.  First, set CV32 = 1.  Then set CV's 261 (minimum sound speed) and 262 (maximum sound speed) for the values you want.  Generally, I set them at the same value (e.g., min and max at the same number - say 132).

John C.