ESU Loksound Full Throttle Review and Explanation
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- I'm really digging this new sound decoder. I was already aware that ESU decoders offer superior motor control, but this new Full Throttle feature really does make running trains much more fun. I intend to install these decoders in as many of my locomotives as possible. Getting a few locomotives consisted together that share this feature would make running a full length train a blast.
-Cam
ESU's are great decoders. First time seeing this feature used.
Scott
Dammmm Coolish.. A new word.. But Videos like yours is what makes it Fun Fun to Run Trains and Run these sound Engines I just Bought a New KATO SDP40F SANTA FE # 5250) it's one of the Engine's that Santa Fe Purchased from Amtrak and converted to Freight Service, This Engine has some Really Nice looks to it, and it Handles the Rails really well the Different horns available is really cool Touch but the Very slow speed and capability of this Decoder it's a Lok Sound Select and being a KATO Engine.. Makes it all the fun in Running You might check out one of these engines MB Klein has some Great prices on Them.. Again Great Video..
Many thanks for a this great video explanation, I too like the FT feature, I forwarded this video to fellow modelers who are curious about it.
Thanks
WCR
I'm really glad this was helpful! I've already had a comment from someone who said you sent this video, so I appreciate it. I honestly wasn't sure if I was the only one who didn't get it, but it seems this was at least a little bit helpful.
Thanks!
-Cam
Oh yes that's my good friend TMandN ... we have been long time Tsunami fans with dozens of decoders each, but when Bowser came out with the SD40-2s we were exposed to the ESU Lok. And there has been no turning back since!! lol BUT... Al discovered there is a problem when setting up Soundtraxx Sound cars with Lok decoders. Also, we need to learn to Advance Consist , as when you run two or more locomotives with Full Throttle, when you F9 one loco for drive hold, the other locomotives do not not respond to the F9 unless you set each independently. If your familiar with this, another video would be great.
Much Thanks Cam
WCR - Greg
TM&N - Al
WestCoastRails Hey, I missed your follow-up, but I definitely need to play around with that too. I plan on getting more Full Throttle decoders, and when I do, I'll be sure to do more videos.
Way cool! WCR forwarded this to me. Enjoyed immensely!
Thanks! I heard that he sent that to a few people, so I really appreciate your comment. I love this decoder and feature. It really enhances what would otherwise be just an RTR Athearn.
-Cam
great sound, ESU did it again
They really did. Full Throttle adds another layer that makes running trains even more fun.
-Cam
very nice I didn't understand this function at all till this video, I just thought it was so you could just sit there and rev up the engine. thanks
Perfect! I'm glad it was helpful.
-Cam
That's really cool! I hope Intermountain puts the new GEVO GE 12 version 2 decoder with the full throttle in the Tier IV's. Their new recordings sound really good on the website!
Thanks! And I think they are. But I wonder if ESU will get a sound recording from a Tier 4 unit because they sound a bit different. From what I've heard in person, they have a more pronounced turbo whine among other differences.
-Cam
railfan220 You're welcome and I agree! I really don't know if they will? Or if they'll be lazy and just stick in a normal GE prime mover. Hard to tell with manufacturers anymore.
I'm looking to buy a lot of coal cars (10-12). I run UP gevo locos in the current times theme. Do you have any recommendations for an affordable option that has metal wheels?
awesome train video
Thanks!
-Cam
railfan220 your welcome and you should check out my new video's on my channel and please subscribe to me
Where can you buy these decoders? eBay only had n scale set ups. Googled it. Seems no one carries these. That can’t be. Lol
Hey brother love your layout. I've been subscribed to your channel for many years now and enjoy all of your updated and progress thus far...I'm really new to the ESU Family...exactly what would a person like me need to purchase to get this full throttle feature for my locomotives? and I wonder if it could be downloaded to my Intermountain ES44s which already have the factory ESU Loc sound decoders installed? Thank you for any help or insight you can offer. Chuck
Hey, Chuck! Thanks for the kinds words. Here's what you need. Get a Loksound Select V4.0 decoder with the appropriate connector. I got the decoder with an 8-pin plug for my Athearn unit, but for some manufacturers, like InterMountain's recent releases, the 21-pin plug is needed. That's what I'll use in my Citirail unit. Obviously the other thing you need is a speaker. For the new ESU decoders, you'll need to get a 4 ohm or 8 ohm speaker. The older ones used 100 ohm speakers, but those will kill the V4.0 decoder. I used a RailMaster hobbies speaker. I got my decoder and speaker from Mountain Subdivision Hobbies, and when you check out, there's a text box where you can type in what sound file you want them to program onto the decoder. You can go through their list of sound files here projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/4 . Make sure you pick a sound file with (FT) in the name. And the sound file # is one of the 5 digit numbers off to the right. For HO scale, pick the 1st one listed. Installation is plug and play except you'll need to solder the speaker wires to the two brown wires from the decoder. And yes, your IM GEVOs can have the new files installed in them. You'll just need to get a LokProgrammer, or send them to someone who has one. Hopefully that isn't too much or too patronizing, but if you have more questions let me know.
-Cam
cool, thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
-Cam
Nice demo and I have fun with mine
Cheers Ron
Thanks Ron! It really is quite fun.
-Cam
railfan220 Last Year I Bought A Scale Train HO Scale Rivet Counter Norfolk Southern GE Tier 4 Gevo ET44AC ESU Loksound V4.0 & DCC SOUND EQUIPPED However To My Surprise The Factory Did Not Program This Engine At All I Went Online To Download The ESU Manual The Sounds We're Extremely Low So I Went To The Page Where I Found The Master Volume CV I Proceeded To Put CV63 To 192 Then I Could Hear The Horn, Bell, An The Prime Mover But Nothing Else No Air Compressor, No Air Valve Release, No Dynamic Brake, Not Even The Radiator Fans Or The Start Up Sequence Or The Motor Sound As You Start To Notch It Up To Get It Moving Wow.. I was Very Frustrated By All Of This. Now In The User Manual As I Read It Before You Change Any Volume CV'S You Must Go To CV32 To 1 Does This Need To Be Done First Or Can I Change The CV'S Anyway Or Would It Completely Ruin The Decoder. I would Like My Awesome Looking Engine To Sound Like The Real Thing Could You Give Me Some Help ( I Have A NCE Power Cab To Do This With But Not A ESU Loksound Programmer) Any Kind Of Help Would Be Appreciated I am New To DCC And Not To Familiar with It..I am Sorry To Have Bothered You. Thank You Henry Lewis
I think I like Tsunami2's better.
Interesting. I haven't used any yet, but I want to. They seem like a great improvement over past generations of Tsunamis. And all I really care about is good recordings and smooth motor control which I think they have.
-Cam
yes, with the new Tsunami2 you can pretty much do manual notching like you demonstrated in the video and the bonus part which I like is that the decoder also senses how heavy the load is behind the loco and notches accordingly - so you have best of both worlds.
Oh cool! I didn't know it did that. I'll have to pick one up.
-Cam
railfan220 Last Year I Bought A Scale Train HO Scale Rivet Counter Norfolk Southern GE Tier 4 Gevo ET44AC ESU Loksound V4.0 & DCC SOUND EQUIPPED However To My Surprise The Factory Did Not Program This Engine At All I Went Online To Download The ESU Manual The Sounds We're Extremely Low So I Went To The Page Where I Found The Master Volume CV I Proceeded To Put CV63 To 192 Then I Could Hear The Horn, Bell, An The Prime Mover But Nothing Else No Air Compressor, No Air Valve Release, No Dynamic Brake, Not Even The Radiator Fans Or The Start Up Sequence Or The Motor Sound As You Start To Notch It Up To Get It Moving Wow.. I was Very Frustrated By All Of This. Now In The User Manual As I Read It Before You Change Any Volume CV'S You Must Go To CV32 To 1 Does This Need To Be Done First Or Can I Change The CV'S Anyway Or Would It Completely Ruin The Decoder. I would Like My Awesome Looking Engine To Sound Like The Real Thing Could You Give Me Some Help ( I Have A NCE Power Cab To Do This With But Not A ESU Loksound Programmer) Any Kind Of Help Would Be Appreciated I am New To DCC And Not To Familiar with It..I am Sorry To Have Bothered You. Thank You Henry Lewis