Athearn SD75I

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation is for N-Scale Athearn SD75I, uses TCS K1D4-NC Digital Decoder, and was performed by A.G.

The three upper pictures show the beautiful, highly detailed Athearn SD75I in N-scale.
The three upper pictures show the beautiful, highly detailed Athearn SD75I in N-scale.
First remove the shell by carefully pinching it on either side and rocking it back and forth while pulling upwards on it. The picture above shows the original light board that the engine is equipped with.
First remove the shell by carefully pinching it on either side and rocking it back and forth while pulling upwards on it. The picture above shows the original light board that the engine is equipped with.
Remove the original light board and use some 1/2" Kapton tape to isolate the chassis from the decoder.
Remove the original light board and use some 1/2" Kapton tape to isolate the chassis from the decoder.
Slide TCS K1D4-NC decoder into the chassis as shown in the picture above.
Slide TCS K1D4-NC decoder into the chassis as shown in the picture above.
Tint the copper pads of the decoder with solder.
Tint the copper pads of the decoder with solder.
Connect the decoder with the motor using Magnet wire.
Connect the decoder with the motor using Magnet wire.
Do the same to the other side.
Do the same to the other side.
Here is a picture of the finished TCS K1D4-NC decoder installation.
Here is a picture of the finished TCS K1D4-NC decoder 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