QSI Revolution Sound Kit Installation for the Athearn ... - Ulrich Models

QSI Revolution Sound Kit Installation for the Athearn FP45/F45
Revised July 3, 2009
I Abstract
The Athearn Genesis FP45 is a great locomotive but it needs a great sound system. This procedure can
be used to upgrade a non-sound FP45 Genesis or to replace the factory MRC sound with the QSI
Revolution, the latest improvement in sound technology. The sound of FP45 model with the upgrade
installed is very impressive. Furthermore, the QSI decoder has more options for controlling lighting
and operation than any other decoder on the market.
Athearn Genesis FP45
II Installation
Athearn F45/FP45 QSI Revolution Upgrade Kit
The kit includes the Revolution A/G board, speaker, and enclosure. The Revolution A/G is a modified A
format board. The headlight and reverse lamp resistors have been changed to support two bulbs.
http://www.UlrichModels.biz
Page 1 of 4

FP45 with Kit Installed
Revolution Board Diagram
1. Remove the shell of the locomotive by first removing the couplers. Then remove the
two screws in the bottom of the frame that hold the shell. There is one screw under
each truck. The frame will then slide off easily.
2. Disconnect the wires going to the Genesis lamp board and then unclip the board from the
motor clips.
3. Install the Revolution in place of the Genesis lamp board. Be sure the front of the board is
toward the cab. The cap is attached to the front and the speaker pads are located to the rear.
We recommend replacing the Athearn light bulbs with new 1.5 volt 13-15 mA lamps. Athean
bulbs are not high quality and their life is unpredictable.
http://www.UlrichModels.biz
Page 2 of 4

4. Connect the two front headlight bulbs. Connect the bulbs in parallel with each other. Twist
one lead from each bulb together, tin them, and then solder the leads to the +5V tab. Twist
the other two leads together, tin the leads and solder them to the F0-F tab.
It is recommended that you solder the leads to the Revolution tabs and do not use the
Athearn retaining caps.
5. The two reverse lamps will also be connected in parallel. Locate one lead from each lamp and
solder them together. Twist one lead from each bulb together, tin them, and then solder the
leads to the +5V tab. Twist the other two leads together, tin the leads and solder them to the
F0-R tab.
6. Connect one lead of the light located above the cab to the F5 solder pad. Solder the remaining
wire to one of the +5 V tabs.
7. Attach the speaker, as shown in the Kit Installed picture, with some E6000 or Goop adhesive
applied where the speaker contacts the frame. The speaker fits perfectly into the round recess
where the speaker contacts the frame.
8. Solder the motor leads to the motor tab with black lead soldered to the front tab (-).
9. Attach the capacitor to the side of the frame with the same adhesive.
10. Place the shell on frame and test before final reassembly.
III Revolution Programming
The Revolution board is loaded with sound file 292-0 EMD 645 with the high bass engine sound and
Nathan M5, 5 chime horn. Other horns and files are available, contact us by email or phone for any
further sound customization.
Forward and reverse lights are set to rule 17.
Later FP45s do not have a Mars light so this paragraph can be ignored if you are updating a later
FP45. F45s do not have Mars Lights. They often have a Overhead Beacon Light (OHBL) mounted on
top of the cab.
Mars Light – FP45
Depending on the configuration of your FP45, there can be one or two bulbs in the Mars Light. One of
them should be red if there are two bulbs. On Athearn non- MRC sound models, the red bulb was left
out. It can be added using a 15 mA 1.4 mm red bulb. The clear mars light should be connected to
F5 and the red to F3. Function Key F10 will turn on the clear bulb and F12 will turn on the red.
Strobe Light - F45
Connect the Strobe light to Output F4. It is set to strobe light. Use F10 to turn it on or off.
Default Configuration
The CV configuration as shipped is stored as the decoder default. If you reset the decoder, all the CVs
are restored to the default configuration for this specific locomotive. The decoder will be reset to the
default locomotive address. This will be address 3 for an uninstalled kit or the locomotive number if we
installed the sound.
http://www.UlrichModels.biz
Page 3 of 4

IV Revolution Lamp Outputs
The function outputs on the QSI Revolution are preconfigured for automatic lighting control as
Follows:
FL – Headlight on with Rule 17 Forward (On forward, dim stopped or reverse)
FR – Backup light - On in Reverse / Dim in Forward
Output 3 – Rear Mars (second Mars Light)
Output 4 – Cab Light - Can be used for number boards also.
Output 5 – Front Mars Light
Output 6 – Front Overhead Beacon Light (OHBL)
V Function Assignments
The Revolution function key assignments are as follows:
F0 Headlight F4 Cooling fans F8 Mute
F1 Bell F5 Dynamic brakes F9 Standby and Shutdown
F2 Horn F6 Startup / Doppler F10 Front Mars Light and OHBL (Strobe)
F3 Coupler clash F7 Long air/ Brake squeal F11 Horn Toggle Primary/Secondary
F12 Mars Light 2
http://www.UlrichModels.biz
Page 4 of 4