Kato EMD SD40-2

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation documentation is for the HO Scale Kato EMD SD40-2. This installation uses the TCS MC2P-MH decoder, and was performed by A.G.

TCS recommends using the DP2X decoder for simple plug-and-play installation.

Picture of Kato EMD SD40-2 with its shell on.
Picture of Kato EMD SD40-2 with its shell on.
Unscrew both couplers located on both ends of the chassis.
Unscrew both couplers located on both ends of the chassis.
Grasping the shell at the center top of both sides (being careful not to crush the grills), lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis. Here is the original light board that you will see after you remove the sell.
Grasping the shell at the center top of both sides (being careful not to crush the grills), lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis. Here is the original light board that you will see after you remove the sell.
Here is the close up picture of the original light board with 8pin socket (marked in red).
Here is the close up picture of the original light board with 8pin socket (marked in red).
Remove the clips (two of them) as shown in the picture above.
Remove the clips (two of them) as shown in the picture above.
Plug in the decoder so that the Orange wire (or Pin #1 of the DP2X) lines up with Pin #1 of the socket. Pin #1 will be designated with a "1" or a small arrow/chevron.

Hold the shell in one hand and the chassis in your other hand. Lining up the front of both pieces, lower the shell onto the chassis, keeping the lower edge of the shell parallel with the chassis. The two pieces will click together.
Plug in the decoder so that the Orange wire (or Pin #1 of the DP2X) lines up with Pin #1 of the socket. Pin #1 will be designated with a "1" or a small arrow/chevron. Hold the shell in one hand and the chassis in your other hand. Lining up the front of both pieces, lower the shell onto the chassis, keeping the lower edge of the shell parallel with the chassis. The two pieces will click together.

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