Hobbytown SD45

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

T1



This installation of TCS T1 Decoder is for HO Scale Hobbytown SD45 and was performed by Jean Lacroix, Canada.

This model is a Hobbytown of Boston drive with a plastic body shell. On this model, the body is hold in place by the coupler draft boxes. Just removing the screws and the couplers will let the body free.
This model is a Hobbytown of Boston drive with a plastic body shell. On this model, the body is hold in place by the coupler draft boxes. Just removing the screws and the couplers will let the body free.
All the wires connected to the Sagami motor should be disconnected from it. The motor should be glued in place using goo or silicone. Pay special attention to align the drive shaft and the motor sprocket.
All the wires connected to the Sagami motor should be disconnected from it. The motor should be glued in place using goo or silicone. Pay special attention to align the drive shaft and the motor sprocket.
The orange and grey wire from the T1 harness should be soldered to the terminals located on both side of the motor. Then connect the red wire to the top of the front truck. Then, it is the turn of the black wire that should be attached to the rear truck. The decoder can be installed on a plastic shelve sitting on top of the drive shaft using double sided tape. Make sure that no wires can touch the big flywheel because it could cut the wiring and create a short circuit. The led lamp was installed on the ceiling of the body shell with optic fibre that goes to the headlight holes.
The orange and grey wire from the T1 harness should be soldered to the terminals located on both side of the motor. Then connect the red wire to the top of the front truck. Then, it is the turn of the black wire that should be attached to the rear truck. The decoder can be installed on a plastic shelve sitting on top of the drive shaft using double sided tape. Make sure that no wires can touch the big flywheel because it could cut the wiring and create a short circuit. The led lamp was installed on the ceiling of the body shell with optic fibre that goes to the headlight holes.
All the wires soldered together should be covered with electrical shrink tubing or electrical tape.
All the wires soldered together should be covered with electrical shrink tubing or electrical tape.

Important Soldering Tip

Please do not use any flux either liquid or paste on the mother board. Over time, the acidic properties of liquid or paste flux will begin eating away at the fiberglass PCB and will damage it. Use only Rosin-core solder or no-clean flux approved for electronics use.

TCS recommends the use of Kester "44" Sn63 Pb37, .015" diameter Rosin-core solder. Kester part number 24-6337-0007.

You can order this solder from the following retailers:
Digikey - PN:KE1110-ND
Techni-Tool - PN:488SO6775

Other solder tips

When stripping wire, only strip a tiny little bit of the insulation. Strip no more than a 1/32 of an inch. When the wire gets tinned with solder, the insulation will shrink back more. Try to not expose any more wire than half the length of the solder pad at most. In no case should solder or exposed wire wire ever be outside the boundary of the the solder pad you are attaching a wire to.
Click here for important information on properly Stripping and Tinning wire