Kato F40PH Operation North Pole

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation shows a Kato N-Scale F40PH Operation North Pole with a TCS K5D7 decoder installed.

First, remove the shell by gently spreading it at the front left and rear right corner and then carefully lifting it off the frame.
First, remove the shell by gently spreading it at the front left and rear right corner and then carefully lifting it off the frame.
Next remove the central clip (marked in blue in the image above), and bend up the two motor tabs found beneath it.
Next remove the central clip (marked in blue in the image above), and bend up the two motor tabs found beneath it.
Slide the lighting board forward in the frame to release it from the small plastic clip highlighted in blue above and then lift the lighting board out of the frame. Remove the front and rear plastic clips that are over the trucks.
Slide the lighting board forward in the frame to release it from the small plastic clip highlighted in blue above and then lift the lighting board out of the frame. Remove the front and rear plastic clips that are over the trucks.
Remove the two long bus bars from the left and right side of the locomotive.
Remove the two long bus bars from the left and right side of the locomotive.
Wrap them with kapton tape where the motor tabs will fold over them. This step is crucial, and without the tape you will burn up your decoder. Re-insert the bars back into the gray, plastic, holder, and replace the front and rear clips.
Wrap them with kapton tape where the motor tabs will fold over them. This step is crucial, and without the tape you will burn up your decoder. Re-insert the bars back into the gray, plastic, holder, and replace the front and rear clips.
Due to the advanced lighting features of this locomotive, the K5D7 decoder doesn't quite fit between the light tube housing as seen below.
Due to the advanced lighting features of this locomotive, the K5D7 decoder doesn't quite fit between the light tube housing as seen below.
To achieve a comfortable fit we filed the down the left and right side of the front of the K5D7 to slightly narrow the decoder and provide room for the light tube housing.
To achieve a comfortable fit we filed the down the left and right side of the front of the K5D7 to slightly narrow the decoder and provide room for the light tube housing.
Before Filing Pictured Above.
Before Filing Pictured Above.
After Filing Pictured Above. After filing the decoder test fit it in the front of the shell to make sure it fits freely between the light tube covers.
After Filing Pictured Above. After filing the decoder test fit it in the front of the shell to make sure it fits freely between the light tube covers.
Now that we are confident the decoder will fit we can place it on the frame and and slide it back on that small hooked clip.
Now that we are confident the decoder will fit we can place it on the frame and and slide it back on that small hooked clip.
To insure good motor contact and consistent track pick up I pin the motor leads down to the pads on the decoder with the tip of an X-acto knife and solder the tabs in place.
To insure good motor contact and consistent track pick up I pin the motor leads down to the pads on the decoder with the tip of an X-acto knife and solder the tabs in place.
You can replace the center plastic clip (as shown below), but with the motor tabs soldered in place it is totally optional.
You can replace the center plastic clip (as shown below), but with the motor tabs soldered in place it is totally optional.
With the K5D7 mounted and soldered in place you can now replace the shell and your F40PH is ready to run! NOTE: To setup your red marker lights for automatic operation program the following CV values: CV 35 = 2 CV 51 = 16 NOTE: If your red marker lights remain on in both directions try moving the decoder forward in the locomtive as this is typically caused by light bleeding through from the headlight LED.
With the K5D7 mounted and soldered in place you can now replace the shell and your F40PH is ready to run! NOTE: To setup your red marker lights for automatic operation program the following CV values: CV 35 = 2 CV 51 = 16 NOTE: If your red marker lights remain on in both directions try moving the decoder forward in the locomtive as this is typically caused by light bleeding through from the headlight LED.

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