Kato GE ES44AC "Gevo"

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


Train Control Systems K1D4 decoder installed in Kato "Gevo" ES44AC N Scale locomotive. Performed by TCS.

Here is the locomotive with the shell on.
Here is the locomotive with the shell on.
After you remove the shell you will see a DC lighting board like the one above. Slide the lighting board towards the back of the locomotive and lift to remove it.
After you remove the shell you will see a DC lighting board like the one above. Slide the lighting board towards the back of the locomotive and lift to remove it.
Be sure to apply an insulator (here we used Kapton tape, but eletrical tape would work as well) over the frame to prevent the motor tabs from shorting on the frame. Reverse the motion you used to remove the lighting board to install the decoder. Make sure that the copper tabs on the decoder cover the motor tabs in the locomotive.
Be sure to apply an insulator (here we used Kapton tape, but eletrical tape would work as well) over the frame to prevent the motor tabs from shorting on the frame. Reverse the motion you used to remove the lighting board to install the decoder. Make sure that the copper tabs on the decoder cover the motor tabs in the locomotive.
Above photo shows completed installation. This is a very easy board replacement installation.
Above photo shows completed installation. This is a very easy board replacement 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