Digitization of G1206 from Piko - part 2

 

In my previous post, I forgot to address the issue of setting a DCC address (pun intended) to the Piko G1206 VFLI. 

Since it is a Piko decoder, it cannot be programmed by the ESU LokProgrammer. The documentation for the Piko decoder and sound module can be found here:

• Piko 56403 SmartDecoder 4.1 - link
• Piko 56192 SoundModule - link

I tried to use the ECoS to read the address from CV1, but it would return an error:

For the Piko decoder, it is important to use the program track:

To set the address to 744, I will use this previous post:

• Compute CVs 17 & 18 with https://www.digitrax.com/support/cv/calculators/
• Write CV17 = 194 and CV18 = 232 (previous values were 195 & 233)
• Write CV 29 = 46 (previous value was 14)

With the documentation, I only need to adjust the icons as follow:

Digitization of G1206 from Piko - part 1

 

In a previous post, I already covered the digitalization of the G1206 from Piko, but there was no sound module. This post covers the end-to-end digitalization including the installation of that sound module and its speaker.

Analog run

Here's a short video on the engine running analog:

Installation of the decoder

It is very easy to open the engine; refer to this video. Otherwise, the notice explains it clearly:

I used Piko 56403 for the decoder and Piko 56192 for the sound module:

Here are links to the various notices:

• Piko G1206 engine - link and link
• Piko 56403 SmartDecoder 4.1 - link
• Piko 56192 SoundModule - link

Removing the dummy decoder reveals the 8-broche NEM-652. Don't forget that the pin marked as 1 should receive the orange wire.

The notice is helpful here to know where to put the decoder:

And here's a test of the engine running in digital:

Installation of the speaker

The space for the speaker is located underneath the body. Two tiny screws need to be unscrewed: 

Two brown wires need to be passing through the inside of the engine to come to the speaker box. They can then solder to the speaker, then the screws can be repositioned:

The challenge is now to make all the wires fit into the engine. The use of electrical tape is a must here:

And finally

Here's the final outcome:

How to open a G1206 from Piko

 

Here's the video:

Digitization of Piko engines: G1206 and Traxx BR186

I have several Piko engines that are frequently present in configurations running in the north of France: G1206 and Traxx BR 186.

G1206 VFLI

The typical configuration is this G1206 VFLI with unloaded flat freight cards:

Piko released this engine as 97719:

I used an ETF G1206 also from Piko to try out inputting the decoder. Here's the engine running on DC:

I purchased Piko 56403 Smartdecoder 4.1 to digitizale those engines: 

The only thing to pay attention to is the way to plug the 8-pin connector - the orange is on pin 1.

On the circuit board of the engine, there is usually an indicator for pin 1 as circled in red below:

Just need to replace the "fake" decoder with the real one:

And here's how the machine is running in digital:

Traxx BR 186 Railpool

Another typical engine running in the north of France is the Traxx BR 186 Railpool:

Piko released this engine - or very similar - as 59952:

I used an HLE 2813 also from Piko to try out inputting the decoder. Here's the engine running on DC:

And here's how the machine is running in digital: