Stewart F7A Early Phase I

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation documentation is for the HO Scale Stewart F7A Early Phase I. This installation uses the MC2P-UK decoder, and was performed by A.G.

The pictures above show the locomotive prior to the decoder installation.
The pictures above show the locomotive prior to the decoder installation.
Detach the front coupler by removing the screw circled in red.
Detach the front coupler by removing the screw circled in red.
Detach the rear coupler by removing the screw circled in red.
Detach the rear coupler by removing the screw circled in red.
The picture above illustrates the original light board after the shell removal.
The picture above illustrates the original light board after the shell removal.
Remove the 8-pin "dummy" plug.
Remove the 8-pin "dummy" plug.
Plug in the decoder so that the Orange wire lines up with Pin #1 of the socket. Pin #1 will be designated with a "1" or a small arrow/chevron.
Plug in the decoder so that the Orange wire lines up with Pin #1 of the socket. Pin #1 will be designated with a "1" or a small arrow/chevron.
Here is a close-up picture of the decoder installation. Re-install the shell and couplers to complete the installation.
Here is a close-up picture of the decoder installation. Re-install the shell and couplers to complete the installation.

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