Rapido Trains FL9 Manuallines - page 8
8
Thank goodness all DC modelers have a great sense of humor, or they’d be REALLY of-
fended by the last two paragraphs…
INSTALLING A DECODER IN A DC MODEL
The FL9 contains a motherboard which is connected to the track, motor and lighting
outputs. A blind plug is attached to the motherboard using a 21-pin connector. To install
a decoder, remove the blind plug and install a 21-pin decoder (recommended) or a 21-
pin adapter to attach an 8-pin or a 9-pin decoder. Your chosen decoder should have six
function outputs.
We recommend the following 21-pin decoder:
• ESU #54615 - LokPilot V4.0 DCC with 21MTC
We feel the 21-pin connectors are superior because there are enough pins to ensure
that all your lighting functions are connected. The necessary resistors are included on
our motherboard so you don’t have to futz around with resistors. Just plug in the recom-
mended and you have DCC.
ESU has made an FL9 function map which can be downloaded into their non-sound
decoder (54615) so that the function buttons and motor control are exactly the same as
our factory-released sound versions. This is available for download on the FL9 page in
the Support section of our web site. You will need an ESU LokProgrammer to write the
function mapping to the 54615 decoder. If you don’t have a LokProgrammer, you can
adjust CVs in the usual way.
The silent ESU 54615 decoder with our FL9 settings can be purchased preprogrammed
from your favourite retailer. Just order ESU item number 91636. As the sound version
uses custom sounds we recorded ourselves, the FL9 sound file is not available as a down-
load from ESU. We will be selling FL9 sound decoders separately; if they aren’t on our
web site by the time you read this, call the office and yell at whoever answers the phone.
OPERATION – DCC/DC WITH SOUND
We go to extreme lengths for accuracy, in sounds as well as in looks. Our sound decod-
ers are LokSound Select decoders by ESU, programmed with sounds we recorded from
a General Motors 567 prime mover. The sounds are 100% correct for the FL9, though
even we will admit our air compressor sounds a bit clapped out!
As in all of our other sound-equipped engines, we recorded the locomotive under load
up a steep grade. This simulates a four- or five-car passenger train on the straight and
level.
More detailed decoder instructions, including all sorts of weird CV settings we don’t
understand, can be found in the ESU Loksound Select decoder manual. This is available