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A review of an ESU 51701
LokPilotXLDCC-Decoder
I run a Massoth DCC system and
was on the look out some decoders for a range of non LGB
engines, such as USA Trains and Aristocraft engines.
After talking to Jeremy of
www.dragon-gscale.co.uk
I brought a couple of ESU Lokpilot decoders. AT only £35 each
and with a 3 amp rating they seemed to offer great value for the
spec.
One slight draw back when they
first turned up was that all the included instructions were in
German! Luckily Jeremy had added some basic instructions and
tips of his own in English to help get me started.
ESU does now have an English
website with lots of documentation to help you install most of
their products. This can be found at
www.loksound.com
These decoders are so simple to
install that I think you could, if you have ever installed a
decoder before, fit this one using just the pictures in the
included booklet.
The decoder itself is a neat and
small unit measuring just 55mm x 25mm x 10mm so could even be
fitted in to an LGB Staniz without a problem, if you have
converted one of these you will know what I mean and if you
haven’t well I will let you find out just what I mean if you
ever get round to taking one of these apart for such a job.
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Below is a brief run down of the
technical specs.
Operational Modes:
NMRA/DCC with 14, 28, 128 speed steps. Analogue DC
(de-selectable),
Auto-recognition of operating modes and DCC speed step
selection.
Throttle:
3.0A continuous load. Runs DC - and coreless motors. Silent safe
15.5kHz Pulse width frequency motor regulation. Motor output
overload protection. Back EMF (de-selectable).
Function Outputs:
4 Outputs, 2 of which are for lighting functions, dimmable
separately with 600mA load per output.
LGB and Massoth compatible.
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The first thing to remember after getting the
decoder out of the box is NOT to remove the plastic shrink wrap
coating the decoder as this acts as a heat sink!
I have fitted one to an
Aristocraft RS3 and a USA Trains 44t centre cab switcher without
a problem with space or with any connections, although I only
use my decoders to run the motor and lights so have not wired
one up to any sound units or smoke units.
I like the fact it comes with
screw terminals and without any wires attached as it can then be
made to fit any loco with the addition of a few wires screwed to
the decoder one end and simply connected up to the motor block
and/or lights at the other.
When wiring up lights please
remember that this decoder has a common earth, so that if you
wire up front and rear lights you just use three terminals, one
earth and then another two for power to front and then rear
light as labelled in the instructions. It’s a lot easier to use
in practice than to explain honest.
I did not come across any unusual
quirks while fitting this decoder and found the whole experience
very simple and dare I say even easier than fitting LGB MTS II
decoders as the wiring for the motor is at the other end of the
decoder to the lights and function outputs giving you plenty of
room to wire everything up and with screw terminals you can make
as many changes as you like without soldering or cutting and
fitting new terminals.
I found that the Aristocraft RS3
ran fine on both my Massoth system running at 128 speed steps
and just as well on my dads LGB MTS II system although I did
need to change the CV value for the speed steps back down to 14
to get the lights to work but this only takes a sec or so to do.
I have as yet not tested it on a DC powered railway.
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Overall I must say that these ESU
decoders do just what they say on the tin, even if it does say
it in German, and are easy to install, make CV changes and use
on both LGB and Massoth DCC systems what more could you ask for
and only £35 to boot.
For more
details either visit
www.loksound.com or Jeremy at
www.dragon-gscale.co.uk
Jason
Palmer 2007.
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